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The reunion of Oasis, of the long-feuding Gallagher brothers, isn’t so much the stuff of legend, a surprise no one saw coming, or a comeback of the ages. Chalk it down as a rock ‘n’ roll miracle.
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Fans had given up hope long ago.
Oasis split proper in 2009, following another backstage row, and any flicker of hope was snuffed out two years later when acrimony turned legal. Even the Gallaghers’ mom Peggy stepped in, pleading for her boys to bury the hatchet. All to no avail.
That was half a world away, a lifetime ago. Miracles do happen. Australians were witness to one Friday night, Oct. 31, as Oasis swept into Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, the opener for the Australian lap of their Live ’25 world tour, and their first show on these shores in 19 years.
The Victorian capital is always buzzing at this time of the year. The Melbourne Cup Carnival is underway, so too is Halloween, and at month’s end, the towering Melbourne Cricket Ground hosted an international cricket match, the visiting Indian men’s team taking on the national team.
On showday, Oasis t-shirts are the dress code for Melbourne’s CBD. In every café, on every sidewalk, an excitable punter in their Oasis kit. Bucket hats, branded Adidas jackets. The pop-up Oasis store in central has been booked out for the months, and the queues are disheartening. If merchandise is a good gauge, there’s only one show in town.
Marvel is an appropriate first stop. Once inside the Docklands sporting venue, fans can grab selfies with its superhero gatekeepers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including a massive “Hulkbuster” Iron Man replica.
The other superheroes would take the stage at 8.45pm.
Oasis’ band members, as they’ve done on previous dates, made their entrance to the pounding beats of the instrumental “F—in’g’ In The Bushes,” then switched on the jukebox for two hours of hits and fan-faves. The retractable roof was closed, a good decision after a day of uncertain weather, denying these these Manchester lads the comforts of home.
Kicking off with “Hello,” into which Liam inserted the lyrics “it’s good to be back,” then “Acquiesce,” and “Morning Glory,” provided an opening combination that hit hard and fast. “G’day,” Liam told the 58,000 gathered fans, Tina Arena and Jelly Roll among them. “Did you miss us? Because we missed you.”
This older, mature version of Liam is chattier than the chap we remember, and much less surly. Now aged 53, he loves a bit of banter. There’s a silly story about bumping into “Drew The Kangaroo” and regular words of encouragement to the audience.
The hits kept coming. “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Fade Away,” “Supersonic,” “Roll With It,” and a break for Liam, as Noel took the mic and the spotlight for his own mini-set, including “Talk Tonight,” “Half the World Away” and “Little by Little.”
For a late set rendition of “Whatever,” Liam interests the lyric from The Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden,” a tip of the bucket hat to their own heroes.
Noel’s guitar work is note perfect. Each solo, complete and exact. The Gallaghers, when they’re sharing the stage, don’t tread on each other’s toes. But, importantly, they’re fully committed, and generous.
“Nice one for putting up with us for so many years,” Liam told the faithful in Melbourne, many of whom flew from interstate or New Zealand for the occasion. “We f***ing love ya.”
The Manchester rocker have always drawn a crowd. All seven of their studio albums hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Chart, as did their 2010 hits compilation, Time Flies 1994-2009 – for a total of eight leaders. Along the way, the rockers have collected six BRIT Awards, including the Outstanding Contribution to British Music, two Ivor Novellos, and 17 NME Awards. Some 18 million people applied for tickets when dates for this world tour were first announced, with 2.6 million fans securing entry to the show. The only thing missing is entry in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. That will come.
This tour down under coincides with the 30th anniversary since the release of “Wonderwall” on Oct. 30, 1995, a song deeply embedded in Australian culture, which logged 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Chart and topped triple j ’s Hottest 100 songs of the past 20 years, which counted down in 2013.
“Wish this baby happy birthday. 30 years Wonderwall,” Liam remarked as Oasis dropped their signature song into the encore, bookended by “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and the final song, “Champagne Supernova.” Few bands can swing out three songs of this caliber at the end of their set.
A fan tried to hog the limelight, and create his own supernova, by lighting a flare several minutes from the end, earning a reprimand from Liam, who hissed “naughty naughty naughty,” channeling his best Mr C. He followed up with a strongly worded tweet.
The enduring image, however, wasn’t of a moment of stupidity from a fan, but a moment of brotherly love, as the Gallaghers briefly hugged it out before leaving the stage.
Earlier, Brisbane’s Ball Park Music warmed up with songs from their own deep catalog, including the right-on-queue “Please Don’t Move To Melbourne,” lifted from their domestic chart-topping 2025 album Like Love. Being here supporting Oasis is “a dream come true,” remarked frontman Sam Cromack, wearing an AC/DC shirt, a band that will be playing stadiums in the weeks ahead. For thousands at Marvel, being in the room with an active Oasis is a dream come true.
With their swagger, attitude, style, and songs that could live forever, Oasis might be the last great rock ‘n’ roll band. This tour is off to a blinder, a result for anyone in the place who wanted, waited for this band, and used the opportunity to go let it all out, and sing at to the top of their lungs.
Produced by Live Nation Australia Oasis’ Live ’25 tour continues Saturday (Nov. 1) and Tuesday (Nov. 4) at Marvel Stadium, then moves to Sydney for back-to-back shows at Accor Stadium on Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8.
Oasis setlist at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Friday, 31st October
HelloAcquiesceMorning GlorySome Might SayBring It on DownCigarettes & AlcoholFade AwaySupersonicRoll With ItTalk Tonight (sung by Noel)Half the World Away (sung by Noel)Little By Little (sung by Noel)D’You Know What I Mean?Stand By MeCast No ShadowSlide AwayWhateverLive ForeverRock ’n’ Roll StarEncoreThe Masterplan (sung by Noel)Don’t Look Back in Anger (sung by Noel)WonderwallChampagne Supernova
Central Cee’s Can’t Rush Greatness World Tour consumed Terminal 5 in New York on Wednesday (May 28). I say “consumed” because to enter Terminal 5 on the following night was to enter into a world dominated by nothing less than rabid, unchecked Cench fandom. I admittedly got there late, and heard Central Cee walk out on stage to a clamor of drums and screams while I meandered through security. When the walls shook with the rapper’s arrival, a young girl screamed for her friend to “hurry the f—k up” through the line, as if they had anything to do with the pace of security.
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“If I miss GBP I’ll f—king kill you!” she exclaimed in all seriousness before ultimately bailing on her friend and barreling toward the stage.
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This esurient energy was everywhere from the moment I got inside. Sweaty young supporters hurled themselves into mosh pits while shoving their friends and bulldozing their way toward the stage . A few die-hards carried vinyls, signs and handfuls of pens in the hopes of catching Central Cee’s fleeting attention. The U.K. spitter briefly indulged one fan early on in his set, signing his cap after it was hurled at him on stage, but the moment was ruined when dozens of others soared through the sky immediately after.
What struck me most amidst the ongoing chaos was Central Cee’s steadiness. There were some colorful visuals, but otherwise, it was just him on stage, rapping through “Ten,” “St. Patricks,” “Top Freestyle” “Gata” and more with the precision of a vet, but with the stage presence of a newly minted underground self-starter.
He couldn’t possibly be unaware of how beloved he is. The whole front row hollered every single word to “Truth in the Lies,” and three teen boys standing in front of me nearly tumbled off the balcony when he performed “Sprinter.” During his performance of “Gen Z Luv,” he FaceTimed a young girl in the crowd (a gimmick he’s used many times on tour so far), but the girl in question confidently spit every syllable in the song so confidently it felt staged.
Even if it was partially staged, the commitment was commendable. No special guests arrived (Cench had brought out A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie the previous night at Brooklyn Paramount), there was no backup dancers or any other fluff to add spectacle. The only “surprise” was when Cench busted out his seminal “On the Radar” freestyle, which he didn’t even need to rap because his fans drowned out the bars themselves. Prior to that, he played a few moments from Ice Spice’s “Did It First,” which garnered a surprisingly muted response.
The energy admittedly dipped during slower moments. “Limitless” didn’t pop off the way it should have, and Cench sat down for a performance of 2023’s “Cold Shoulder” that only some truly faithful Day One’s knew the words to. Regardless, the love was there, and the supporters came roaring back to life for a few more hits, most notably “Band4Band,” which the three teen boys in front of me knew, videoing each other singing with their phones. The trio had been clamoring for Central Cee’s attention all night, screaming at him during every lull. As Cench wandered around the stage, rapping “Band4Band,” the U.K. rap star finally looked up and gave a wave, causing the kids to dap each other up and almost seize in excitement.
“That was legendary,” one of them said as everyone stumbled out the venue. It was just Central Cee being himself, and for the sold-out crowd at Terminal 5, that was more than enough to satiate them.
“I said, they NEVER take the country out me!” Beyoncé bellowed in the misty night sky on Thursday (May 22) — repeating a lyric from “Formation” for emphasis, and also presenting the main idea of her sprawling Cowboy Carter tour, which made its way to New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium for the first of a five-night […]
One of the great music cities of America, the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN) gave us Prince, The Replacements, Jam & Lewis, Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum, The Time, Semisonic, The Jayhawks, Atmosphere and more. Not to mention serving as early stomping grounds for Minnesota-born legend Bob Dylan and, more recently, a pre-fame Lizzo […]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “More Leaks” album brings that raw emotion we expect from him, diving into betrayal, pain, and personal struggles.
Every track shows a different side of YB’s life, from his Louisiana roots to dealing with losses and love gone wrong. Let’s break down the hits and misses on the album:
“Trapped Out” hits hard with YoungBoy reflecting on betrayal. He talks about having people’s backs in the past, only to find out they weren’t loyal. It’s deep and relatable, a solid track that’ll hit home for anyone who’s felt the sting of fake love.
“Rich Junkie” brings the classic YB sound with a heavy Louisiana beat. If you’re a fan of him talking his talk, flexing and popping his ish, this one’s for you. It’s got that fire energy, making it one of the album’s standouts. “Jingle Bells” takes a wild turn, flipping the classic Christmas tune into something more gangster. YB sounds like he’s praying and venting about how he feels like his prayers ain’t being answered. It’s different and gives a vulnerable side to his usual bravado. “5 Night” is another solid track with beautiful violin production. YB comes through with a killer flow, making this one of the more memorable songs on the album.
Then we get “Cut Throat,” which feels kinda weak. It’s the same old YB slide talk, and the random line about his ex Deja doesn’t really fit. “On Me” has YB deep in his feelings, reminiscing about the friends he’s lost to the streets. While it’s emotional, it doesn’t quite hit the same as some of his other tracks.
Overall, “More Leaks” gives us a mixed bag of tracks. Some hits show YB’s vulnerability and emotional depth, while others are a bit repetitive. He’s definitely experimenting with his sound, but there’s still room for growth.
Look below for the full ratings and overall score of the album.
1. Trapped Out – 7/10
2. Rich Junkie – 8/10
3. Jingle Bells – 6.5/10
4. 5 Night – 7.5/10
5. Cut Throat – 5/10
6. On Me – 5/5/10
7. 86 Prayers – 4/10
8. Trap 101 – 5.5/10
9. GD Galaxy – 5/10
10. I Need A Doctor – 5/10
11. Paparazzi – 4.5/10
12. Of Late – 4/10
13. Dump Truck – 4.5/10
14. Letter To The North – 4/10
15. Demon Seed – 6/10
16. Hey Hey – 6.5/10
17. What You Want Do – 4/10
18. Out My Mind – 7/10
19. Take Me Slow – 3.5/10
20. She A Demon – 4.5/10
02/18/2025
The BLACKPINK superstar delivers sonic surprises, confident vocals and radio-ready tracks to prove her global pop star status.
02/18/2025
“Welcome to Pearl Jam’s 50th show in New York City,” Eddie Vedder said to a rapturous response on stage at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night (Sept. 4), the second of two shows the iconic band from Seattle played at the World’s Most Famous Arena this week.
“And for that we are grateful and want to pay that back. So enjoy yourselves to the finest — and Mike McCready promises to do the same,” he added, before the lead guitarist ripped into a searing version of “Evenflow,” playing an extended epic solo with his guitar behind his back.
That was one highlight of a show full of them, and one that captured the band in its element: pushing songs to the limit, having fun with the crowd and also getting serious about some of the big issues in the country and the world at large.
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“The rights of women are not just being threatened, they are already being taken away,” Vedder said after “Evenflow,” a handful of songs into the band’s two and a half hour set. “I know it’s a little early to be getting into this s–t, but let’s get it over with! So the right to choose issue, it used to involve religious fanatics, and then politicians got involved, not because they care one way or another, they just would like the votes. And it’s evolved into judges, and women of all ages are up against a Supreme Court. So there’s good news: It’s time to vote, and as the great Patti Smith said, people have the power. Never have truer words been spoken. Women, feel empowered; women, vote for your own interests, and help a sister out while you’re at it.”
The band then went into “Daughter,” with an extended outro to the melody of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In the Wall Pt. 2,” in which Vedder changed the lyrics to sing, “Keep your bans all off our bodies/ politicians leave our girls alone/ Judges leave our girls alone.”
It wasn’t the only time Vedder, wearing a Walter Payton Chicago Bears jersey, and the band addressed the outside world. On a day in which the U.S. saw another mass school shooting, in which four people were killed and more wounded at a high school in Georgia, the band pulled out a seldom-performed song from its sophomore album, Vs., called “Glorified G” — a cynical sneer at the false bravado of gun owners, with Vedder introducing it by saying, “I hate guns!” More poignantly, and more somberly, two songs later, the band played “Jeremy,” its first breakout hit from the group’s debut album, which is about a boy who brings a gun to school and shoots himself in front of his classroom bullies. Delivered with full energy, the subtext wasn’t lost.
Otherwise, the band clearly enjoyed the 50-show milestone, with Vedder telling a story of the first time he ever came to New York City (“as a Chicago kid, and then on the West Coast, I had never been East of Chicago before”) while introducing “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town,” while there were huge crowd reactions for the high-energy performances of songs such as “Rearviewmirror,” “Hail Hail” and “Do the Evolution.” (The latter, for this fan at least, takes on a different tenor after watching three episodes of the docuseries Chimp Crazy, but I digress.)
After a set break, Vedder came out solo to perform the Steven Van Zandt-penned “I Am a Patriot” and the latter-career gem “Just Breathe,” before bringing tour opener Glen Hansard — “Good human, great Irishman” — to the stage to perform the latter’s “The Song of Good Hope,” shouting out a few fans who had been going through rough times and saying that the song had helped him through troubles of his own. The full band — plus former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and producer Andrew Watt, who chipped in with a few solos over the evening — then returned for John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth” and the punk anthem “Sonic Reducer.”
The band then ripped through another rarity in fan-favorite “Leash” and its iconic anthem “Alive,” before Vedder brought Little Stevie himself on stage to run through a joyful “Rocking In the Free World,” complete with Hansard, Watt and the full arena lights on, before closing out with their unreleased classic “Yellow Ledbetter” and sending fans home into the Manhattan night.
Set List
“Garden”
“Corduroy”
“Hail Hail”
“Evenflow”
“Daughter – > Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2”
“Dark Matter”
“React Respond”
“Won’t Tell”
“Not for You”
“Wreckage”
“I Am Mine”
“Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town”
“Glorified G”
“Do the Evolution”
“Jeremy”
“Waiting for Stevie” (with Andrew Watt)
“Rearviewmirror”
—
“I Am a Patriot” (Eddie solo)
“Just Breathe” (Eddie solo)
“The Song of Good Hope” (with Glen Hansard)
“Gimme Some Truth”
“Setting Sun”
“Sonic Reducer”
“Leash”
“Alive”
“Rockin In the Free World” (with Little Stevie, Glen Hansard and Andrew Watt)
“Yellow Ledbetter”
Play Cash Cobain was originally supposed to be an EP, Cash Cobain told me when we named him April’s Rookie of the Month. “Nah, that’s for my Play Cash Cobain EP that should be coming out soon,” he said. “‘Dunk Contest‘ is going to be on there too, along with some other songs like ‘Candle’ […]
Playing a second show in the same city is usually a guarantee for special moments from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
And that was certainly the case on Sunday night as the New Jersey rock icon and his heart-stoppin’, house-rockin’, booty-shakin’ – you know the drill – ensemble played the second night of its latest North American tour leg at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Following up on its Thursday (Aug. 15) performance, Springsteen and company, 18 members strong, played with its usual earth-quaking exuberance, delivering 29 songs over the course of three hours and 10 minutes, making some significant changes to the set, tossing in a warm memorial to a fallen colleague and welcoming a guest to the proceedings.
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The group was nicely rested after a nearly three-week break following its spring/summer European trek but still sharp and hot from being on the road since February of 2023 – with, of course, one notable break.
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The Pittsburgh shows kicked off a kind of make-up leg for the E Streeters, coming back for shows that were postponed in the spring and fall of 2023 due to illnesses, including a peptic ulcer that Springsteen described as “a mother***er” at the opening show.
On Sunday, before closing with the solo acoustic “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” he told the capacity PPG crowd, “I hope we didn’t inconvenience with you too much with our postponements. It’s just great to be back here. You’re just a fabulous audience for us. Thank you so much.”
The Pittsburgh stand was a rare two-nighter in North American arenas for Springsteen on this tour, though he’ll do the same in Philadelphia on Aug. 21 and 23 and Toronto on Nov. 3 and 6.
This leg wraps up Nov. 22 in Vancouver, while some European make-up dates are slated for next May, June and July – with enough space between them to fuel anticipation for more shows to be added. And E Streeter Steven Van Zandt only stoked those hopes when he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette before the shows that,” Just between you and me….I don’t see any end in sight. We’re better than ever; you’re gonna see what I mean this week. These five-year farewell tours people are doing are really hilarious. We’re not gonna start our first farewell tour for another 10 years.”
And if Springsteen and crew can keep delivering magic moments like this, who would want to see them stop any time through…
Shakin’ It UpAfter some fans criticized the first leg of the tour for its unusually similar set lists, Springsteen has loosened things up – particularly during the European dates.
That spirit was reflected during night two in Pittsburgh, which featured nine different selections, including seven of the night’s first nine songs. The night opened with a pair of Darkness on the Edge of Town songs. – “Candy’s Room” and “Adam Raised a Cain,” and later the title song.
Particularly welcome, meanwhile, were a riotous, revival-flavored “Spirit in the Night,” with Springsteen and saxophonist Jake Clemons mugging at the front of the stage, and “If I Was a Priest,” in only its sixth performance of the tour. “Death to My Hometown,” meanwhile, was an astute nod to the Steel City’s rust belt history and renaissance. “I’m on Fire” was another surprise late-show inclusion, but seemingly came at the expense of “Rosalita,” which has been a staple of the encores.
Speaking Of Which…Springsteen and the band did not walk off after “Thunder Road,” choosing instead to go straight into the usual encore lineup of “Born to Run,” “Glory Days” (note the high school baseball layer friend now throws a “spitball” rather than a “speedball”), “Dancing in the Dark” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” before…
A Special GuestPittsburgh rocker and longtime Springsteen friend Joe Grushecky was in the house on Sunday with his family and then on the stage with the E Street Band during an encore rendition of the Isley Brothers’ “Twist & Shout,” playing acoustic guitar and singing backing vocals into the same microphone as Van Zandt and bassist Garry Tallent.
During part of the song’s schtick Springsteen told the crowd it looked “a little bushed” and ready to go home.
He asked Grushecky, “Is this the way a Pittsburgh crowd looks when they’re wiped out, or when they’re ready to rock their asses off all night?,” to which the Iron City’s own houserocker replied, “I don’t think they’re ready to go home yet. I think they’re ready to rock!”
Among their many collaborations Springsteen produced Grushecky and his band the Houserocker’s 1995 album American Babylon and made a guest appearance on Grushecky’s 2006 solo album, A Good Life.
A Moving TributeAfter posting a social media message addressing the Aug. 9 passing of journalist and author Charles Cross – co-founder of the Backstreets fan magazine, Springsteen dedicated that song to him, telling the crowd that, “This is for a friend of ours, Charles Cross, the founder of Backstreets magazine and his great writing and his influence and his help in communicating between our band and our fans will be sorely missed. This is for Charles.”
Springsteen held his guitar high above his head, towards the heavens, in salute.
Party FavorsSpringsteen was in a giving mood, materially as well as musically, on Sunday. He played his closing harmonica solo during “The Promised Land” directly to a young fan sitting on her father’s shoulders near the front of the stage, then gave her the harp.
He handed two other harmonicas to fans after “She’s the One” and “Thunder Road” and distributed a selection of guitar picks towards the end of “Darlington County.”
E Street Guitar ArmySpringsteen, per usual, handled most of the guitar solos during the show, but also tossed the ball to the able axemen who flanked him on stage. Van Zandt scorched some earth at the end of “If I Was the Priest,” while Nils Lofgren tore it up with epic six-string excursions during “Youngstown” and “Because the Night.”
Out in the SeatsSpringsteen made one sojourn into the crowd on Sunday, walking to a platform near the middle of the house during “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”, where he pressed flesh and accepted a drink while performing the song.
It also served as a tribute to departed E Street members Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici, with footage of both shown on the video screens.
We Are But MortalSpringsteen has been doing it since the beginning of the tour, but his speech before “Last Man Standing” – about the death of his longtime friend and ’60s bandmate George Theiss and being, literally, the last surviving member still alive from the Castiles – was still moving and inspiring, even tear-jerking: “As you get older, death brings with it a certain sort of clarity. Its lasting gift to us is an expanded vision of living this life, every day…And the grief, the grief that we feel when our loved ones leave us, it’s just the price that we pay for having loved well. “
By the NumbersFor those counting, the Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town albums were the most represented with five songs each, followed by Born in the U.S.A. and Letter to You with four each.
In all Springsteen played songs from 11 of his 21 albums, including his cover of the Commodores’ “Nightshift” from the most recent, 2022’s Only the Strong Survive.
Foo Fighters closed a two-date stand at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium on Sunday night with a nearly three-hour set that would have threatened to blow the roof off the venue if it had one. From the high-octane opener “The Teacher” (which is typically part of the encore) to standard closer “Everlong,” Dave Grohl and bandmates […]
