Best Moments From Rogers Stadium

Fans have been watching like hawks for any sign of sibling discord, with even online sportsbooks taking bets on whether Liam and Noel Gallagher’s truce could survive until Oasis’s Toronto show.

Last week, before this concert, Noel finally gave his first interview since the reunion, and had nothing but nice things to say about his brother and the band. “It’s great just to be back with [guitarist] Bonehead and Liam and just be doing it again. I guess when it’s all said and done we’ll sit and reflect on it, but it’s great being back in a band with Liam. I forgot how funny he was,” he said. “Liam’s smashing it. I’m proud of him.”

But Oasis’s Gallagher brothers looked united at Rogers Stadium. They arrived onstage together before launching into their set-opening “Hello,” triumphantly raising their arms together. Though Liam is the primary frontman while Noel is the primary songwriter and lead guitarist, both siblings got their time to shine throughout the show, with Noel notably singing lead on a three-song stretch of “Talk Tonight,” “Half the World Away” and “Little by Little.” All melodic gems within the Oasis catalogue, it was a surprising mid-show highlight.

There’s a tradition at Oasis concerts before they play “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” inspired by a ritual at the brothers’ beloved Manchester United matches, called the Poznan. Fans link arms, turn their back to the stage (or pitch) and jump up and down. Would the UK and Europe ritual spread to Canada?

Before launching into the song, Liam shared a story of a “geezer called Hugo” who came up to them that morning skeptical they would do it. He says, ‘Good luck tonight trying to get these Canadians doing the Poznan,’” relayed Liam. “They’re all a little bit shy. They’re a little bit scared and stuff. They all smoke pot now. They’re all f—king out of their heads.’…So what, are we going to prove them wrong then or what?”

It didn’t look like the whole stadium got on board, but there were definitely pockets, especially in the bleachers where every jump shook the whole structure. (After Coldplay made headlines for their jokes about the just-built Rogers Stadium, Liam also had a crack, comparing the bleachers to “Legoland.”)

After the song, Liam was evidently satisfied. “We showed Hugo,” he declared.

Toronto hosted a special Oasis pop-up shop on Queen West in the home of music and community space It’s OK*, and fans lined up down the block. Inside, the fan store sold Oasis shirts, special Oasis Adidas jackets and jerseys and branded bucket hats.

It was a busy weekend in Toronto. Oasis’s concert coincided with the Fan Expo and concerts by Nine Inch Nails and My Chemical Romance. Walking around the city, it was easy to spot by their clothes who was in town for which event. On Sunday, it seemed Oasis was winning. Bucket hats were everywhere.

They turned out to be quite necessary, as rain poured down throughout the show.

Raindrops started to fall during “Stand by Me.” It’s already a poignant song about people’s connections throughout the changes of life, and the harmony-filled chorus was infused with extra meaning from the Gallagher brothers’ reconciliation. The light rain gave it some extra emotion. But then, the rain just got heavier. Liam raised the hood of his jacket over his head, which created a nice visual alongside his trademark lean into the microphone.

“Don’t you just love it, a little bit of chaos when the weather comes?” Liam said. “So fucking good, innit? All that sunshine, it’s not good for ya. Wind and sleet. Good for the soul.”

They took a brief break to dry off the stage, and the crowd cheered when they sorted it out. “All this money we’re making, we can’t afford a better carpet,” quipped Liam.

They joked about it throughout the show. At one point they asked if anyone had a brolly (umbrella). “Come to Toronto,” Liam said sarcastically. “The weather is hot. You don’t need a parka. It’s 35 degrees.”

But despite the weather, they played their whole setlist, even doing the perfunctory encore break while the crowd got drenched.

Despite the weather, the arena bowl and bleacher seats didn’t seem to empty much. There was a brief lull when some fans rushed to the merch shop and returned with plastic ponchos or branded hoodies, but the vast majority of the audience stayed put until the bitter end. That’s because they knew what was coming. No one wanted to miss the encore 1-2-3 punch of “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova.”

Those (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? classics are three of the most undeniable rock singalongs in music history, and it’s a huge flex to be able to play them all in a row. Fans went suitably nuts for them, belting along every word at the top of their lungs. Those who stayed were treated to a long, uninterrupted fireworks display to end the night.

Oasis plays Rogers Stadium again tonight (August 25). Here’s hoping it will be a little bit drier.