Live Review – Liam Gallagher at London’s O2 Arena

Words and Photography: Isabella Nixon

As part of his 30-year Definitely Maybe anniversary tour, Liam Gallagher stops off in London for four thrilling performances. On the fourth and final night of his O2 residency, LDN photographer Isabella Nixon heads down to give you a front-row seat to the show.

Once the charismatic frontman of Oasis, Manchester-born songwriter Liam Gallagher has become a rock ‘n’ roll legend. Known for his distinctive voice and bold personality, the Gallagher brother continues to captivate audiences decades later and tonight is no exception. To warm up the crowd, we were treated to bracing sets from Villanelle and Cast. Both bands were given well-earned rapturous applause from the crowd who were packed into the venue wearing their bucket hats, parka coats, and sunglasses, as you do; ‘C’mon, You Know‘!

Being able to photograph these bands was a fantastic experience, especially seeing Villanelle (with frontman Gene Gallagher, Liam’s son), which truly felt like I was living in the 90’s, experiencing Oasis at their prime. Similarly, Cast also brought out heaps of energy, playing hit songs such as ‘Walkaway’, ‘Sandstorm’, and ‘Alright’. The band is set to tour in the UK and Ireland this autumn.

After the supporting bands’ sets finished, the crowd was well and truly warmed up for the main man himself. In the countdown to the big performance, the stage set had a beaming countdown, set to stop at ‘1994’, the year in which Oasis’ album Definitely Maybe (DM) was released, supported by a wholesome montage of Oasis footage. Throughout this pre-performance period, chants from the crowd echoed through the arena, as we prepared for Gallagher’s first DM number, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’.

As the only song we could capture, I made sure to use my time wisely, even though as a big Oasis fan, I was in awe at how close I was, as were the front rows of fans. After the first song finished, the photographers left the pit and I eagerly entered the standing area to experience the excitement of the rest of the night.

‘Our kid’ owned London’s arena, playing twenty songs from his extensive discography. (Find the full setlist here). Personal favourites included ‘Slide Away’, ‘Married with Children’ and ‘Live Forever’, although there were some exciting choices of repertoire, including dedicating ‘I Will Believe’ to Justin Bieber (I know, right?) and ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ to Dave Grohl, who even attended the performance himself.

The stagecraft and design of the set was beautiful, with an illuminated globe and differentiating colourful lighting, casting a glow across the entire arena for the full 2 hours and 40 minutes in which Gallagher owned the stage.

Post-performance, Gallagher gave us two thrilling encores, including songs ‘Supersonic’, ‘Slide Away’ and ‘Live Forever’, followed by a rendition of The Beatles’ hit ‘I Am The Walrus’ before the crowd flooded through the exit. Hopping back on the London Underground, fans belted out ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ from the top of their lungs, supported by local buskers and their amplified guitars. This night truly was biblical and one I was extremely grateful to experience.

Scroll through the full gallery of the main man himself below.