Live Review: Liam Gallagher, SSHH

SSHH sound like PiL from outside the establishment, particularly the vocalist.

What you need to know about this band is that Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey (who also plays in The Who) is the guitarist. Lead singer Sshh Liguz (so called since, Liguz tells us, she has a habit of speaking out of turn) sports an all-leopard skin ensemble and also plays harmonica. Extra Extra is wonderfully cacophonous and this duo have enviable stage presence, but would probably be better appreciated in a dingy pub. Still, their take on Primal Scream's Rocks grabs our attention.

Trust Liam Gallagher fans to clamber over barriers to find spare seats with better vantage points as soon as the house lights dim. The simple 'backdrop' in front of the keys console, a couple of white boards that read "Rock 'N' Roll", is as old school and rough and ready as our headliner. The band walk out on stage. Gallagher struts forward, all anorak-ed up, and announces their opener, Rock 'N' Roll Star, which he performs with trademark hands clasped behind butt, leaning in as if he's about to pash the mic. He sure does beat the shit out of a tamba and shakes the bejesus out of one-handed double maracas throughout, which calls to mind Ian Brown. (What's The Story) Morning Glory? follows and the GA collectively lose their shit, with topless bros on mates' shoulders galore helicoptering their tops overhead. 

The beauty of Gallagher's lyrics is in their simplicity as perfectly demonstrated during Bold ("Lay it on me" x 3/"Yeah"). It's freaking roasting inside The House Of Stoush, but Gallagher would never NOT wear an anorak. Imagine seeing him perform in a white wife beater! Fans yell out his catch cry between songs, "As. You. Were!" Gallagher's backing band are the bomb.

After Gallagher warns us there will be a few new songs, adding a rhetorical "if that's alright", there's a noticeable communal toilet/rack break. Then, as if to spite the heat, Gallagher puts his hood on and secures the drawstring firmly beneath his chin. Some of Gallagher's solo material sounds like five different Oasis songs combined, but at the end of the day evoking one fifth of Champagne Supernova could never be regarded as a bad thing. The rejuvenating power of breathing the same air as Gallagher should never be underestimated. His superstar status is epic and that vocal tone? Heaven sent. Main-set closer Live Forever sees Gallagher's voice drowned out by a geezer singalong. 

We chant "Li-am! Li-am" to bring him back out, but since Wonderwall hasn't yet been played an encore is guaranteed. They return to the stage for a rapturously received Cigarettes & Alcohol. Gallagher's banter is minimal this evening and he sadly doesn't show off that razor-sharp wit. "I'm still going," he states into Wonderwall. Gallagher effortlessly sustains the tail end of chorus notes ("... maybeeeeeeeeeeeeee...") where crowd members peter out and even venue staff (Bar Runner written on the backs of shirts are a dead giveaway) flock out into the crowd to secure better views. "I don't believe that ANYbody/Feels the way I do/About you NO-ow" - such beautiful, meaningful lyrics don't come about every day (thanks heaps, Noel). And with a "thank you. Take care of yourselves. See ya down the road", Gallagher disappears into the night to spread his brilliance elsewhere. 

Nine Oasis songs out of a setlist of 17 ain't bad, but with news that the Gallagher brothers are on speaking terms again we ache for a reunion. Glastonbury's 50th anniversary in 2019, perhaps? That would be most fitting. 

After a venue upgrade from Forum Theatre, there are some empty seats in Festival Hall this evening. It's not sold out, but we're pretty sure rkid LG doesn't give a flying fuck. As you were.