Oasis Makes Their U.S. Landing, Take Over New York City (Live Review)

Before fans had even headed into MetLife Stadium, it seemed as if the entirety of New York City was gearing up for their Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 shows in East Rutherford, New Jerseyy. Sidewalks, bars and cars blasted Oasis’ now classic catalog, there was a special Oasis pop-up shop in SoHo that’s been up all week and the din news reports and “Cool Britania” nostalgia seemed to permeate all five boroughs and far beyond with the band’s arrival feeling more like a holiday than a tour stop.

“It is very special and unexpected for many,” Live Nation’s Arthur Fogel told Pollstar earlier. “The show is exactly what it should be.”

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Joining the brothers on stage include guitarists Gem Archer and Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, bassist Andy Bell, drummer Joey Waronker and keyboardist Christian Madden. The horn section comprises of Alastair White, Joe Auckland and Steve Hamilton.

The venue at MetLife holds a capacity of some 82,500 fans, with the band noting around 60,000 people were in attendance. According to Pollstar‘s database, the band is booked by Primary Talent International worldwide, and managed by Ignition Management. The North American leg of the tour is promoted by Live Nation’s Arthur Foogel, while SJM’s Simon Moran promoted the European dates.

Pollstar Boxoffice reports highlight the band’s shows from before their 16-year break, with reports running from 1999 to their disbandment in 2009. With 105 headline reports, they previously sold 959,791 tickets, grossing $46.2 million. Before the band wraps up their reunion tour dates on with two nights in São Paulo on Nov. 22 and 23, they’ll perform at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (Sept. 6 and 7), Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City (Sept. 12 and 13), Wembley Stadium in London for a second time (Sept. 27 and 28), Goyang Stadium in South Korea (Oct. 21), Tokyo Dome in Japan, (Oct. 25 and 26) Marvel Stadium in Melbourne (Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and 4) and Accor Stadium in Sydney (Nov. 7 and 8), Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires (Nov. 15 and 16) and Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanas in Santiago, Chile (Nov. 19).

Lines for merch wrapped around MetLife Stadium, and the bulk of items were sold out long before opener Cage The Elephant took the stage. Fans were decked out in jerseys (Adidas released an official line of merchandise collaborating with Oasis – all sold-out both onsite and online) with a multi-generation fanbase of all ages were in attendance. The floor and every seat was packed, by the time Cage The Elephant came on stage. In fact, some hardcore fans at the show on Sept. 1 had actually been the previous night.

Cage The Elephant took the stage at 7:30 p.m., performing for an hour and playing hits like “Cigarette Day Dreams,” “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” “Come a Little Closer,” and “Trouble” among others. A strong and popular headliner of their own, with 150 headline reports submitted to Pollstar’s Boxoffice since 2006 that include 400,869 total tickets, grossing $17.3 million, fans swarmed in to make sure they could enjoy their set ahead of when Oasis was set to take the stage at 8:45 p.m.

Before Liam and Noel Gallagher even stepped on stage, the crowd, a sea of Oasis jerseys, jumped up and down and stomped in a mass celebration of the band’s first tour since 2009. When the band first announced their North American dates of the “Oasis Live 25 Tour,”, they challenged us: “America, you have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along. At MetLife Stadium for two nights the audience did more than prove it.

The band’s production primarily displayed them performing with a few moments of the brothers as children. While the show was fitted with lights and visuals including a field that appeared Noel was floating over while he sang from the stage, the bulk of the production focused on the band itself. Projected on the screen was nearly every moment from the show itself – both the brothers, and the crowd.

Oasis’ set lasted to 10:21 p.m., with the band returning for an encore at 10:24 to perform hits including “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Wonderwall” and wrapping with “Champagne Supernova,” with fireworks blasting long after their final walk off.

Ahead of “Don’t Look Back In Anger,” Noel asked, “how many people here are seeing us for the first time? This is why we’re doing it. You may have wondered what it might be like to sing this next song with 60-70,000 of your fellow Oasis fans. Well, you’re about to find out what that feeling is like.”

That feeling was momentous – every audience member felt they were part of something.

Pollstar Boxoffice reports highlight the band’s shows from before their 16-year break, with reports running from 1999 to their disbandment in 2009. With 105 headline reports, they previously sold 959,791 tickets, grossing $46.2 million. Before the band wraps up their reunion tour dates on with two nights in São Paulo on Nov. 22 and 23, they’ll perform at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (Sept. 6 and 7), Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City (Sept. 12 and 13), Wembley Stadium in London for a second time (Sept. 27 and 28), Goyang Stadium in South Korea (Oct. 21), Tokyo Dome in Japan, (Oct. 25 and 26) Marvel Stadium in Melbourne (Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and 4) and Accor Stadium in Sydney (Nov. 7 and 8), Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires (Nov. 15 and 16) and Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanas in Santiago, Chile (Nov. 19).

Oasis Sept. 1 set list
1. Hello
2. Acquisce
3. Morning Glory
4. Some Might Say
5. Bring It On Down
6. Cigarettes & Alcohol
7. Fade Away
8. Supersonic
9. Roll With It
10. Talk Tonight
11. Half the World Away (dedicated to the Irish crowd)
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 (dedicated to John McEnroe)

Encore
20. The Masterplan
21. Don’t Look Back in Anger
22. Wonderwall
23. Champagne Supernova