Liam Gallagher and John Squire bring their new album to home turf. Jake Bugg offers support as well as a slot from Squire Jr, Dillon.

When Liam Gallagher and John Squire announced they were to release an album together, it whet the appetite for fans of The Stone Roses and Oasis both old and new. Two of the finest musicians of the past few decades putting music out together? Nothing can go wrong…can it?

DILLON SQUIRE

Opening proceedings is Dillon Squire; son of John. He and his five piece band blast through thirty minutes of music that checks off many of the influences that you would expect to see. Decked out in full denim, Squire sings with passion and plays with vigour. At one point he throws out merch to the crowd as his guitar, propped against his amp, feeds back.

Whilst early on his career, Dillon Squire has the upbringing and heritage to create excellent music. Set closer, Dark Circles, rumbles the Apollo with the guitar lines soaring, backed by saxophone, drums and bass. A really solid opening to the evening.

JAKE BUGG

Whilst still very young, Jake Bugg has been releasing music for over decade now. In 2012, he released his self titled debut record at the age of 18. Songs like Lightening Bolt, Two Fingers and Seen It All soundtracked the early parts of the last decade or so.

Ambling onstage, Bugg wastes no time in going about his business. He is playing solo therefore there are no frills from a band; just the excellent guitar work that Bugg offers on his acoustic guitar. There is a charm in his patter when he thanks the crowd and mentions that he will be playing some old stuff as well as newer stuff. The latter shows that the well is not dry for Bugg. In particular, I Wrote The Book makes a big impression, of the new material.

When Bugg goes back to his lauded, Mercury nominated, debut, the crowd come alive. Mass singalongs greet Trouble Town, Two Fingers and a closer of Lightening Bolt. His playing is intricate and full throughout. Another noteable dip into the back catalogue is the razor sharp Slumville Sunrise. Bugg gets great sounds out of his six string. In some ways, his songs are improved in their stripped back form.

This Nottingham troubadour has the makings of becoming one of England’s finest songwriters. He is the perfect foil for what is to come in the main event.

LIAM GALLAGHER & JOHN SQUIRE

And so to the heavyweights. Their recent album hit number one and has been generally well received. It contains ten songs of solid rock and roll with plenty of psychedlic flourishes. There are nods to the obvious candidates such as The Beatles, Humble Pie and Led Zeppelin.

The calibre of Gallagher and Squire is unrivalled. Both have been a part of some of the most seminal music over the last four decades. It is a match made in heaven to see these two stars together.

Hitting the stage to George Harrison’s Ski-ing, Gallagher enters with Joey Waronker (drums) and Barrie Cadogan (bass). Liam wanders towards the front of the stage, immediately building his unrivalled rapport with the crowd. There aren’t many better than him; and it must be refreshing for him to be up close with his crowd…an intimacy that is sometimes lost at the mega gigs.

Just Another Rainbow opens the set. Immediately, it is evident that Liam is in the mood. He sings with his trademark snarl and to be honest, in thirty years of watching him sing, this writer can’t remember when he has sounded better. Is it the sound of continued revitalisation? Probably. When the lyrics of the rainbow hit, Liam punches his chest when the blue hits.

It doesn’t take long for Squire to start laying the licks down either. His style is often compared to Hendrix and Page; and rightly so. Throw in there a bit of Eddie Hazel too. When I’m A Wheel breaks down into it’s second half, the blues jam evokes the sound of the early Funkadelic jams. The song is preceded with Liam asking if anyone likes the blues? A question about the song…not the colour of the team you support!

Football analogies feel apt in some of the music on show. This is route one football…no tikka takka here. Rock and roll and blues (music – not clubs etc). It might be direct, but there is no lack of finesse in much of what is on show here. Love You Forever continues the bluesy bent. “Have I told you lately that I love you?” says Liam before the song starts. Manchester is certainly in love with the boy from Burnage. John Squire plays his guitar with such fluidity and freedom; it is great to hear him play in such intimate surroundings.

FUTURE ANTHEMS?

Make It Up As You Go Along is a little bit throwaway but the lyrics, if a little tongue in cheek, provide more fodder for the crowd to eat up. “Thank you for the thoughts and prayers, and fuck you too,” is delivered with conviction by Gallagher. The heavy honky-tonk of You’re Not The Only One fizzes and sounds every part a rock song for the ages.

As the gig moves into it’s final stretch, there is a realisation (at least for this writer) at what we are witnessing. As Oasis stated back in 1996 at Knebworth…’This Is History.’ It feels like that with this run out for Gallagher and Squire. Two rock stars that match perfectly. Squire wrote the songs for Liam to sing; Liam does them justice and more. He is clearly a pro of his trade.

Various extended blues outros see Liam standing to attention just basking in the adulation of the crowd as the bluesy sounds just wash over and consume him. He takes a seat at one point as Squire goes to work on the wah-wah peddle. Whilst he sings I’m So Bored, the crowd is clearly not. The balcony are on their feet and swathes of girls are on their friends shoulders. Occasional pint pots go flying and the front rows of the crowd are illuminated by mobile phones catching their ‘content.’

Mars To Liverpool is one of the best songs on the album. It has a brilliant chorus and has music that is punchy and in your face. It is destined to be one of those songs that becomes a festival anthem. The same can be said for main set closer, Raise Your Hands. “Get yer boos out of the way…this is the last one,” announces Liam. Maybe an acknowledgement of some people bemoaning the set length for the shows. He says they’ll be back with ‘proper tunes’ next year. Another collaboration album? Maybe. A fresh Liam Gallagher album? Potentially. One thing for sure, is that this pairing has some serious mileage in them.

Returning for a stomping cover of Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash, the pair and their band, take their final bows to rapturous applause. The crowd depart; there are a few dissenters, however the vast majority of people are clearly buzzed from seeing two of the best rock stars ever, playing together. If you want to hear the Oasis classics, Liam is touring Definitely Maybe in much larger venues later in 2024.

Check out I’m A Wheel from Liam Gallagher John Squire below.

Keep up with At The Barrier: Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / Instagram / Spotify / YouTube