Live: Oasis at the Staples Center

It took Oasis only four songs Thursday night to start a ruckus at Staples Center, where a squad of security guards dragged a man from his front-row seat after he exchanged some unintelligible words with Liam Gallagher, the veteran English band's dependably cantankerous frontman.

Second (most of the time) to music, troublemaking has long been Oasis' stock in trade: When Gallagher and his guitarist brother Noel founded the group in the early 1990s, their project was pairing punk's spit-in-your-eye spirit with the compositional grandiloquence of classic '60s-era pop.

On huge-selling early records such as "Definitely Maybe" and "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" the Gallaghers used melody to disguise the fact that they were shredding your eardrums with noise; meanwhile, both siblings have taken fame as a welcome opportunity to exercise their loudmouth tendencies. Today the brothers are the only original members left in Oasis -- "Would you like to say hello to our 15th drummer?" Noel asked the crowd at Staples Center -- and it isn't hard to figure out why.

Thursday's show was the second of a current North American tour in support of the band's strong new album, "Dig Out Your Soul," which, after a decade of creeping irrelevance, makes a fairly convincing case that Oasis still knows the shortest distance between a smile and a snarl.

Actually, "smile" might be overstating the case: For most of their 105-minute set, the Gallaghers and their mates played with all the evident enthusiasm of a bunch of old-timers putting away after-work pints at the pub. By the end of the show, Liam had even done away with the customary song introduction and had begun simply naming songs before the band played them. (Of course, that might've been because most of Oasis' best songs, like "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova," aren't about anything.)

Thanks to the miracle of guitar fuzz, that seeming indifference came off less like boredom and more like an appealing act of confrontation: Liam didn't need to beg us to sing along with "Cigarettes & Alcohol" and "Supersonic" because what choice did we really have in the matter?

Examined in close proximity to those indelible hits, new tunes such as "Waiting for the Rapture" and "To Be Where There's Life" lacked the anthemic brio that always distinguished Oasis from artier Britpop peers like Blur and Pulp. And though he's by far the band's most talented songwriter -- indeed, Oasis albums invariably suffer when he passes the pen to his brother or one of his bandmates -- Noel made for a rather ho-hum frontman during the handful of songs he sang.

As much as Liam needs Noel's melodic know-how, Noel needs Liam's front-and-center star power.

Opening the show with his sturdy alt-country backing band the Cardinals, Ryan Adams tried to work a similar mixture of antagonism and affection. Here's another darn sunshiney anthem, he said (in slightly more colorful language) before playing "Go Easy," a typically melancholy cut from this year's fine "Cardinology."

Apparently irritated by the audience's reluctance to receive his music with the hushed reverence it deserves, Adams retreated to sarcasm (not to mention bizarre, possibly booze-fueled ruminations on Jethro Tull and "the tyranny and horrors of math"). As Thursday's headliners demonstrated, though, that's a weapon that requires experience to handle.

--Mikael Wood

Photo: Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Edgar Pagaza]

Does anyone know what were the first songs played? I came in late during "The Shock of Lighting," so hopefully I didn't miss any of the classics.

[Chloe]

Edgar --

They opened with Rock n Roll Star, followed by Lyla. Third was TSOTL.

[minimalistx]

Anyone know what bands were played during the pre-show music? I dug some of the tunes but don't know who was responsible.

[Marc Goldstein]

Sounds like Mikael got assigned to this show under protest. The Oasis/Adams fans that came to have a good time, listen to new songs and sing along to old ones were pleased as can be. As pedestrian as you make Oasis sound, nothing is more tired than the cranky detached critic routine. You obviously know little about this perfect storm the Gallaghers bring. Little man on a little soap box don't like big noise. Waaa! I guess I saw a different show than you.

[The Riverboat Captain]

minimalistx, stolen from this month's Mojo.. "10 tunes to play before Oasis comes on":

Slaughter & The Dogs - Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone
The Jam - Private Hell
Kasabian - Club Foot
Pink Floyd - One Of These Days
The Beatles - It's All Too Much
Ennio Morricone - Svolta Definitiva
Earl Vince & The Valiants (Fleetwood Mac in disguise) - Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight
Hawkwind - Gimme Shelter
Elvis - There Ain't Nothing Like A Song
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Concentration Camp

[Eric]

I'm a huge Oasis fan, but I have to partially agree with the reviewer (Mikael Wood). Liam was going through the motions and all the posturing in the world can't make up for the fact that his voice is "SHOT". Noel was the highlight of the show for me. His voice was strong and clear and the crowd really connected with him during "Don't look back in anger". It's sad to see Liam not giving a damn and Noel trying to compensate for his lack of enthusiasm. "I'm out of time" was particularly painful to listen too (although I love the album version). There was very little chemistry on stage. It's obvious that they're touring "for the money".

[Alex]

Ryan Adams has been sober for the past few years and the insinuation that he was under the influence is insulting not only to him but his fans as well.

[Robert]

I wasn't at the show, but am unimpressed by how little research this writer apparently did in churning out this lazy critique. To suggest Ryan Adams may have been intoxicated shows very little understanding and knowledge of Mr. Adams' typical stage presence and banter. I've attended enough of his two to three hour shows to know that this is just Ryan entertaining the crowd and more importantly, himself. Some of that may be attributable to a case of being nervous perhaps. Accusations about a person's sobriety is not a joking matter nor something that should be taken lightly. It lacks depth of character and imagination to resort to such hackneyed writing. If you didn't like the show, say so without resorting to attacking a person's credibility or affronting someone personally.

[Banana Bullet]

I really enjoyed the show. I agree that Liam's voice wasn't what it was a few years ago, and Noel was freaking amazing, but all in all it was good! Oasis is my Future Ex-Wife/Best Friends favorite band, and I went for her but I came out of the show moved. I am grateful that they played "Don't look back in Anger" though, as it is kind of the theme song to a 7 year marriage that has just ended. Thank you Oasis for giving us one more positive memory to drown out all of the bad ones...

[h....y]

mikael...i believe you owe someone (i am sure you know who) an apology...your comment was most definately offensive...

[david]

The show was great......Oasis still rocks and sold around 10,000 seats that night.

Everyone has a different ear to what they like in music and what affects them, including music critics.

[Diane Perry]

No way could Ryan Adams have been possibly drunk. He's been sober over two years now, and has not gone back on the booze. He disputes this reviewer's comments about him on his band's blog on their website.
http://cave.cardinology.com/

[SJS]

Clearly you have no in depth knowledge of the Cardinal's, their show experience or what goes on in their personal lives which is all the more reason why you should refrain from making such disparaging insinuations about one's "state" - especially someone who has fought hard and succeeded in maintaining his sobriety. This is how he interacts with his audience, if you've been to any other show you would know this. Your negligent remarks demand retraction and I also believe you owe someone a public apology.

[Richard]

You owe Ryan Adams an apology. You've lost a lot of respect from a lot of people. A personal attack like that because you didn't enjoy a show is pathetic.

[goober]

i thought the cardinals were really fantastic. i thought their music was very well-received. and ryan just seemed to be talking, like moving his mouth, and letting words come out. i'm not sure that signifies booze-fuelled. it's called having a laugh.

[Charity H.]

Ryan Adams has been off alcohol and hard drugs for 2 1/2 years. Suggesting that his well-known brand of humor (his way of reducing the distance between performer and audience, like he is a REAL PERSON) was 'booze-fueled' was not only ignorant, but irresponsible in light of the fact that his honesty about his sobriety has provided inspiration and hope to many people struggling with substance abuse.

I certainly expect the Times to publish a correction, if not a full apology, for the false, unwarranted, speculative and demeaning comment made by this writer.

[Eric]

I posted my opinion of the show (and the review) earlier, but neglected to mention anything about Ryan Adams, so here it goes.

His voice was absolutely amazing!!!! He has one of the best voices I’ve heard live ever! I'm not a fan of his and I didn't care for his version of Wonderwall (actually, I hated it), but I was very impressed at the show. The band was extremely tight and the sound was a lot clearer than Oasis' (I guess they have a better sound guy). I don't know anything about Ryan Adams, but his on-stage banter didn't give me the impression that he was neither drunk nor high. I just thought he was an "artsy fartsy" type of guy, who was trying to be cool on stage. I’m surprised that he seems to be so bothered by the reviewer's comments. You would think that a person who’s been on the spotlight for some time would have grown a thicker skin by now. I don’t think Wood meant to attack Adams personally. He’s just doing what he does, criticizing a show. Isn’t that what critics do? Obviously, he was wrong about Adams’ state of sobriety and I’m sure he feels like an ass. Perhaps Adams should take a hint from one of Oasis’ songs, “Don’t look back in anger”, and let it go.

P.S. I thought the review was supposed to be about Oasis, but it seems like more people care about Adams? Oh, Liam’s gonna be mad!!!!!

[Dean]

As the father of a 19-year-old recovering addict, I know what a sensitive issue sobriety is for someone in recovery. For Mikael Wood to suggest that Ryan Adams, who has been clean and sober for nearly three years, may have been drunk on stage during the Cardinals' opening set at the Oasis show is a pretty cheap shot. Mikael Wood owes Ryan Adams an apology, plain and simple.

[jeffrey Corbett]

Hey Mikael (who spells their name that way - is this guy a former KGB agent?), PISS OFF! I'm a fan of both Adams and Oasis, so I'll leave my opinion out of this. I went with seven other people to this show, three of whom knew next to nothing by Oasis. They loved the show. No one suggested that Adam's appeared drunk, but perhaps you were closer than me and could smell his breath. I thought his comment about math was funny germane to the song he sang, but what do I know. As for Oasis - all that you take away from this band is their pugnaciousness? Too bad Mikael; you missed a great show. Das Vidanya

[Joe]

This is quite possibly one of the worst articles I have ever read. Ignorant and offensive.

I think the Times should actually demand that the "critics" they hire to cover shows actually have some knowledge of the band they're sent out to cover. Doing otherwise would make it seem that just about anyone could write for the Times. Wait.....nevermind.

[Matt]

Mikael, maybe you should think before you write absurd assumptions about Ryan Adams and booze. You hit below the belt. If you only knew what he's been through.

[HRH Adam]

Pretentious reviewers shouldn't waste seats at shows. I feel that non-monied kids that are mega fans should be given all the press seats. Noone cares what you think, thats for sure. But if I must read your crap, at least form an opinion rather than droning on with mismatched incomprehensible negativity. "(no choice in the matter)" of singing along to Oasis songs? Go home, or go hang out at the Dave Matthews show. What I saw was a massively reinvigorated, sonically perfect Oasis, and a Liam Gallagher who seemed to enjoy being in Oasis more than he ever has; that is to say as much as when he first exploded to stardom, but this time around he appreciates the privilege the massive talent he and his brother have, affords.

[Bill]

The critic obviously knows nothing about Ryan Adams. The insensitive false remark made so non-chalantly NEEDS to be retracted. R.A. is one of the great songwriters of our time and The Cardinals are his perfect vehicle. In fact they are much more than that . . . they are his ROCK.

[DKY]

Just to say I totally echo everyone's comments about Mikael's absurd assumption of Ryan Adams' being drunk. I wasnt at the gig, i was at home in London but knowing what he's been through, Mikael, your comments were totally thoughtless.To read Ryan's blog entry and realise how personally he's taken you comments. You should contact him personally to apologise. What a band the Cardinals are. They allow open recording policies at their gigs to allow fans to relive the concerts. How great is that? I saw them in London 2 weeks ago and they were mindblowing. I say a printed apology would be the least the Times could arrange after this absurd comment. and Mikel, you are relegated to doing reviews of childrens books, you'll probably manage to offend the kids too.

[Jere]

I echo the remarks here that the statement regarding Adams' sobriety should be retracted. This kind of journalistic laziness is unacceptable; I will not be reading this blog in the future.