When Oasis announced their reunion in 2024 and plotted out a globe trekking tour to celebrate, the immediate question was "will they even make it to the stage without a fight breaking out?" and if so, how long could they really make it last? Well, after making headlines with their U.K. homecoming, the band is still busting all expectations and not only have the two really seemed to bury the hatchet, they've put together a show that will be remembered forever. While no official word has been reported on exactly how much the brothers stand to make from this reunion, the idea that this is merely a cash grab is instantly debunked as the two took the stage and gave each other a lovingly embrace as video screens flashed tabloid headlines and social media posts about the supposed reunion before descending into chaotic clips of the reactions of fans once it was officially confirmed. To say the stakes were high would be an understatement, but as soon as they broke into "Hello" and when the final refrain of "it's good to be back" hit, it became clear that this wasn't just a fantasy, but we were set to witness a show of a lifetime. Following it up with "Acquiesce" delivered a similar sensation when they got to the chorus and the entire stadium was shouting back "Because we need each other / we believe in one another." From the jump, the energy was already off the charts and things were only getting started. Looking down onto the field from the stands, you could see the swells of bodies begin to jump when the band hit the opening notes of "Morning Glory" and it wasn't long until the entire stadium was shaking along to the beat and I'm not sure I can recall a time where I've experienced that level of enthusiasm from a crowd at a stadium show. It was electric and the entire place erupted with sheer joy as we all screamed back the chorus while the band looked totally pleased and entirely unbothered by the whole thing. Whatever Liam did manage to say to the crowd between tracks was lost to his garble, but it didn't matter because the crowd was ecstatic just to be there and live through the momentous occasion. The momentum of the night never dulled and the band wasted little time quickly moving from one tune to the next as to make sure the audience never had a chance to catch their breath. "Cigarettes and Alcohol" was another tremendous moment that had the building come alive to "you could wait a lifetime to spend your days in the sunshine," a lyric that perhaps hit a little extra hard on Labor Day Weekend, but nevertheless packed the almighty punch you would've expected. "Supersonic" was another supreme smash and when paired back to back with "Roll With It," it really made you question how things could possibly get any better. While the back half of the set was devoted largely to their catalogue outside their first two albums, there were still some massive songs that took on new life and certainly pushed the respect levels to new heights, "Stand By Me" in particular really had the crowd worked up and ready to keep things moving. Another one-two hit to close the main set with "Live Forever" and "Rock and Roll Star" was astonishing and magnetic, an exhilarating experience that was chock full of Britpop magic that made you really wonder just how come they never reached the same heights here in the States as they did back home in England during their initial run. However, if you thought that the time hadn't come to full realize the true power of this band, when they hit us with the encore, the night moved from a legendary concert to one that will surely be talked about for ages. "The Masterplan" was a nice amuse bouche, but when Noel struck the chords and lead us into "Don't Look Back in Anger," the stadium was lit up with emotion and kicked-off one of the greatest singalong moments you'll ever experience. The volume was thunderous and the emotions reach critical mass unlike anything I'd ever seen before and when Liam returned to the microphone to say "This one's 'Wonderwall,'" the place exploded with passion. This one rivaled the singalong of "Hey Jude"-level proportions and to live in the moment was utterly breathtaking. Memes and jokes aside, hearing nearly 80,000 people sing a song that society as a whole knows so well, was mind boggling and an absolute triumph beyond belief. Still, to cap things off meant somehow topping one of the most well-known songs of the planet, but if there's anything that could do it, "Champagne Supernova" certainly lived up to the challenge. Another brilliant composition and rock song of all-time, it was an incredible way to bring down the house after an all-time concert, but when a dazzling fireworks display blit up the sky over Metlife, you could see the jaws dropping all around you. The explosions syncing up to the beats of the song was awe-inspiring and cemented the night as not just one that surely exceeded all expectations, but made for a night that will without question go down as one of the best rock shows of the year, but in recent memory as well.
Set list:
01 "Hello"
02 "Acquiesce"
03 "Morning Glory"
04 "Some Might Say"
05 "Bring It On Down"
06 "Cigarettes & Alcohol"
07 "Fade Away"
08 "Supersonic"
09 "Roll With It"
10 "Talk Tonight"
11 "Half the World Away"
12 "Little by Little"
13 "D'You Know What I Mean?"
14 "Stand by Me"
15 "Cast No Shadow"
16 "Slide Away"
17 "Whatever"
18 "Live Forever"
19 "Rock 'n' Roll Star"
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20 "The Masterplan"
21 "Don't Look Back in Anger"
22 "Wonderwall"
23 "Champagne Supernova"
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