Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ Majestic Theatre, Dallas, TX

Within the last several of days, the rumor mill has been in full effect.  Will an Oasis reunion happen?  Will it be without Noel Gallagher?  In all honesty, none of that mattered to those at the Majestic Theater in Dallas on this Thursday night.  Though many in attendance were sporting Oasis shirts and spoke of the band's catalog, Gallagher made it clear this was his show.  "I'm gonna play some songs from my new album, because frankly, that's why I'm here", a direct quote from the Manchester-born musician.  It wasn't particular obvious that he was excited to be playing in Dallas, as he even mentioned that he was "just passing through" but I don't think it mattered as the music, and Gallagher, spoke for themselves.

To be honest, I figured Gallagher would have little to no banter with the near-capacity crowd but that simply was not the case.  He kept the chatter to a minimum but what he had to say was cheeky and pretty hysterical.  He was greeted by two male fans who clearly too much to drink and were yelling at the singer between the first few songs.  During his first stretch of banter, the tipsy duo were interrupted by Gallagher who told them to finally "shut the fuck up."  The two were escorted out at the beginning of the next song.  He also pointed out a young lady sitting in the front row and said "that's what I want to be doing.  How are you doing?  Can I get you anything?"  He was simply pointing at the obvious blunders of concert goers, from the over the top to the disinterested.  I'm sure coming to the States only magnifies these things, like the girl who got the double bird from Gallagher as she tried to get a selfie with him in the background.  Yes, it actually does happen.

As far as the music goes, which is why we go to concerts, Gallagher's performance was top notch.  Flanked by fantastic musicians, the five-piece (sometimes eight-piece with a trio horn section) sounded powerful and technically proficient.  From the opening "Do the Damage" to other cuts from Gallagher's latest release, Chasing Yesterday, such as "Riverman", "Ballad of the Mighty I", and "In the Heat of the Moment" all sounded crisp and vibrant.  Not surprising, the biggest ovations occurred when Gallagher and his band played songs from the Oasis catalog, choosing to play only five songs from the influential band.  Sing-a-longs were in full effect when the band played "Champagne Supernova", "The Masterplan", and the set-ending "Don't Look Back in Anger".  The performance was a breathe of fresh air, as Gallagher doesn't need a flashy stage show (only a LED board) to show he's still got it.  He uses his great songwriting, stellar musicianship, and quick-witted banter to provide an excellent night for all of those in attendance.  

enjoy.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ Majestic Theatre, Dallas, TX Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ Majestic Theatre, Dallas, TX Reviewed by Scott Rowe, Editor on May 16, 2015 Rating: 5
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