Oasis fans don't look back in anger, despite some rain, as reunion tour arrives in Toronto

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Oasis

Sunday night

Rogers Stadium

RATING: ***1/2 (3.5 out of four)

*****

It was a ‘90s Brit-pop dream that finally became a reality for Oasis fans in Toronto.

So what if it was a little soggy? (More on the downpour of rain later.)

The thrilling moment that many of the Oasis faithful never thought would happen came to fruition as the one-time battling Gallagher brothers — guitarist Noel and lead singer Liam, now 58 and 52 years old respectively — reunited in front of a crowd of 50,000 ecstatic fans at Rogers Stadium on Sunday night.

It was the first of two back-to-back Oasis reunion shows in T.O., which is their only Canadian stop, and the launch of the group’s North American tour after their much-anticipated reunion trek — following a 16-year break — crossed the pond following the band launching their entire world tour on July 4 in Wales.

The group last played in Toronto in 2008, where Noel was tackled by a fan on stage and broke some ribs, before the band fully broke up in Paris in 2009 after a heated backstage fight between the brothers.

Since then, splinter groups resulted with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds vs. Liam’s Beady Eye — and a sometimes hilarious war of words with Noel calling Liam “a man with a fork in a world of soup, ” and Liam calling Noel both “a potato,” and “tofu boy.”

But not anymore, apparently.

Noel recently told a sports radio show: “It’s great being back in a band with Liam. I’d forgotten how funny he was.”

The brothers certainly presented a united front as they came out on Rogers Stadium’s enormous stage hand-in-hand with arms raised in the air, with Noel bowing down to Liam, who in turn give him a hug, before the two-hour show launched with Hello.

Liam was decked out in his trademark parka while posing as usual with his hands behind his back as he leaned into the microphone to sing.

The Gallaghers were joined on stage by three former Oasis members — Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs and Gem Archer on guitar, and Andy Bell on bass — plus drummer Joey Waronker, keyboardist Christian Madden, trombonist Alastair White, trumpeter Joe Auckland and saxophonist Steve Hamilton.

Expanded band aside, Oasis also had a big, colourful production in terms of multiple huge video screens and elaborate lighting and visuals, which came to life early and often.

From there, such crowd-pleasers as Acquiesce, Morning Glory, Some Might Say, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Supersonic, Roll With It, Little By Little, and D’you Know What I Mean got the crowd – many decked out in the classic Oasis “look” of bucket hats, Adidas sports shirts and parkas – singing loudly along.

And when light rain turned into a genuine downpour just a little over halfway into the show during the song, Stand By Me, fans’ spirits didn’t appear to dampen, even if many ran to get a poncho before returning to their seats or the floor.

“Don’t you just love it. A little bit of chaos when the weather comes,” said Liam initially in his thick Mancunian accent that sometimes needed a translator to decipher.

He later joked that people told him he wouldn’t need a parka in Toronto, which has enjoyed an unusually hot summer, just “swing shorts, a Bermuda shirt, you’ll have a f***ing lovely time.”

From there, the band and their devoted fans dug in on such standouts as Live Forever and Rock ‘n’ Roll Star with an encore that saw Noel take over on lead vocals for The Masterplan and Don’t Look Back in Anger – the latter producing one of the night’s biggest sing-alongs.

Then it was time for the group’s breakthrough tune, Wonderwall, with Liam back in front of the microphone and finally Champagne Supernova before the fireworks broke out.

“Nice one for making this happen and allowing us to put the band back on the map again,” said Liam as the show drew to a close. “Respect. See you later.”

As in Monday night when Oasis returns to Rogers Stadium for their second reunion show in Toronto.

*****

SET LIST:

Hello

Acquiesce

Morning Glory

Some Might Say

Bring It On Down

Cigarettes & Alcohol

Fade Away

Supersonic

Roll With It

Talk Tonight

Half the World Away

Little by Little

D’You Know What I Mean?

Stand by Me

Cast No Shadow

Slide Away

Whatever (with a snippet of The Beatles’ Octopus’s Garden)

Live Forever

Rock ‘n’ Roll Star

ENCORE:

The Masterplan

Don’t Look Back in Anger

Wonderwall

Champagne Supernova

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