Oasis
Zilker Park, Sept. 24
As genuinely impressive as it was that most ACL acts commenced on time, it came as little surprise that Oasis didn’t. Revving up nearly 15 minutes past the schedule, the infamously tempestuous Brit-rockers managed to stay on their best behavior. To a fault. Waltzing onstage to a prerecorded version of “Fuckin’ in the Bushes,” they segued into material from their new album, Don’t Believe the Truth, and though the new album is strong, the audience’s lack of recognition proved Oasis isn’t the draw it was a decade ago. “Maybe you know this one,” offered guitarist/vocalist Noel Gallagher as the group proceeded to dip into its mid-1990s catalog. The crowd did know “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory,” “Live Forever” (dedicated to New Orleans), and “Wonderwall” (dedicated to “all the ugly girls”). Liam Gallagher’s voice sounds like an ashtray, but that didn’t stop a river of cigarette lighters from sparkling a stirring “Champagne Supernova.” Has Oasis become a dinosaur rock band? Closing with a cover of the Who’s “My Generation,” the answer was obvious.
This article appears in September 30 • 2005.