Liam Gallagher - You only get to do it once

 I've been an Oasis fan since I was small, not quite sure when it turned into more of an addiction. The Oasis ‘shrine’ that sits on my tall boy is filled with related books, Esty posters, and a framed screenshot of when Liam replied to my tweet one time - though I'm not quite sure what its praying for. So, when Liam Gallagher announced he was playing the Etihad on my 17th birthday, it was basically my birth right to buy tickets. Yes, they left me with six pounds in my bank account, I had nobody planned to go with me and no idea how to get there, but that didn’t matter (plus, I was successful in my attempts at begging my mother to accompany me – it was my birthday!). 

Manchester's music scene must be one of, if not, the best in the U.K. Walking around a city with Oasis, The Smiths, Stone Rose's etc. stickers, plastered on most brick walls – I felt at home. Everywhere you looked there was a middle-aged man in a bucket hat and a parka which I'm sure was an effect of Liam's gig and not just the regular Manchester attire. If it was, no judgement here, if anything jealousy, I was not allowed to bring anything resembling either item but did manage to sneak my red- rounded glasses in past my red-faced mother. I didn’t get much time in actual Manchester but saw the outskirts on the metro, passed a Taylor Swift cut-out in a digs window, and felt the buzz off of the queue trailing out of the premier inn – most visitors dressed in Oasis merchandise. After dropping our bags off and a quick nervous/ excited throw up in the hotel loo, we headed out to the stadium.  

The tram was an experience within itself. My home city has nothing of the sort so I always like to take advantage of trams when I can. A carriage filled to the brim of Oasis fans was mental, and of course there was some singing. It felt more like prayers than karaoke, not to inflate LG’s ego more than it already is (worried his parka will explode), but less wine and bread, more Stella and maccies. When we got off at the Etihad, the sky felt so light above me, even though I was about to experience something I'm certain I would never forget. Trying to herd through the crowds, although a nuisance, was probably one of the most telling things about the gig. There was such a variety of people, especially in age, and it just made you think of how much of a mega band Oasis were, and how much of a living legend Liam Gallagher is. We were sat three rows from the top of the stadium, at the very back. So, not the best seats. Did this ruin the night, however? Not one bit.  I'm just glad I got my prescription checked two weeks before. 

Oasis hits like ‘Slide Away’, ‘Roll with It’ and the very underground song ‘Wonderwall’ (not sure if anyone will know that one), pleased the crowd to no end, and of course his solo music was met with the same enthusiasm. So many artists are not what they used to be both in terms of voice and performance, to no fault of their own (mother nature can be cruel sometimes), but Liam is in the exceptional minority here. His classic LG stance is as sturdy as his voice, both the same as they were in the 90s. How have I gone from being a 5 pound baby to now the heffalump of a teen I am, in the same time frame in which his voice hasn't changed one bit? Disgraceful.

Liam isn't renowned for releasing/ performing sad songs, more upbeat rock and roll that you can shout in your car to. In fact, I'm sure that 'Rock n roll star' is what made me lose my voice and was the reason I was plagued with what sounded like the lurgy for a week after the gig. This doesn't mean however, that he cant do a sorrowful tune beautifully. 'Once’ is a song I try not to listen to, as it makes me ugly cry but, it cannot be ignored as it is such a graceful ode to time passing and not taking things for granted. I did have tears streaming down my cheeks and, due to swaying with a light at the height of the stadium, felt on top of the world.  

As we left the stadium, you comfortably felt the impact of what just happened. One man who embodied multiple generations had you stuck in a warp of elation, not one person was without a smile. One man, who is rock and roll personified, just sang songs dating back almost 30 years and the voice was the same. One man, who changed it all around to be a man of the people not a man for himself.

Naturally, people were singing and creating their own encore as they made their way home (or home for the night). One of the guys behind me very strictly told his friend that he was not allowed to sleep in his bath as that's where he was sleeping (I question what was wrong with the bed) as drunkards wailed 'Don't Look Back In Anger' in the background, and I couldn't help but wonder if this is what my Oasis shrine had been praying to all along.

Please, I beg you, listen to the new album 'C'MON YOU KNOW'. Yes it has the most Liam Gallagher title ever, and yes you will love it to bits.

My view of the Etihad, with a Manchester sunset lighting up the sky.