Beady Eye

Wolverhampton Civic Hall

review by Paul Mannion, pictures by James Watkins

Fitting for an Easter Sunday, the embers of Oasis were resurrected at Wolverhampton Civic Hall as Beady Eye made their West Midlands debut.

Born from the ashes of the Mancunian brothers’ latest and greatest fall out in 2009, Liam Gallagher’s rejuvenated band, now free from the shackles of big brother Noel, performed a raucous 90-minute set.

With Liam Gallagher retaining his signature swagger, snarling voice and moddish sense of fashion, to the untrained eye you’d be hard pressed to spot the differences.

Opening with Four Letter Word, a fast-paced, solid rock ‘n roll song, Beady Eye whipped the crowd up into a frenzy and in just four minutes proved there is life after Oasis.

The packed venue showed who they were supporting following the break up, chanting “Liam” after every song, to which an unfazed Gallagher retorted “nice one”, almost as often.

Single release and The Beatles-sounding Millionaire proved to be a crowd pleaser, before the sensitive and best song, For Anyone, saw a return to Gallagher actually singing, rather than rasping down the microphone.

Tub-thumping traditional stomper The Roller sounded like it had been corralled from an Oasis album of old and led to the crowd being showered in the dregs of drinks – some things never change.

The new band appears more relaxed, and less predictable and regimented – shown in swirling psychedelic guitar solos and punchy, rock ‘n roll, piano.

Next on the hit list was Bring The Light, and the songs kept on coming, including the anthemic The Beat Goes On.

The band  was always going to be one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated acts, but on the evidence of last night, the future’s bright for Beady Eye.