Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, O2, gig review: Oasis hits and sweary banter make for a joyous evening

Noel Gallagher performing with his High Flying Birds (Getty Images)

Noel Gallagher has said fans would get what they wanted on the ‘H.F.B’ tour; a good smattering of Oasis hits.

But for the first few tunes we're lost in a slosh of music from the band's self-titled first album; the simple, orchestral "Everybody's on the Run" and stomping “Stranded on the Wrong Beach”.

From the new album, Chasing Yesterday; currently at number one in the UK charts, the funky guitars on "The Mexican" get an enthusiastic response from the younger members of the crowd.

Noel's employing the same four chords, the same strumming patterns from his Oasis days, making the new hits feel instantly hallowed by time, and totally unoriginal.

It all changes when, mid-way through the set, the group hammer into "Champagne Supernova", backed by the 20-strong Crouch End Choir.

It's testament to the song's power that it makes even the soul-sapping husk of the O2 feel like a rave in a field at 3am (it’s 10pm on a school night).

Even the beery bankers in the expensive seats are dancing. Noel keeps up a string of sweary banter as a fight breaks out: "They do fighting from the North, they don't do that down here. Too busy reading the f***ing Guardian down here."

Then the stirring old hits “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “Masterplan” joyously flow for the finale. Noel has kept his word.