Oasis Concert Review: March 1995

RSVP Oasis showed up this time and Mr. Fulton was on the front row. He was a little peeved in print, but one of his favorite bands of ’94 brought a smile to his face live. Concert promoter Scott Arnold was involved in booking the date. His name wasn’t listed as the promoter, but he probably managed some grocery money from his involvement. The Sony guy, Robert Page was there of course, with his lovely wife and his boss. Record store clerks were present in abundance. I spotted Pablo from Wherehouse, Steve from Randy’s and Matt from Sam Goody. Several prominent musicians and artists also attended as well as some radio personalities. The Red Iguanas owner stopped in. Hopefully Oasis visited his restaurant before leaving town.

Review Headshake was the opening band. If you have yet to see this local group, please do so in the future. After a long delay Oasis emerged from their tour bus, a well-equipped model which the Rolling Stone used on their recent tour. They took the stage and launched into “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” the first song on their Definitely Maybe CD. The Salt Lake audience was in ecstasy. Lead singer Liam Gallagher wore an oversize sweater. He stood with hands behind his back and belted out the vocals. As reported there is very little movement from the band as they play their tunes. After each song Gallagher would stand and stare at a point somewhere above the heads of thc audience members. The two guitarists played Gibsons, and their effects pedals were used liberally.

Everyone except Gallagher wore newly purchased shirts. It was as if Oasis had traveled to America to shop for shirts. The shirts had never been washed. They removed the straight pins and put them on for the gig. Factory fresh folds remained to show that the clothes were brand new. As expected the music was powerful. Their roots are firmly planted with The Beatles influence in place. Two highlights on their disc are “Supersonic” and “Live Forever.” Both were played for the enjoyment of the crowd packed around the stage. They closed with a cover of “I Am The Walrus.” Gallagher said good-bye and walked off. The band did the psychedelic thing until brother and guitarist Noel Gallagher walked off. The remaining three members—Paul Arthurs, rhythm guitar, Paul McGuigan, bass guitar and Tony McCarroll, drums— kept the psych going while many in the audience covered their ears. Then, they too walked off, leaving their instruments lying in a pile of feedback. There wasn’t an encore. The audience filed out into the night after receiving souvenir cassette singles courtesy of Sony music. The price of admission (free) was right. Oasis was exactly as I expected them to be, powerful and thoroughly entertaining. Now, let’s see if they can survive the hype and put out a second album as good as the first.

Read more from the SLUG Archives:
New Band Reviews: March 1995 
Low Pop Suicide