Perth, Australia (Concert Hall)

SETLIST:
1. (It's Good) To Be Free
2. Talk Tonight
3. Fade Away
4. Cast No Shadow
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. Listen Up
7. Half The World Away
8. Wonderwall
9. Whatever
10. Slide Away
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Don't Look Back In Anger
13. Married With Children

PRESENT:
Noel Gallagher
Gem Archer
Terry Kirkbride

REVIEWS:
The Age
Jay Hanna

Oasis half-measure plenty

IN stark contrast to the flashy fanfare preceding concerts from single-name superstars Robbie, Kylie and Elton in the past few weeks, Noel Gallagher's solo tour of Australia has been relatively low-key.

The tour was announced only weeks before it was due to take place and the tickets sold out within minutes, yet many fans didn't even know Gallagher was coming. For the lucky couple of thousand who scored tickets to this intimate acoustic performance, this was a chance to hear tracks Oasis never play and see Noel Gallagher perform them without being upstaged by the simian-like antics of his younger brother, Liam.

During the hour-and-a-bit show last night at the Perth Concert Hall, Gallagher played some of his favourite songs, many of which were album tracks and b-sides, and a few well-loved classics.

Joined by Oasis guitarist Gem Archer, who shifted from guitar to a theatrical box organ, and Terry Kirkbride on snare and percussion, Gallagher sauntered on to the stage with his trademark "come on" hand gestures before plonking himself on a stool, plugging in his acoustic and launching into (It's Good) To Be Free.

Focusing his attention at his feet, Gallagher was hardly an energetic performer, but what he lacked in showmanship he made up for with sincerity, handling each song like an old friend and delivering it flawlessly.

Talk Tonight was a crowd pleaser and got several audience members on their feet. It was followed by the Noel-sung acoustic and much better version of Fade Away.

Addressing the lad-heavy crowd, Gallagher asked: "So how are you anyway?" before acknowledging that England's cricket team were not doing too well. The team had arranged to be at the show, but given the misery of their day at the WACA, who could blame most of them for opting for a warm bath and cup of tea instead.

Introducing Archer and Kirkbride, Gallagher pointed to himself and said: "And I of course, is Liam's brother." The remark was greeted by cheers as the always straight-faced Gallagher launched into Cast No Shadow.

A barrage of quips, requests and banter from the Brit-packed crowd flowed throughout the night, causing Gallagher to remark: "Is there anybody here who is not from England?"

During a rare moment when all fell silent in the Concert Hall, Gallagher looked up and said: "This is why Liam doesn't come to things like this. It would do his head in. Just that 45 seconds of silence would do his head in."

It was a rare and welcome treat to hear obscure Oasis songs and see the elder Gallagher playing outside of the Oasis stadium rock environment without the necessary posturing and posing of his younger sibling.

The song selection reflected the laid-back vibe of the performance, from Gallagher's latest favourite, The Importance of Being Idle, to the excellent Slide Away, crowd pleasers Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger and even a cover of Strawberry Fields Forever.

Possibly one of Oasis's greatest b-sides, Listen Up, was greeted by an enormous roar that caused Gallagher to remark: "You all think it is Supersonic and it's not, so you can take that cheer back."

"No I'm not doing Rock N Roll Star that would be ridiculous," he remarked to another heckler.

"If you keep shouting songs at me I will just shout them back," he said, before reeling off a few ending with Beethoven's 5th.

"Fortunately it's not as good as this one," he remarked of the maestro's masterpiece before playing his own gem Half The World Away.

A slightly different version of Wonderwall prompted the explanation of: "I wrote it, so I sing it the way I want to."

Gallagher’s wit and unchecked ego were both in full flight and it was clear he was lapping up the limelight, in his own way.

With the "goodbye I'm going home" strains of Married With Children, Gallagher, who would the very next morning be boarding a plane back to England "to do the Christmas shopping", gave the audience a clap and walked off stage.

It was hardly the gig of the year, but it was a rare and warm treat delivered with style by England's premier rock ‘n’ roll songwriter. Gallagher, at least, did England proud.

PICTURES:

Sydney, Australia (Enmore Theatre)

SETLIST:
1. (It's Good) To Be Free
2. Talk Tonight
3. Fade Away
4. Cast No Shadow
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. Listen Up
7. Half The World Away
8. Wonderwall
9. Whatever
10. Slide Away
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Don't Look Back In Anger
13. Married With Children

PRESENT:
Noel Gallagher
Gem Archer
Terry Kirkbride

REVIEWS:
Sydney Morning Herald
George Palathingal

Gallagher makes every fan a winner

When Noel Gallagher described himself, a handful of songs into this set, as "the former most important man in the music business", he got a typically big laugh. But he wasn't kidding.

Oasis, the band started by Gallagher's younger brother, Liam, but wrestled into shape by Noel in 1994, were unstoppable then; a force of nature that didn't just change British music, they changed the country, providing the soundtrack for the rise of a new government and restoring a sense of national pride. (Maybe they overdid that last thing, but let's not get off track.)

Noel Gallagher seems to know the band never really recovered musically after the drug excesses following their monster second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory, otherwise you'd guess he wouldn't spend this sublime evening playing a 13-song semi-acoustic set featuring only one song from after 1995. We got blissful B-sides, rearranged and thoroughly refreshed versions of classic singles, album tracks that could (and arguably should) have been singles and one joyous cover version.

Accompanied only by fellow Oasis man Gem Archer on organ and guitar and their percussionist mate, Terry Kirkbride, Gallagher didn't just remind us of a bunch of glorious songs, he stripped them back and sang them so soulfully, in some instances we suddenly realised there was more to those bombastic anthems than we may have first noticed. The line "her soul slides away" in Don't Look Back in Anger, for example, was suddenly crushing.

The warm arrangements of Wonderwall, in a new-country style, and a speeded-up Whatever that tipped its hat to Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues proved more surprising than the rendition of the Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever - damn that information superhighway - but all were wonderful. Cast No Shadow and Slide Away sent shivers down your spine the way they did the first time you heard them. Half the World Away was simultaneously tender and jubilant.

By the end of the hour-long set - no encore, but it finished perfectly anyway with the wit and bile of Married with Children and the lyrics "goodbye, I'm going home" - Noel Gallagher and his friends had sent every fan home with a better Christmas present than they could have hoped for.

VIDEO:
Clip of Fade Away and pre-gig interview with Noel at ninemsn video

Melbourne, Australia (The Chapel)

SETLIST:
1. (It's Good) To Be Free
2. Talk Tonight
3. Fade Away
4. Cast No Shadow
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. Listen Up
7. Half The World Away
8. Wonderwall
9. Whatever
10. Slide Away
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Don't Look Back In Anger
13. Married With Children


PRESENT:
Noel Gallagher
Gem Archer
Terry Kirkbride


REVIEWS:
Sydney Morning Herald
Julietta Jameson

Hearing an acoustic, solo Noel Gallagher perform his band's magnum opus, Wonderwall, it was hard not to wish he'd sung it in the first place. Of course, it was his brother Liam - the surly one - who belted the Cool Britannia anthem out in his usual unmeasured style on the the 1995 Oasis release (What's The Story) Morning Glory?. (It was great, of course. Liam Gallagher has never been one of England's most technically proficient vocalists, but he is one of the most compelling.)

In the hands of its writer Noel - the curmudgeonly one - the song might not have had the energetic angst of the record, but it had light, shade and nuance and it was apparent the song actually meant something to its composer.

The feeling was typical of Noel Gallagher's performance during an intimate gig in Melbourne recorded for MTV's Live At The Chapel series on Monday night. The gig was held before Gallagher's sold-out show at Enmore Theatre in Newtown on Wednesday night.

Accompanied by Oasis guitarist Gem Archer and percussionist Terry Kirkbridge, Gallagher performed a handful of Oasis hits as well as a whole lot of B sides with which only fans, or those in possession of the recently released Oasis best of, Stop The Clocks, might be familiar.

Introducing the Kinks-esque 2005 British hit The Importance Of Being Idle, Gallagher called it the "last great song I wrote" with a wistfulness that provided a deliciously voyeuristic insight into the psyche of the loudmouth as artiste.

No such intro for Talk Tonight, the gorgeous B side of the hit Some Might Say. But Gallagher's delicate (yes, delicate) performance of a song containing the lyrics "I wanna talk tonight ... 'bout how you saved my life" left a lingering sense of his vulnerability and not just a whiff of boyish charm.

Gallagher hadn't gone completely soft though. A few choice digs at his favourite sources of derision, brother Liam and Robbie Williams, kept his motormouth rep well intact. His taped performance, Noel Gallagher At Vodafone Live At The Chapel, will screen on MTV December 26.


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AdelaideNow
Paul Nassari

Noel Gallagher has long been one of Britain's most talented - and outspoken - musicians. On his visit to Australia this month he performed an intimate set for Vodafone Live at the Chapel.

It was a very excited audience that greeted 39 year-old Oasis leader and main songwriter Noel Gallagher as he fronted up for an exclusive acoustic performance for Vodaphone’s Live At The Chapel to promote the new, 2CD Oasis compilation, Stop The Clocks.

Earlier in the week, the famous Manchester-born musician was quick to point out this was not a greatest hits offering, but a ‘best of’.

"Your greatest hits are the hit singles that are most popular ... your ‘best of’ is what is considered your best work,'' the Brit said.

“Thereby lies the difference.”

The double CD features a selection of what Gallagher considers the band’s best work, including such hits as Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova, Don't Look Back in Anger and Morning Glory.

“It could easily have stretched to three CDs, but that doesn't really appeal to me, do you know what I mean?'” Gallagher said.

“Three CDs is a bit much, seeing as how the Beatles only had two on their ‘best of'. It would be taking the piss to have three I think.”

Unsurprisingly, a number of the Stop The Clocks tracks featured in his Chapel performance; the most recent being The Importance Of Being Idle from the recent Don’t Believe The Truth set.

With uncharacteristic modesty on the night, the usually cocky guitarist declared this song to be “the last great song I wrote.”

The performance was littered with comical asides, crowd putdowns and insights into the origins of several songs.

He also included a surprise cover of The Beatles’ Strawberry Fields and a large amount of the group’s celebrated early b-sides - including the lovely Half The World Away, which he explained to the captivated audience came from a miserable time in his life when he “was confused and lonely. The irony is, I was surrounded by people.”

Which is literally what he was for this performance… Noel Gallagher in the round.

The crowd was abuzz with media-types and a number of ‘friends of Oasis’ (whatever that means – quite possibly fan-club members and competition winners), with the latter being admitted first and getting pride of position right behind Gallagher - a first for the Live At The Chapel series.

The rest could hardly complain as they snuggled up closer to the stage than most would ever have the opportunity to do, reclining on luxurious red beanbags and couches surrounded by the gentle glow of wax-dripping candelabras.

The organisers and hosts for The Chapel made no bones about declaring this particular performance the largest crowd they’d ever had.

The elder of the two Gallagher brothers admitted the choice of material for Stop The Clocks was mostly his, with just a little help from younger brother Liam.

“I done all that,'' he said.

“I get to pick the songs, that is my right as the oldest living member of Oasis.'”

This was not a true solo performance per se, as Noel was accompanied throughout by Oasis’ Gem Archer on guitar and organ and newcomer Terry Kirke-Brien on a stripped down drum-kit; but there was little doubt this show was all Gallagher Sr.

When it came time for his mystery drummer’s introduction, Noel pointed out Kirke-Brien was no stranger to the Oasis camp and had appeared on the track Monkey Fingers from Don’t Believe The Truth.

Inevitably, someone in the crowd fired up about the whereabouts of infamously temperamental younger brother and Oasis lead vocalist Liam, who immediately came under rapid smart-arse fire from Noel.

“What d’ya mean?” Noel asked. “Spiritually or mentally? Spiritually he’s all over the place. Mentally, he was never really there anyway.

“He’s just bought his first mansion and is currently turning it into Disneyland. Oh you laugh, but it’s not far from the truth.”

When a heckler asked if Liam was turning into Michael Jackson, Noel warned, “Watch it, he is family… but I’d be up for it if he started hanging out with a chimp. But who’d have the higher IQ?”

The Gallagher brothers, famed for their thick Manchester accents and bitter sibling rivalry, burst on to the British music scene more than a decade ago before going on to sell millions of albums worldwide.

Their volatile relationship, fights, drug problems, celebrity relationships - and their prodigious talent for producing catchy pop songs - have filled thousands of news pages around the world.

But it seems the brothers are going through a rough patch at the moment.

“We are not on the best of terms,” Gallagher said.

“I haven't seen him for a couple of months. I am not interested.

“I am generally not interested because he is generally not doing anything interesting. “They're not fighting though, he said.

“We aren’t fighting at the minute… but could well be the next time I see him though.”

Brotherly feuds and record label contracts aside, Oasis have enough material to release another album in 2007.

“There is this project going on that will probably take us to spring next year,”' he said.

“We have got most of our next album already recorded, stuff that was left over from the last one - we could start mixing it tomorrow.”

Sadly Gallagher couldn’t stay on hand to offer more as he was due at an exclusive Q&A after a Melbourne screening on the new Oasis doco Lord Don’t Slow Me Down.

Stop the Clocks is out now.

The Noel Gallagher episode of Vodaphone’s Live At The Chapel will be on Ch 10 on Boxing Day at 11.15pm.


BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Was broadcast live to Vodafone 3G Mobile holders in Australia. Slide Away, Don't Look Back In Anger, The Importance Of Being Idle, Wonderwall and Married With Children were broadcast on in Australia on MTV and on Channel 10 on December 26. A stream was due to appear on http://www.liveatthechapel.com/ from December 28.


PICTURES:

Melbourne, Australia (The Forum)

SETLIST:
1. (It's Good) To Be Free
2. Talk Tonight
3. Fade Away
4. Cast No Shadow
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. Listen Up
7. Half The World Away
8. Wonderwall
9. Whatever
10. Slide Away
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Don't Look Back In Anger
13. Married With Children


PRESENT:
Noel Gallagher
Gem Archer
Terry Kirkbride


REVIEWS:
The Age
Andrew Murfett

Gallagher performs it short, but sleek

There was plenty of conjecture surrounding Noel Gallagher's acoustic gig at the Forum Theatre on Sunday night.

It had nothing to do with Gallagher's vocal performance, which was first-rate. The set-list was outstanding, too. No, fans took umbrage at the brevity of the show.

Gallagher, accompanied by Gem Archer and percussionist Terence Kirkbride, delivered a superb (and succinct) hour of sing-alongs that left a beer-soaked crowd hungry for more.
The trio, who remained seated for the entire show, leaned heavily on songs from the band's mid-1990s heyday.

Opening with the B-side It's Good to Be Free, Gallagher offered up several more rousing renditions of his remarkably strong B-side catalogue including Talk Tonight and Half the World Away.

With the theatre's air thick with cigarette smoke, the room was brimming with diehards. Every song was greeted with a formidable roar of recognition within a few seconds of its beginning.

The exuberant crowd also mustered high-spirited vocals for each track, none more raucous than the classic Don't Look Back In Anger, from the (What's the Story) Morning Glory? album.
For his part, Gallagher was in good spirits. He playfully bantered with the boisterous - and sometimes belligerent - crowd through the show, joking on the Ashes trophy, and even brother Liam's absence.

Some genuine treats included album highlights Slideaway and Cast No Shadow as well as The Importance of Being Idle and Gallagher's reclaiming of the band's worldwide hit Wonderwall.
The night's biggest curio was an ecstatically received cover of Strawberry Fields.

After a brief farewell, Noel and co were suddenly gone. As the house lights slowly came on and the crowd realised there would be no encore, there were a few errant boos.

An abrupt ending, yes, but also one of the gigs of the year.

Manchester, England (Lowry Theatre)

SETLIST:
1. (It's Good) To Be Free
2. Talk Tonight
3. Fade Away
4. Cast No Shadow
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. Listen Up
7. Half The World Away
8. Wonderwall
9. Whatever
10. Slide Away
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Don't Look Back In Anger
13. Married With Children

PRESENT:
Noel Gallagher
Gem Archer
Terry Kirkbride

REVIEWS:
Manchester Evening News - 5/5
Helen Tither

WHAT would you expect from an exclusive and intimate Oasis homecoming gig? Cosy revelations about the Gallagher brothers’ life growing up down the road in Burnage? Heartfelt tales of missing Manchester?

When Noel Gallagher and bandmate Gem Archer take the stage for their acoustic gig in front of 400 Xfm competition winners at The Lowry theatre we get nothing of the sort.

Turns out he’s not really the kiss and tell, gut-spilling, tea and sympathy type.

But, if we don’t get up close and personal with Noel himself, we do get more intimate than ever with his songs. Which, let’s face it, more than makes up for that lack of chat.

This is Oasis, after all, not Oprah. And what songs. Stripped back, toned down, and minus the trademark strut of little brother Liam, these are Oasis tunes as you have never heard them before.

How Noel perhaps wants them to be. Take blast from the past Whatever – a string-laden single from the back catalogue which teeters dangerously on the brink of schmaltz.

Transformed here into a feisty folky number, it comes alive with a bit of Noel re-mastering.

“The original way we done this was ****,” he mumbles. “But we was all on drugs.”
Yes, he’s a man of few words. But when he does use them to answer back the (frequent) hecklers, he’s quick off the mark.

“Lend us a tenner,” comes the cry from the audience. “I only carry fifties, cock.” And not a hair on that mop top barnet ruffled.

But if the crowd are less than gushingly star struck by the presence of this modern day music icon on stage, you get the impression that’s just how he likes it.

He certainly comes without any of the airs and graces of the super famous, preferring instead to dress down in trademark jeans and polo shirt, as though he’s strolled straight off the street.

It soon becomes clear there’s little need for rock n’ roll swagger anyway.

Even without all the hype, the tough talking, and the hard-faced controversy, these are simply some of the greatest songs of the past decade.

From the anthemic Wonderwall to the recent chart comeback, The Importance of Being Idle, each one sounds great once more with just some simple guitar and Noel’s vulnerable vocals breathed up close into the mic.

Heard without the posturing of frontman Liam (who barely gets a mention all night), it simply proves what a great singer/songwriter he is in his own right.

Ostensibly, these intimate forays of Noel’s around the country are to promote the band’s 'best of' album, Stop the Clocks.

Less of an advert for the band, maybe. Definitely a good sign for any future solo career.

---###---
NME.com

Noel Gallagher voiced his support for ex-Arctic Monkey Andy Nicholson during an intimate hometown gig tonight (December 4).

The Oasis guitarist played 'Talk Tonight' during his latest acoustic show.

"I'd like to dedicate this one to our mate Andy" he told the crowd at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester. "He used to be in the Arctic Monkeys, but now he isn't for reasons I just don't know."

The Oasis leader's stripped-down gig, organised and broadcast by XFM Manchester, was witnessed by 400 ecstatic competition winners and celebrities including Peter Kay.

Backed by bandmate Gem Archer on guitar and organ, and percussionist Terry Kirkbridge, Gallagher played a career-spanning set, featuring early Oasis favourites 'Cast No Shadow', 'Wonderwall' and rapturously received set-closer 'Married With Children'.

The hour-long show also featured a cover of The Beatles' 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and a number of Oasis B-sides including 'Half The World Away' and '(It's Good) To Be Free'. Noel was in a buoyant, comic mood, slapping down a heckler who asked to borrow a tenner with a typical boast of: "I only carry fifties mate."

He also had a jokey dig at XFM DJ and ex-Inspiral Carpets man Clint Boon, who introduced him as "the greatest songwriter this country's ever produced."

"It's a nice thing for Clint to say - although it didn't stop him sacking me twice [as an Inspiral Carpets roadie]," he quipped. "Although it all worked out well in the end - I mean, he's working on the radio now!"

Support came from Tailgunner, the band fronted by 'Definitely Maybe' producer Mark Coyle, for whom Noel had a brief stint as a drummer.

The gig followed earlier acoustic show at the Union Chapel in London(November 26).

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Live broadcast on XFM apart from final song Married With Children. Gig was preceded with special XFM show with interview with Noel.

London, England (Union Chapel)

SETLIST:
1. (It's Good) To Be Free
2. Talk Tonight
3. Fade Away
4. Cast No Shadow
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. Listen Up
7. Half The World Away
8. Wonderwall
9. Whatever
10. Slide Away
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Don't Look Back In Anger
13. Married With Children


PRESENT:
Noel Gallagher
Gem Archer
Terry Kirkbride


REVIEWS:
The Sun
Victoria Newton

SOME gigs are so special you’ll never forget them – when the artist, venue, crowd and music just click.

NOEL GALLAGHER’S was just that.

On Sunday he gave one of the most polished, awe-inspiring performances I’ve ever experienced – in front of a small, 400-strong audience of Oasis diehards.

The star strummed, snarled and wise-cracked his way through 13 tracks made up of 12 Oasis classics and a brilliant cover of THE BEATLES’ Strawberry Fields Forever.

The crowd at the Mencap charity gig – held in the unusual surroundings of a church – enjoyed brief sets by two-piece Scouse band SHACK and chart-toppers KASABIAN before Noel took to the stage.

First off was (It’s Good) To Be Free, then Talk Tonight, Fade Away and Cast No Shadow, which Noel described as: “Polished that, weren’t it?”

The Importance Of Being Idle came next, then Listen Up, Half The World Away and Wonderwall.

After Slide Away – which he dedicated to girlfriend SARA MACDONALD – he launched into Strawberry Fields Forever, at the end of which the entire crowd stood applauding for more than 30 seconds.

Halfway through the set, Noel spoke for the first time about Pestlife beating Oasis to No1. He told fans: “If ever you needed proof that there isn’t a God, it’s Westlife getting the No1.”

And his mum Peggy would be horrified he used the C-word in the Lord’s house.

The night came to an end with Don’t Look Back In Anger then Married With Children.

Noel closed by thanking guests and hailing Kasabian as the greatest band in England then apologised in advance to any fans he failed to sign autographs for later because he would be “too a*******d” to do it.

A top caner, a top man and a top performer.


---###---
The Independent - 5/5
Ben Walsh

"What possesses someone to do that?" asked Noel Gallagher after a heckler pleaded for "Wonderwall" early on. "It's not for another 25 minutes yet." The bushy-browed boy from Burnage and the brain of Oasis was in a generous mood for this intimate acoustic gig in aid of Mencap.

The 500-strong crowd, most of whom had obtained their tickets at a Mencap auction, were made up of the faithful. And the infamously bolshie Mancunian was in no mood to upset them. This was a sensational set of Oasis songs with none of the dross and only one letdown, a cover of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields". Kasabian, a "surprise" support act and Gallagher's current "favourite band", fared better with their Fab Four choice, "I'm So Tired".

Gallagher, sporting his trademark black leather jacket and a worryingly Russell Brand-like scarf, kicked off with the inauspicious B-side "It's Good To Be Free". But it was clear that his voice would suit this chamber-music venue. To confirm this, his second number, "Talk Tonight", was gorgeous. This was the perfect venue for Gallagher's more plaintive material, and he was ably backed up by Oasis's Gem Archer on keyboards and rhythm guitar, and the mysterious Terry on drums. They weren't missing their Molotov cocktail of a lead singer.

NME recently dubbed Gallagher "the wisest man in rock". And as time passes and the memories of him sharing bubbly with Tony Blair fade into the ether, the more this iconic Britpop figure grows on you. The formerly belligerent rocker, 40 next year, has cut out the drugs and the bile and has morphed into a witty elder statesman. Another heckler screamed for him to "go on", and Noel's response was suitably dry, "Yes, I am going on. That's what I'm actually doing."

And he went on to belt out a wonderful "Cast No Shadow" and a melancholy "Half the World Away". He then played "Wonderwall", the only time that Liam was missed. Noel's voice doesn't suit this song - he lacks his brother's distinctive drawl. But he made up for it with the equally anthemic "Whatever", which he claimed to play "in the style of Bob Dylan". It came across like Dylan's "I Want You" and had the audience gleefully chanting the lyrics.

But the highlight was "Slide Away". This Definitely Maybe track evokes an acute feeling of nostalgia for Oasis. It recalls a time when they seemed (and it's hard to fathom now) capable of emulating anyone. So, a thrilling night, and perhaps a solo future for Gallagher?


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MTV.co.uk

Noel Gallagher brought the church down during the Mencap 'Little Noise Sessions' gig at the Union Chapel in London on Sunday, despite Oasis losing their album chart battle to Westlife.

Cheers and chants of "No-el, No-el, No-el," greeted the Oasis frontman to the stage and he was was in a playful mood for most of the evening, joking with a crowd member who kept shouting requests at the stage: "I'll give a thousand pounds to Mencap if you'll keep your mouth shut for 20 minutes."

The heckler didn't which resulted in Noel shaking his head and sighing: "You couldn't do it could ya? You couldn't even do it for the little kiddies!"

The crowd, which included Russell Brand amongst its famous faces, were treated to a collection of Oasis classics including 'Don't Look Back in Anger, Cast No Shadow and a heavily re-worked Wonderwall.

His band's greatest hits album may not have topped the charts but Noel didn't look at all bitter and also treated fans to Beatles track 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and a Bob Dylan-style rendition of 'Whatever'.

The venue, a still functioning church, must have thought it had received the second congregation of the Sunday as the crowd nodded, sang, cheered and shouted through a wonderful hour.
In support were Noel's mates Kasabian. The Leicester boys' stripped back set inlcluded a guitar, a bongo and a snare.

The boys covered The Beatles 'I'm So Tired' and concluded with a rabble rousing performance of 'LSF' which had the 500-strong crowd on their feet, banging and chanting along.


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NME.com

Noel Gallagher played a unique intimate gig in London tonight (November 26).

Oasis' leader staged an acoustic show at the Union Chapel in Islington as part of the Little Noises Sessions for charity Mencap.

Performing in front of his smallest UK audience for years, Gallagher backed by bandmate Gem Archer on guitar and a percussionist, played a mixture of acoustic B-sides and album tracks adapted for the evening.

Arriving on stage to chants of "Noel! Noel" before opener '(It's Good To Be) Free', the guitarist charmed with both his musical performance and his between song banter.

With the likes of 'Cast No Shadow', 'Wonderwall' and 'Don't Look Back In Anger' among the highlights, Gallagher also let the small crowd know his feelings after Oasis' 'Stop The Clocks' was beaten to the Number One slot in the UK Album Charts by Westlife tonight."Did someone say Westlife?" he asked the audience. "That goes to prove there is no God!"

However realising he was in a chapel he addressed the almighty saying: "You may strike me down if you wish, but it's true!"

With the set including a cover of The Beatles' 'Strawberry Fields Forever', Gallagher also paid tribute to Bob Dylan.

Introducing single 'Whatever', a track Oasis have not played live in the UK in some while, the guitarist explained he had based his new acoustic version of the song the legend's style, before blending it with the rhythm from 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'.

"I haven't played this next song in what... two weeks," he joked referring to a recent acoustic show in Los Angeles. "But as for you lot you haven't heard in ages. I'm going to do it in the style of Bob Dylan!"

Earlier support had come from Shack and Kasabian.

The Liverpool band played a pretty set including the likes of 'As Long As I've Got You' and 'Queen Matilda'.

Meanwhile despite the stripped down set-up, Kasabian were at their rabble-rousing best including 'British Legion', 'The Doberman' and Beatles cover 'I'm So Tired' in their set, before getting the whole of the Union Chapel on their feet for closer 'LSF'.


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Daily Mirror
Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley

IT'S not often Noel Gallagher is lost for words. But that's what happened when fans at his solo gig on Sunday night requested a tune by his chart rivals Westlife.

A bemused-looking Noel responded to the unusual chants from the crowd, joking: "Did someone say Westlife? That proves there's no God."

And realising that he was playing in Islington's Union Chapel, he added: "Strike me down if you like, but it's true."

Noel could do with some divine intervention since he lost out to the Oirish crooners in the battle for top spot in the album charts.

And his fine, low-key show for Mencap's Little Noise Sessions was certainly heaven-sent. Playing in front of a small (for Oasis) audience of 500 with bandmate Gem Archer on guitar, Noel delivered a storming set.

Highlights included (It's Good To Be) Free, Talk Tonight, Half The World Away and Slide Away. There was even room for a brilliant cover of the Beatles' Strawberry Fields.

Noel finally declared: "If anyone asks for my autograph later and I ignore you, I'm sorry. It's probably because I'm completely a***holed." Too much Cigarettes and Alcohol.


BROADCAST INFORMATION:
All songs with the exception of Listen Up, Whatever and Strawberry Fields Forever were broadcast on Channel 4 on the 16th December 2006.


PICTURES:

London, England (KOKO)

SETLIST:
1. (It's Good) To Be Free
2. Talk Tonight
3. Fade Away
4. Cast No Shadow
5. The Importance Of Being Idle
6. Come On/Let's Go (Feat. Paul Weller)
7. Thick As Thieves (Feat. Paul Weller)
8. Wonderwall
9. Half The World Away
10. Slide Away
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Don't Look Back In Anger
13. Married With Children
14. Listen Up

NOTE: Paul Weller took lead vocals on Come On/Let's Go & Thick As Thieves


PRESENT:
Noel Gallagher
Gem Archer
Terry Kirkbride
Paul Weller (On Come On/Let's Go & Thick As Thieves)


REVIEWS:
The Sun
Victoria Newton

NOEL GALLAGHER isn’t just a top caner — he’s brilliant at his day job too.

The Oasis legend played a 45-minute set at Koko in North London on Thursday in RUSSELL BRAND’s fundraiser For Pities Sake.

The comedian coaxed his showbiz pal into performing after striking up a friendship on his BBC 6 show.

And when Noel bowled up on stage he tamed the lager-fuelled crowd at once.
He even received warm applause from brother LIAM, watching from a balcony with Noel’s girlfriend and top lass SARA MacDONALD.

The opening act THE HOLLOWAYS were drowned out by the raucous crowd screaming “Li-am, Li-am” and also chanting for Noel.

KELLY OSBOURNE didn’t help matters by showing up at the side of the stage in a revealing top and giving a single-finger salute to fans at the front.

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS star CARL BARAT played an impressive acoustic set. The highlight was a cover of THE CHARLATANS’ North Country Boy with TIM BURGESS on guest vocals.

But Noel was the show-stopper, serving up the ultimate football terrace sing-along with backing vocals from every voice in the packed audience.

He played classics Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger and brilliant B-side Talk Tonight.

As if that wasn’t enough, PAUL WELLER joined him on stage too.

The tickets were £50. Another zero on the price would have been worth it.


PICTURES: