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Review | Garbage is Anything But

British Invasion at the Santa Barbara Bowl with Co-Headliners Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

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It was a nod to the ’90s night on June 7 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, with a double headliner British invasion featuring Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage, as well as the opener, the critically acclaimed Canadian rockers Metric.

This tour was the first time Gallagher and his High Flying Birds have hit the road in North America since 2019, and much of their setlist was from the band’s recently released album Council Skies , including the title track, with the lovely lyrics, “Catch a falling star and we might drink to better days / Hiding what we find behind the sun / Thinking of what might have been / And what the future says / Waiting on a train that never comes,” as well as the songs “Pretty Boy,” “Easy Now,” “We’re Gonna Get There in the End,” and “Open the Door, See What You Find.” 

Gallagher’s reputation as a great songwriter is well earned, although I couldn’t help wishing he’d bring his own voice a little more to the forefront.

Not surprisingly, as solid as the High Flying Birds’ songs are, the crowd was much more excited to hear Oasis songs. Though they split in 2009, Oasis, featuring Gallagher and his brother Liam, remains hugely influential in British music and culture, and their songs, including “The Masterplan,” “Going Nowhere,” “Little by Little,” “Live Forever,” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” were my favorites of their set.

While both Garbage and High Flying Birds come from the same era, the enjoyably aggressive, take-no-prisoners, grunge-punk vibe of Garbage was an odd mix with their relatively mellow predecessors. Shirley Manson commands the stage with such a dynamic rocker chic energy that both the noise level and the excitement level amped up considerably for this half of the show. The entire Garbage set — from “Supervixen” to “Stupid Girl,” “The Men Who Rule the World,” and “Beloved Freak” — was awesome. 

In addition to their own long list of beloved hits, Garbage did Manson’s idol Siouxsie and the Banshees proud with a cover of “Cities in the Dust,” a 1985 song that I also really love. Manson said Siouxsie Sioux was “arguably the woman who’s had the most influence on me besides my mother and grandmother,” and that same post-punk vibe was strong throughout the night (I was also getting some serious Deborah Harry vibes). 

Garbage started their night strong and finished up even stronger, with Manson strutting into the stands performing “Only Happy When It Rains” (one of my personal favorites), and returning to the stage for “Vow,” followed by their own vow to return to perform again in Santa Barbara soon. As Manson said of the Bowl’s 10 p.m. curfew, “It feels like a quick, fast fuck. We’ll make it up to you next time.”  

They did “Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)” as their final encore, and I was definitely sad to see them go.

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Concert Review: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at MGM Music Hall at Fenway

By Adam Ellsworth

Eventually, former Oasis leader Noel Gallagher gave everyone (including the diehards) what they really came to hear: Oasis banger after Oasis banger. B-sides, album tracks, and stripped down versions of the classics.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at the MGM Music Hall. Photo: Adam Ellsworth

“Formula” is a dirty word, but when it comes to crafting a setlist, former Oasis leader Noel Gallagher definitely has one. First, make everyone sit through four to five tracks from the latest album (which the diehards will love anyway). Next, play a few songs from previous solo records (which, again, the diehards will totally eat up). Then, and only then, give everyone (including the diehards) what they really came to hear, Oasis banger after Oasis banger. B-sides, album tracks, and stripped down versions of the classics. This will lead to massive singalongs. To close, throw in an unexpected yet delightful cover, before ending proceedings with “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” This will lead to an even more massive singalong (and the diehards might even cry).

Are we sure “formula” is a dirty word?

Per the recipe, Saturday night’s co-headline show with Garbage at MGM Music Hall opened with “Pretty Boy,” the lead single from Gallaher’s new LP, Council Skies , chased by the record’s title track. “We’re Gonna Get There in the End,” a horn-driven bonus tune included at the end of the album, followed.

“This next song is not [Oasis’ 1994 debut single] ‘Supersonic,’” Gallagher quipped as a preface to yet another new track, “Open the Door, See What You Find.” It wasn’t clear if this comment was meant to rebut an audience request, or to temper any excitement that could come from “Open the Door”’s opening drums, which, admittedly, could be mistaken for the introductory beats of “Supersonic.”

For what it’s worth, Council Skies is a strong album, less adventurous than its predecessor, 2017’s Who Built the Moon? , but at its best a dip into Burt Bacharach-inspired ‘60s pop. To put the record in Oasis terms, it feels like an album’s worth of “Going Nowhere”’s (but hold that thought!), and it was certainly no chore to listen to Gallagher and his band perform these songs Saturday night, even right at the beginning of the set.

The transition out of Council Skies began with “We’re on Our Way Now,” Noel’s 2021 non-album single featured on the compilation Back the Way We Came, Vol. 1 , and truly got into gear with “AKA…What a Life!,” Gallagher’s post-Oasis theme song. It completed, ironically, with a rocking take on 2014’s magnificent “You Know We Can’t Go Back.”

“Ironically,” because going back is exactly what Gallagher intended to do with the rest of Saturday night’s set. This was, after all, why everyone (even the diehards) showed up in the first place, which Noel had no interest in fighting against.

“So, now we’re gonna go aaaaaaall the way back,” he informed the crowd following “You Know We Can’t Go Back,” and immediately before the all-time Oasis “B-side that should have been an A-side,” “The Masterplan.” “To when everybody was fucking cool as fuck.”

These remarks were not just the acknowledgement that the Mighty-O card was finally being played, they were also the first time Gallagher engaged at length with the MGM audience. This is no small thing, as “between song banter” is, in fact, the final piece of Gallagher’s setlist formula, worth the price of admission all on its own, and the one ingredient in the recipe that is guaranteed to be different every gig.

To give one example, Saturday night the crowd was treated to Noel’s running dialogue with a couple in the front row who were celebrating their second wedding anniversary. They asked him to dedicate a song to them, which he declined, stating that two years was nothing and that they had to get to at least a decade of matrimony to earn a dedication. When they responded they had been together for eight years prior to getting married, and thus had already hit the 10-year mark, he was incredulous. What on Earth would cause such a drawn out courtship? “She must really have something on you,” he said to the husband. Vintage Noel.

But back to the music.

“The Masterplan” led to “Going Nowhere” (the aforementioned precursor to Council Skies ’ sound and vibe), which led to “Little by Little,” and, as the formula predicted, all of these tunes inspired a massive crowd singalong. As did “Half the World Away,” and, naturally, the High Flying Birds’ reimagined, acoustic take of the pantheon-level Oasis classic, “Live Forever.”

After such a high, it was only right to take things down a notch, and go in a completely different direction to wind down the show, which Noel and the band did with their left-field cover of Bob Dylan’s “Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn).” All of this, of course, could only lead to one place.

“We did save the best one for last,” Gallagher assured the audience, before kicking off a rousing, full-crowd singalong of “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Not that this was a surprise or anything; ending with “Don’t Look Back in Anger” was simply what the formula demanded. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Adam Ellsworth is a writer, journalist, and amateur professional rock and roll historian. His writing on rock music has appeared on the websites YNE Magazine , KevChino.com , Online Music Reviews , and Metronome Review . His non-rock writing has appeared in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette , on Wakefield Patch , and elsewhere. Adam has an MS in journalism from Boston University and a BA in literature from American University. He grew up in Western Massachusetts, and currently lives with his wife in a suburb of Boston. You can follow Adam on Twitter @adamlz24.

Well done summarizing the gig – fantastic show!

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Live Review: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds w/ Garbage and Metric @ Merriweather Post Pavilion — 7/13/23

Noel Gallagher is in a bit of a weird spot with his solo career in the USA.  He just released his fourth studio album under his High Flying Birds moniker to universal acclaim in the UK, with most outlets declaring Council Skies his best post-Oasis work. He’s eager to make his mark as a forward-thinking solo artist, ceding most of the ample Oasis nostalgia circuit to his brother Liam.

However, here in the States, he’s mostly “the guy from Oasis” to casual music fans and when they see him live, they want to sing along to “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall.” But on his current tour, Noel doesn’t seem interested in that.

His show last Thursday at Merriweather Post Pavilion opened with five straight songs from Council Skies followed by two more High Flying Birds tunes before satisfying the masses with the Oasis b-sides classic “The Masterplan,” giving the audience their first big singalong opportunity. To his credit, this has been his MO on his last two US tours. He even explained his thinking the last time he played Merriweather, opening for the Smashing Pumpkins in 2019, when he said “The first half of the set is for me. The second half is for you.” 

While the new Council Skies tunes do mostly fall into the mid-tempo, strummy acoustic guitar category, it contains some of Noel’s best work in years, particularly the title track. Stealing a bit of the chorus from “ The Ballad of the Mighty I ” (talent borrows, genius steals from themselves), “ Council Skies ” strikes me as a new Gallagher classic and will likely feature in setlists for years to come. It’s definitely one of his best post-Oasis tunes. “We’re Gonna Get There in the End” is a fun rave up with horn accents and “Easy Now” is another in a very long line of incredible ballads that he can seemingly knock-out at will. It’s very easy to picture UK arenas shouting out the song’s “I’ll be there, I’ll wait for you, I swear” refrain.

Watch the official music video for “Council Skies” by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on YouTube:

Noel’s mischievous sense of humor was in fine form. Before playing “Open The Door, See What You Find,” he declared, “This song is not ‘Supersonic’,” (the two songs share a very similar drum intro) but it seemed most of the audience missed the crucial word in that statement and were very excited and then very disappointed when they figured it out. Later in the set, he introduced 1997 b-side “Going Nowhere” by saying “Does anyone remember “Stand by Me?’” to a huge roar before saying, “Great, here is a b-side from that single.” I knew what song was coming and he even got me with that one!

More than few casual fans have grumbled about the lack of hits in the second half of the set, but it was pretty clear that Noel aimed that part of the set at his more hardcore fans, with three b-sides from the ’90s (!!!) sprinkled in between singles “Little by Little,” “Live Forever,”  “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” and a cover of Bob Dylans’ “The Mighty Quinn.” I am most definitely part of the hardcore audience that this part of the set was aimed at, but I also find it hard to complain about anything when you get to hear “Live forever” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” in the same night. “Live Forever” in particular sounded amazing, with a new acoustic arrangement featuring an ethereal solo from Noel’s secret weapon, guitarist Gem Archer.

Garbage was the co-headliner of this tour and their set wasn’t that different from their performance last year opening for Tears For Fears . They slayed, particularly their cover of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “ Cities in Dust .” They honestly did a much better job of playing to serious and neutral fans alike by including all of their hits like “I Think I’m Paranoid,” “Stupid Girl,” “Push It,” and “I’m Only Happy When it Rains.” Shirley Manson continues to be the consummate frontperson, with an incredible ability to make it seem like she is singing specifically to each person in the audience.

Metric opened the show at the ungodly hour of 6:50 p.m. and put in a headliner-worthy performance, easily on par with both co-headliners. The band played a very efficient, all-killer-no filler set of nine songs that featured three singles from their excellent 2009 album, Fantasies, along with “All Comes Crashing,” the lead single from 2022’s Formentera. Late in the set, they played the Clash at Demonhead song “ Black Sheep ,” which was a real treat for those of us who fondly recall the Scott Pilgrim film. This band has it all, a killer frontperson, serious riffs, hooks for days, and an upbeat, danceable sound. Why aren’t they bigger? 

This remarkable tour may now be over, but catch Noel Gallagher on a world tour this year.

Here are some photos of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Garbage, and Metric performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 13, 2023. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Kyle Gustafson.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

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REVIEW: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Garbage, & Metric

Jared bowers  .

Let me just say at the start - what a weekend, Cincinnati! No matter where you were or what you were doing, I hope you were able to get out and experience a once in a lifetime confluence of events that really highlighted so many things that make this city special. It was a genuinely special time for us as a city and as fans (of pretty much anything and everything).

Last night, I was fortunate enough to check out Riverbend’s offering to the Entertainment Gods - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage with support from Metric. You’ll recognize Noel Gallagher’s name from his time with 90’s Britpop outfit Oasis (they of “Wonderwall” fame), and Garbage, the Shirley Manson led 90’s born alt-rock quintet boasting super-producer Butch Vig on drums, among other bonafides. We’ll get to both shortly.

Metric - honestly, I don’t know what their notoriety and popularity looks like these days. They’ve been at it since the late 90’s, but outside of Canada and Europe and the UK, I don’t know that they ever really broke in the US the way that they should have. Getting to catch them after the release of their newest, Formentera, I was anticipating a newer music heavy setlist. When they started with “Gold Guns Girls,” though, I was very, very quickly proven wrong. This was, for me, a bucket list band. I’ve never had the chance to see them live, and wasn’t sure that the opportunity would present itself. Cincinnati, as we all know, is quite often skipped over on major tours (but after this weekend, I think that’s about to change). I want to thank them for playing “Black Sheep,” a song that they wrote for one of my all-time favorite films, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. That song, and that film, have a rather significant and special place in my heart - hearing it live was a surprise, and I won’t lie, I got a little emotional. A great live band, both really tight soundwise but loose enough to roll with it all, they played an almost but not quite career spanning set that my partner and I each felt immensely satisfied by. Just an awesome way to start the night.

Co-headlining the tour, Garbage was a genuine surprise. I assumed they’d be good - their experience and pedigree more or less guarantees as much. What I wasn’t expecting was an invigorated, lively, and thoroughly entertaining set of songs that were both unfamiliar and objectively great. Once they hit the final 4-5 songs of their set, they slid seamlessly into more or less familiar territory, playing immediately recognizable tracks “Paranoid,” “Stupid Girl,” and a really lovely ballad-esque rendition of “Only Happy When It Rains.” Manson’s voice was as powerful as ever, and the band as a whole was just all-around on point. You never really know what you’re going to get in situations like this, so it was almost relieving to see a band of Garbage’s stature and longevity having a good time and doing whatever the opposite of phoning it in would be. Some highlights:

The age range for fans of this band was truly shocking. Kids of about age 5 to folks in their 60’s and 70’s, really, it ran the gamut and was entertaining in and of itself. To the 8 or so year old behind me loudly singing along to “Only Happy When It Rains,” I salute you, and commend your parents for letting you listen to such somber stuff so early. Also, to the fist pumping 8-9 year old just in front of us, hell yeah. You get it.

Manson spoke briefly about a third of the way through their set, mentioning that she was aware of another big show happening in the city, and was genuinely thankful for how many folks came out to see them play. It was a cool moment - one of several, actually - where Manson was visibly moved by the experience of being there with everyone. So thank YOU, Garbage, for seeing things so clearly and making it such a rewarding experience for your fans.

Shouts to Chandler, a big Garbage fan that got the night off to come see them play after meeting Manson at the restaurant where he works. I won’t get into the whole story here, but it was good, Manson told it well, and hey, you know what, good for Chandler. What a lovely experience that must have been for him.

Closing out the night in grand fashion - with 10 members, a bunch of fake flowers, one disconcerting cardboard cutout of what I’m assuming was someone associated with UK football (pardon my ignorance here), and an all-around British stage presence - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds was an odd, sort of surreal live experience. Gallagher, and several other members of the group, were part of the band Oasis, the volatile Britpop/rock band who currently live on in karaoke bars around the world. After their dissolution in the late 00’s, Gallagher started this particular solo project. Alternating between sort of whimsical 60’s and early 70’s inspired orchestral pop and folks and surging rock tunes, the first part of the band’s set was focused on lighter, dare I say more airy fare, which then transitioned to some of their more rock oriented tracks. I hadn’t listened to them beforehand - I like to be surprised by something new to me - so I didn’t really know what to expect.

Gallagher’s presence was the same as it ever was, I guess - British, a bit aloof, not quite business-like, but you know, an “attitude,” which I found fascinating. The other members of the band were fun to watch - the drummer was obviously having a great time, the backup singers brought a bit of old school flair with their choreographed movements, there were a lot of keyboards, and when the moment called for it, some really lovely melodies sung together by everyone with a microphone. They sounded fantastic. For everything going on with each of their songs - and there was a lot - they were expertly crafted and played, nothing got lost in the mix, and they were varied enough after a certain point to keep everyone invested.

To the folks in the crowd yelling about playing Oasis songs or whatever it was they were trying to do with UK football chants, though, yuck. No fun. And I can’t imagine that’s enjoyable for the band, is it? But I digress…

All-in-all, it was a superb night of rock and roll. Getting to see Metric was a really special thing for me, Garbage was awesome, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds put together a fun set that really tied it all together. It was a hell of night to be a fan of just about everything in Cincinnati. I’m glad that I got to spend it at Riverbend with my partner and those bands.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds / Garbage

Jared Bowers 

A former DIY booking dude with a love for under-heard bands and an appreciation for live music (when he can get to a show), Jared's a father of 2 super weird kids, married to an even weirder woman... and he wouldn't have it any other way. Writing about music since high school, he' evangelistic when it comes to the music he loves, friendly with everyone who cares to chat and always looking for the next noodly, off-time and mathy guitar driven band that nobody's ever hear of. He writes about local music and reviews albums as often as he's able.

• Riverbend Music Center
• Saturday, July 1, 2023
• 5:30pm doors / 7pm show

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds / Garbage 

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds / Garbage / Metric at Riverbend Music Center

Mark Garrett Photography

Cincinnati, you did it. You really did it. 

Cincinnati has a lot to offer and I like to think, no, believe, that even more good things are on the way. I really hope this weekend was our first gigantic step towards that future. And I really hope that those who didn’t feel like joining in this time around will the next time.

Jared Bowers

Rock 'n' Roll Truth

You've reached the home of The MUSIC WORTH BUYING Channel and Robert Kinsler's Rock 'n' Roll Truth Blog

Monday, June 12, 2023

Concert review: garbage, noel gallagher's high flying birds, metric thrill in phoenix.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, AZ

When: Sunday, June 11, 2023

Next: The North American Tour featuring Garbage, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Metric continues throughout June and July 2023

Information: Garbage.com

Supervixen #1 Crush The Men Who Rule the World Run Baby Run Special Wolves Beloved Freak Bleed Like Me Cities in Dust (Siouxsie and the Banshees cover) I Think I’m Paranoid Stupid Girl Push It No Gods No Masters Only Happy When It Rains Vow

Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)

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Noel Gallagher kicks off North American tour in classic mouthy style

Catchy hooks aside, the best trick in Noel Gallagher's arsenal is his wanton ability not to suffer fools gladly

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Catchy hooks aside, the best trick in Noel Gallagher’s arsenal is his wanton ability not to suffer fools gladly. At the first North American stop of what will likely be his last solo jaunt in quite a while (thanks Oasis festival cashgrabs ), Gallagher dangled the hooks. And his fans provided the rest.

Unshackled by an opening act, the former fastest mouth in Britpop appeared onstage at 8:10 p.m. and proceeded to run his crack backing-band through an hour and forty minute set as heavy on groovy new album  Chasing Yesterday  as it was light on the classics. And, sure, arranging it just so may appear predestined to irk Oasis fans, but at a Noel Gallagher show, that’s most of the fun.

Noel Gallagher kicks off North American tour in classic mouthy style Back to video

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• Noel Gallagher on the end of Oasis, his brother’s worrisome facial hair and why he would never pull a Kanye
• Blur’s new album — its first since 2003 — heralds the glory, gory days when Britpop reigned supreme

Luckily for him, the Toronto audience was more than happy to oblige. So much so that, despite his open disdain for it, many took to yelling — or sing-yelling — Oasis songs at Gallagher, who in turn took the opportunity to chide in stride. At one point responding to a front row request with, ‘that song comes out once every fifteen years and you think it’s coming out tonight?! The chances are zero.’

And so it went as Gallagher used his between song banter to trade jabs: chastising a father for not buying his ten year old a shirt and offering a two-finger salute to an overzealous photographer (“I know it’s childish, but it’s all that I have”).

But for all the tumult, and his own ‘over it’ pretensions, for those who came for the music there was much to enjoy. Punchier new/old song ‘Lock All the Doors’ got the crowd bumping  (and not only because it’s a straight rip of Gallagher’s own “What’s the Story (Morning Glory)”) while older solo material such as “The Death of You and Me” was served well by the live addition of Noel’s three-piece horn section.

Beyond a sense of schadenfreude, when he did acquiesce to the crowd’s demands it was easy to see why Gallagher doesn’t often play his older stuff. For one, it often means he has to deal with loud, drunken and often off-key singing drowning him out (as happened with a delicate rendition of “Champagne Supernova”). For a performer who rarely gets the chance to sing his own songs, that kind of undermines the point. Plus, there will probably be more than enough opportunity for that next summer when his younger brother can pout through it.

The one exception to this rule was set closer “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” A definitive reminder that, for all the attitude, Oasis could have been little more than hot air without the elder Gallagher’s songwriting talent.

As a sparing truce, it proved unbeatable.

“Don’t worry,” a grin-sporting Gallagher offered before retreating for the final time, “It’ll be the exact same set tomorrow. You won’t miss a thing.”

Do the Damage

(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach

Everybody’s on the Run

In the Heat of the Moment

Lock All the Doors

The Death of You and Me

You Know We Can’t Go Back

Champagne Supernova 

Ballad of the Mighty I

The Dying of the Light

The Mexican

AKA… Broken Arrow

Digsy’s Dinner 

If I Had a Gun…

The Masterplan 

AKA… What a Life!

Don’t Look Back in Anger 

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At The Barrier

Live music, reviews and opinion / est. 2018, noel gallagher’s high flying birds – liverpool m & s arena: live review.

Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds polish off a busy year in fine style.

COUNCIL SKIES

After the release of the critically acclaimed Council Skies back in June 2023, Noel and the rest of the High Flying Birds – Gem Archer, Jessica Greenfield, Russell Pritchard, Mike Rowe, Chris Sharrock and Roxy Roxy Roxy (Piney Gir, Emma Brammer and Amy Ashworth) – have been busy travelling the world. It is perhaps fitting that 2023 is brought to a close to a city that is certainly close to  the frontman’s heart, in musical if not football terms. As he makes clear tonight.

Noel Gallagher & The High Flying Birds take to the florally decorated stage and take their respective places. The show starts with the second track track from the bands most recent release, Pretty Boy, and is succeeded by the albums title track. Unsurprisingly, Council Skies tracks feature heavily in the show and are brought out early. They may not have quite same audience response as some of the later tracks played tonight – which have sound tracked many of our lives – but they are lapped up by the crowd nonetheless.

The latest material stands up well and is in no way out of place in a setlist littered with classics. These latest songs are the sounds of a songwriter with nothing left to prove, reaching a level of maturity befitting of his experience. And supported by an incredible band.

Taking a step back in time, we are served up what is effectively a mini best-of NGHFB set. Many, though not all (as there are now four NGHFB albums to pick from), of the crowd pleasers get an airing and this segment of the set climaxes in what could well be the High Flying Birds signature song, the iconic and pulsating AKA… What a Life! 

As the rest of the band leave the stage, Gallagher is left to perform an almost solo acoustic version of Dead In The Water, (accompanied just by Rowe). The night sea view and moon stage backdrop create a magical setting and perhaps reminds us of the journey that Noel has taken us on over many years: its now later in the day and there is now a calmness and certainty after some choppy waters. But we are now in a happy place.

This song, with audience singalong, is spellbinding stuff. Now I wouldn’t want to do any of this fantastic band out of a job. What a band they are. But hearing Noel like this, stripped back, makes you think: just how good would a Noel Gallagher acoustic tour be? One day? Maybe. You never know.

Having been writing, singing and touring for more than half of his life, The Chief has probably learned a thing or two about how to please a crowd. It’s therefore no surprise that the remaining tracks (with the exception of a cover of Bob Dylan’s Quinn The Eskimo, the first song of the encore) are backloaded with songs – scrap that, ‘anthems’ – from one of the greatest back catalogues in the history of British music and his former band. 

For most acts at this stage of their career, rolling out three early B-Sides may well be a treat for the die-hards, but would likely see a rush at the bar for average punter. Obviously, that isn’t the case here as the B-sides, which are probably better known than most bands most successful singles, are Going Nowhere, The Masterplan and Half The World Away. 

Beyond B-sides it’s probably fair to say that Noel has plenty of well known, and successful, singles to cherry pick from too. And tonight, as with the rest of the tour, the U.K. number one and two respectively, The Importance of Being Idle (taken from 2005’s Don’t Believe The Truth ) and Little By Little (from 2002’s Heathen Chemistry ) are ever so slightly reworked and sounding as good as – is not better than – they were on their release of around twenty years ago. 

It is somewhat challenging to review the final two songs of the night. Songs like Live Forever and Don’t Look Back in Anger weren’t really written to be reviewed. They are meant to be experienced live; sung aloud, usually after a few drinks, with your arms around your loved ones. And it’s fair to say that these songs, in this city, on the last concert of the year will stick in the memories of every person in attendance.

So, what next? Noel Gallagher & The High Flying Birds have definitely earned their Christmas rest. It’s been a busy year. But 2024 is showing no sign of let up, with a string of UK dates already announced. If you fancy a fantastic concert, complete with a massive singalong then get yourself along to a show in 2024. You won’t be disappointed.

All words and photography by Steven Boon. You can see more of his great work, here .

Noel Gallagher & The High Flying Birds ‘ 2024 dates can be found here . Check out The Masterplan recorded live at Abbey Road Studios below.

Noel Gallagher & The High Flying Birds: Website / Instagram / Facebook / X (formerly Twitter)

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I was there thought the gig overall was pants . Really looked forward to it too . Support was very good tho

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Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage at Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago, IL

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage battled the Canadian wildfire smoke to bring Chicagoans a night filled with music.

Chicagoans awoke to a city filled with smoke from the Canadian wildfires. All across the city, outdoor events were being postponed or cancelled. Attendees of the show kept an eye on their social media all day to see if this show was going ahead. To the joy of some and the shock of others, the show went ahead as scheduled. This is a venue that is known for its amazing venues of the city skyline. But this was not the case here as the smoke caused a haze across the city preventing such a view. 

This co-headlining tour has alternated who goes first and who closes the show each night. First up for Chicago was Garbage . From the moment Shirley Manson walked out onto the ample stage, she owned it. She made full use of the space as she paced around in circles and from one side of the stage to the other, all the while interacting with the crowd. At one point, she even called out an audience member at the front, telling them that she didn’t know them but loved them and their energy and that they are welcome at their shows anytime. Her charisma beamed from the stage throughout the performance and came across as every bit the star that she is. 

Their set transported us back to the mid-late nineties as they performed songs such as “Stupid Girl,” “I’m Only Happy When It Rains,” “I Think I’m Paranoid,” “#1 Crush,” and “Supervixen.” These songs have not aged at all and sound just as great as they ever did. While some people decided not to attend the show due to the weather conditions, those who did attend were on their feet, dancing and singing along throughout their set. 

Garbage are no strangers to the Chicago area, having toured with Alanis Morissette and Tears for Fears over the last few years. It’s impressive to see the pull they still have after all of these years. But what is even more impressive is that their lineup is comprised of all of their original members – Shirley Manson (vocals), Butch Vig (drums), Duke Erikson (guitar, bass, and keyboards), and Steve Marker (guitar and keyboards).

As their set came to a close, Manson apologized for having to cut the set shorter than expected due to the fact that she has asthma and COPD, and singing in those smoky conditions was not great for her. Despite this, her voice sounded as strong and impressive as ever. But in true British fashion, the show must go on, and it certainly did. The audience was not left with the feeling that anything was missing from this performance. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Next up, it was time for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds . In contrast to the sparse setup for Garbage, the stage was decorated with floral arrangements which surrounded the individual areas for each of the band members. The lights dimmed, smoke machines were pumping out more smoke (not that it was necessary), and a spotlight shone on a cardboard cutout of Man City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, with a blue and white scarf draped around its neck. The main man’s favorite football team’s logo was also illuminated next to the drum kit. 

Without further ado, Noel Gallagher swaggered onto the stage in a way only he can, joined by his impressive ensemble of 9 bandmates. Gallagher was his usual stoic self, not moving too much from his spot, but instead letting the music do the talking. The large screen behind the band provided all the movement instead. 

The first half of the set comprised of songs mainly from their release Council Skies which just came out at the beginning of June. This included the title track, “Pretty Boy,” “We’re Gonna Get There in the End,” and “Easy Now.” While this new material has only been out for a short length of time and is relatively new, the audience was still captivated by the performance. The second half of the set concentrated on songs from Noel’s days with Oasis and turned into one giant singalong with full crowd participation. These songs included “The Masterplan,” “Half The World Away,” “Little By Little,” and “Live Forever” before rounding out the evening with “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”

Despite all of the smoke in the air, Gallagher’s voice was sounding on top form. For those who had never had the privilege of seeing him live before and had been eager for this night to finally happen, they were not disappointed at all. In fact, they’re already counting the days until they can get their next fix. 

NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS Website    Facebook    Twitter

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Live Review: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – 28th July 2023 – South Facing Festival, Crystal Palace Bowl, London, UK

Only a Gallagher could curse and insult his fans and it be considered a charming gesture by those in the firing line. While moments during last night’s show by proud Manchurian and Brit-Pop icon Noel Gallagher and his world famous High Flying Birds could leave an unfamiliar attendee with raised eyebrows, the fans at South Facing Festivals latest outdoor event in the leafy surroundings of Crystal Palace Bowl were happy to lap up any words that fell from their grumpy-yet-charismatic rock idol’s mouth. Fresh from a stint touring the US, Gallagher and co made a triumphant return to the UK to promote the legends latest studio album, Council Skies for fans that were there in equal measures for the recent penning’s by the Oasis hitmaker as they were for the hits from his former band phenomena.

Building the set in almost two equal parts, the first half was focused purely on material from his latest release with Pretty Boy and Council Skies cracking a lid on the breezy outdoor show; flashing images of clouds and industrial landscapes appearing on the screens that served as a backdrop to Gallagher and his cohesive band. Open The Door, See What You Find was flavoured with not just a Mama’s and Papas/flower power-esque 70’s seasoning, but this vibe was also magnified through the dozens of colourful flower bunches positioned over the stage with Gallagher confirming ahead of the song, “This next song is not Supersonic “.

As much as the new songs from new album Council Skies , and those from previous back catalogue albums were met with approval from the audience, the Oasis hits making up the latter 3 rd or so of the set were the ones the fans wee obviously there the most for with the likes of The Importance Of Being Idle, The Masterplan and Little By Little all providing a nostalgic injection of gritty yet still fresh sounding Oasis repertoire.

After a punch cover of Bob Dylan’s Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) , Gallagher offered us stellar versions of Live Forever and Gallagher-sun Oasis signature hit, Don’t Look Back in Anger which had the phones of almost ever fan in the outdoor space up in the air and swaying along to the superstar as he ushered out an absolutely phenomenal night and memorable addition to this year’s South Facing Festival.

Pretty Boy Council Skies Open the Door, See What You Find We’re Gonna Get There in the End Easy Now We Know We Can’t Go Back Were On Our Way Now In The Heat Of The Moment If I Had A Gun Aka…What A Life Dead In The Water Going Nowhere (Oasis) The Importance Of Being Idle (Oasis) The Masterplan (Oasis) Half The World Away (Oasis) Little By Little (Oasis)

Encore: Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) (Bob Dylan cover) Live Forever (Oasis) Don’t Look Back in Anger (Oasis)

::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder – Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion. Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald. Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.

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What to expect at the Noel Gallagher and Garbage concert tour: 'We're all beasts'

Shirley Manson and Noel Gallagher are about to spend the summer on a co-headlining tour that brings Garbage and Gallagher’s High Flying Birds to Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater on Sunday, June 11.

At the moment, though, they’re on a Zoom call, finishing each other’s sentences and responding to questions with freewheeling comedy bits, resulting in an interview that’s far more entertaining than illuminating.

There’s a rapport between the two that suggests they’ve been touring together for years. But this is actually their first time joining forces, although Garbage did rise to fame just a moment or two after Gallagher’s previous band, Oasis, emerged as the Britpop band most likely to conquer the world with “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”

Their paths have crossed along the way, but Manson says Gallagher doesn’t remember, and when she tries to share the details, she is quickly interrupted by Gallagher's tale of a high-sea adventure with Omar Sharif and Peter Sellers.

It’s just that kind of interview.

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How Garbage and High Flying Birds decided to tour together

How did you come to find yourselves touring together?

Shirley Manson: Well, my granny knows Noel's granny and everybody thought it would be a good idea if we toured America together.

Noel Gallagher: My granny said to Shirley's granny, "Look, I've had enough of him. And you've had enough of her, so let's pack them off to America."

I would assume your paths have crossed at some point through the years?

Gallagher: We've met.

Manson: Noel doesn't remember meeting me (laughs). But I remember meeting him, of course. I've never forgotten how lovely he was. And as a result, I've just been a big fan of his ever since. Actually, Garbage, we were obsessed with Oasis for a while. We watched them like maniacs on MTV when we were making our own records in the studio and were very inspired by them. So yeah, we're psyched to be on tour together. It's gonna be great.

You said you remember meeting him. What were the circumstances ?

Gallagher: Don't spoil it. Say something cool.

Manson: It was at the KROQ Christmas festival....

Gallagher (interrupting): I'll take it from here. We were on a (expletive) super yacht, right? In the Mediterranean with...

Manson (laughing): You myth maker.

Gallagher : With Omar Sharif. And….

Manson: Brigitte Bardot.

Gallagher : Brigitte Bardot and Peter Sellers. And Shirley turned to me and said, "Where did it all go wrong?" I said "I have no idea but I'm getting out of here." She said "I'm coming with you." And I said "Let's rock."

Manson: That was how it went.

I see. Why do I get the impression it's gonna be hard to get a serious answer out of Noel?

Manson : Yes, he's very difficult. It's a shame, really. He could have gone very far in the music industry. But you know, he's just unpleasant. And that's all we have. But we'll get through this interview. Don't you worry.

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Noel Gallagher on High Flying Birds' new album, 'Council Skies'

Noel, you have an album, "Council Skies," coming out the same day the tour starts. I've heard the singles. What can you say about the album as a whole?

Gallagher: Well, it was written in the first lockdown in 2020. It's quite a reflective album because I guess that year was quite reflective for everybody. I don't know what it was like in America but in Britain, we were all at home and I wrote a lot of material. I was going through a bit of (expletive) in my personal life and it's all there. I don't really want to tell people how to listen to a record but if you could sum it up with one word, it would be reflective.

Do you think releasing the "Back the Way We Came: Vol. 1 (2011–2021) " compilation as you were starting work on it had anything to do with putting you in that more reflective headspace? Or was that totally unrelated?

Gallagher: Do you want the honest answer?

Gallagher: There were a load of people sitting in an office not doing anything. And I was like, "We've got to do something." It was a weird time in 2020. And we decided it had been 10 years since I went solo and it seemed like a good time to put that record out. I wanted to keep us all focused on something and not just be moping around the house drunk at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

I get that, although that can be fun for a few days.

Gallagher : It can be fun for nine months.

I know the title of your album comes from Pete McKee's book "Council Skies." I was hoping you could talk about how that became the title and what role that song played in how the album came together .

I was writing the song and in the bit that mentions "Council Skies," there was a gap in the words and I didn't know what I was gonna call it. And that book was on a coffee table at home and I just happened to glance at it. It's the same as when I wrote "Wonderwall." It had a gap in the lyrics and I had a poster of the film "Wonderwall" framed on a wall at home. I'd walk past it 1,000 times a day and never notice it. And that one particular day, the same with the book, I looked at it and thought, "Wow, what a great title."

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Shirley Manson discusses a new Garbage album

Shirley, I know Garbage have been working on an album, your first since "No Gods No Masters." What can you tell me about how that's been going?

Manson: It's so hard to talk about a record when you're still in the middle of it. It's really difficult to see. But it's already got quite a different flavor from "No Gods," which was definitely kind of a political record in a funny way. You know, with a small p. This is a lot more personal, I think. And to steal from my comrade, Noel, it's definitely a bit more reflective. We all went through a lot during COVID and lockdown. I think we all got a little bit of PTSD. (laughs)

I certainly don't feel like the same person anymore, for whatever reason. So I think some of that's definitely influenced the writing. But as I said, you just don't know until it's done, especially with Garbage, because of the way we write. Everything gets sort of mashed up and cut up and put back together. It's sort of very Frankenstein the way that we work.

I know you were involved in assembling "Anthology." How did it feel to sift through all that music?

We put an anthology together just to sort of celebrate how long we've been together as a band. Our record company were pushing to get it together. At first, we were sort of like, "Uh, we've already done a best-of, let's not do that." And they were like, "But that was 15 years ago." We were sort of like, "Whoa, OK." We just literally took all the singles that had come out and put them on two pieces of vinyl and it felt significant.

I think nobody expected Garbage to last this long. Most of all ourselves, but I don't think the industry ever thought that we would have it in us to make it this far, you know? So I think we're proud of that.

It's very difficult to survive in the music industry at the moment, let alone a bunch of people who emerged in the '90s. It's highly competitive. It's hit-orientated. It's financially challenging for bands, which is why you don't see that many bands anymore. It's just financially a suck. And of course, record companies support solo artists, because they're cheaper to run and much easier to push around than a bunch of incalcitrant bastards who emerged in the '90s.

What do you think has kept Garbage together?

Manson : I don't know. I mean, I guess we have good chemistry. We're all beasts and we've got nothing better to do.

Shirley Manson and Noel Gallagher looking forward to the tour

Do you suspect that there's going to be any guesting on each other's sets on this tour?

Manson (laughing): No pressure, Noel.

Gallagher: Well, I am single and ready to mingle, so….

Is there anything you're especially looking forward to on this tour?

Gallagher : I'm just looking forward to the whole experience. I mean, I love touring America, particularly in the summer. I love being on the bus. I love my band and what I do. And it's just gonna be a great experience. You know, these things are what you make them. I'm determined that this is gonna be great. And I know Shirley feels the same way. And we're gonna have a great time.

Manson : Hurrah! Well, we're bringing out Metric, who are a fantastic band. I don't know if you've ever seen them play but they're more our style probably than Noel's style. They use a lot of electronics like we do. But Emily Haines is a fierce front woman. I'm gonna have my work cut out for me to follow her every night. So we're excited. It's a great package, actually. If you were into Garbage and Oasis and Noel and Metric, I think you're gonna have a really good summer with us. But I wouldn't say that, wouldn't I?

Garbage & Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, June 11.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix.

Admission: $29.50 and up.

Details: 602-254-7200,  livenation.com .

Reach the reporter at  [email protected]  or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter  @ EdMasley.

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Council Skies review – not enough irresistible everyman anthems

(Sour Mash) The ex-Oasis man’s new album has hints of psychedelia and Easy Now is great but there aren’t enough big galumphing choruses to bellow into the night

W ith Blur about to release a new album and Pulp ’s return taking the form of a bustling summer gig schedule, all we need to make 2023 the return of the Britpop Big Three is an Oasis reunion. Alas, with Liam and Noel still scrapping, lately via the mediums of talkSPORT and Twitter, it looks like the closest we’ll get is another High Flying Birds record. Which is, admittedly, quite far. If the Gallaghers did miraculously patch things up at short notice, Noel’s solo project already has the perfect comeback track: Easy Now, the centrepiece of the outfit’s fourth album, is a vintage patchwork of lump-in-throat melodies, sleazy riffs, sentimental lyrics and a big galumphing chorus just begging to be bellowed into the cold black night.

The rest of Council Skies – a title Noel nicked from a book by his mate, the artist Pete McKee – is less moreishly nostalgic. The title track is a tinny, chugging slice of 00s indie that seems to go out of its way to produce as generic lyrics as possible (“Cause life is unpredictable / You can win or lose it all”) and although there are a few nods to the bright psychedelia and good-time glam of the band’s previous album, Who Built the Moon?, there is also much greying meat-and-two-veg guitar pop, which occasionally veers into old-man gentleness (see: the actually rather Blur-ish Dead to the World). Despite a handful of the elder Gallagher’s irresistible everyman anthems, much of Council Skies is unambitious and generic to the point of tedium.

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Review: Who Needs an Oasis Reunion When You Have Noel Gallagher’s ‘Council Skies’?

by Hal Horowitz June 1, 2023, 10:00 am

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Council Skies (Sour Mash) 4 out of 5 stars

Videos by American Songwriter

Dedicated Oasis fans were distraught when that band, led by Liam and Noel Gallagher, dissolved in 2009 amongst a torrent of bad vibes and recriminations between the brothers. But when both frontmen recorded their expected solo projects, many breathed a sigh of relief. Instead of one Oasis release every few years, the brothers have delivered excellent albums, six of ‘em, since the group’s dissolution. None sound exactly like Oasis but are close enough to not alienate the outfit’s millions of followers.

Noel, initially the lone Gallagher songwriting brother, now returns with his first set in six years. Council Skies retreats from the more propulsive psychedelic, glammy, and dance influences of the impressive Who Built the Moon? in 2017 to a more tranquil, but by no means snoozy mood. The first collection recorded in his own studio often sounds so much like Oasis (albeit without Liam’s vocals), that these ten tracks could easily be credited to that group.   

Those memorable, sweeping, soaring melodies the older Gallagher is known for prevail. Horns adorn some selections but it’s the strings, recorded at Abbey Road, which push these songs from very good to the next level. It’s obvious that the guy who wrote “Don’t Look Back in Anger” also penned this disc’s similarly constructed “Easy Now,” or that the rocking drums powering “Love is a Rich Man” can be traced back to the harder-edged tunes from Oasis.

Beatles’ influences still hover around the periphery, especially on “Think of a Number” with metronomic percussion underlying spiraling chords and the downbeat lyrics of Right now the people are dancing / While the world slips away / There’s no time for love and romancing . Amazing stuff.

Noel claims that “Dead to the World” is “…by some distance my favorite tune on the album,” and it’s clear why. The ballad begins with a softly strummed guitar, gradually rising to a full-blown epic complete with glockenspiel and powerful, perfectly placed strings like those on Elton John’s earliest releases. Its four glorious minutes add up to one of the finest entries in Gallagher’s catalog, which is saying plenty.

Better still, it leads into “Open the Door, See What You Find,” another soon-to-be classic imploring listeners to do what the title suggests and Don’t put your head in the sand as violins surge and crest. The Latin rhythms of “Council Skies” enhances the romance of Gallagher singing ‘Cause life is unpredictable / You can win or lose it all/Underneath the council sky / I found you as orchestration deepens the groove.

Acknowledgment also goes to co-producer/multi-instrumentalist Paul “Strangeboy” Stacey for helping craft and refine these tunes, bringing spectacle and melodrama without pretension or the bloat that often results.

Rumors of an Oasis reunion continue to circulate but with music as moving and resonant as that on Gallagher’s Council Skies , why bother?  

Photo by Matt Crockett / Permanent Press Media

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Noel Gallagher interrupts squabbling to release album of old-school anthems

Ex-oasis chief noel gallagher returns to his musical roots with fourth high flying birds album council skies.

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While the Gallagher brothers continue to squabble over the potential second coming of Oasis , Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds have quietly crept back with their first album in six years. Council Skies finds Gallagher senior moving away from the electro-psychedelic sonics that dominated his last album, shifting back to his more traditional, anthemic songwriting.

Not that this is necessarily a bad thing. Knocking out a tune for the masses was something the ex-Oasis mastermind was always very good at, and he doesn’t disappoint as he smatters the bulk of this new record with sweeping orchestral strings. The pick of the tracks here are the pulsating Pretty Boy , the string-laden I’m Not Giving Up Tonight and the soaring Open The Door, See What You Find . If this is likely to be Noel’s last album for a while, then it’s a pretty solid swan song. Now about that Oasis reunion.

Freelance journalist for Classic Rock, NME, Sky News, Bandcamp Daily, The Sports Network (TSN), NewsBreak, Uncut Magazine, Festival Flyer, The British Music Digest. 

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'Seamless': Black Keys talk collaborating with Noel Gallagher

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The Black Keys taught Noel Gallagher a new way of working.

The former Oasis rocker features on the duo's new LP 'Ohio Players' and though the studio process with him was "seamless", the pair were amazed to find it was all new to the 'Live Forever' hitmaker because he doesn't usually write with other people.

Drummer Patrick Carney told the Daily Star Sunday's Wired column: "We got on really well creatively. It was seamless working with him.

"Noel said, 'I've never written with other people in the studio' so we popped his cherry in that regard.

"That was surprising to me that he hadn't done that - it's pretty much how we make most of our music.

"Noel would usually write the chords and the lyrics himself then bring it to the band and do it like that. I always make it up on the spot."

And while their collaboration 'On the Game' features on the album, there may be more to come from Noel and the Black Keys.

Patrick said: "We got a song on the first day and we got a song on the second day and we got a song on the third day - a whole take.

"On the fourth day, we went into the studio and just kind of [messed] around - we didn't want to push it.

"We already had so much great [stuff], if we ended with a bad song it was just going to ruin the experience."

The 'Gold on the Ceiling' hitmakers had been warned they were unlikely to get Noel on board but it took him just a few days to agree.

Patrick said: "We kept hearing, 'Noel doesn't collaborate like that'.

"But my neighbour was the Oasis booking agent for about 15 years. I was going golfing with him one day and I said, 'We're trying to reach Noel'. He said, 'I could drop him a line.'

"A couple of days later, we heard back from Noel that he'd give it a try if we came to London."

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Noel Gallagher says he has scrapped acoustic album and wants to do a “defiant rock record”

"I do apologise if anyone had their hearts set on it"

Noel Gallagher says he has scrapped plans to record an acoustic album.

• READ MORE: Noel Gallagher: “The world is a beautiful place – it’s just inhabited by c**ts”

Earlier this year, the former Oasis guitarist revealed that he was in the process of recording an entirely acoustic album , which he said would be “for the fans” and that he had completed six songs already.

Now, speaking on Matt Morgan’s podcast , Gallagher said: “By the way, I’ve scrapped the acoustic album finally, can’t fucking do it anymore. Yeah, it got six tunes in, and I was so bored with the arrangement of it all and the kind of slow pace of it all and, actually what made me think, right fuck it, I’m not doing it.

“It was too down. Acoustic tunes tend to be quite down. I need to make a defiant rock record and that’s what I’m gonna do. Sorry everyone. I do apologise if anyone had their hearts set on it.”

He went on to say he’s already got ideas for a title based on the HBO sports comedy series Eastbound & Down but he said it was unlikely to see the light of day before 2026 .

He continued: “So in my head now if I could demo it all by the end of the year or start to record it proper by the end of the year, could be… dunno…not next year cos then I’d have to go back out on tour next year and I’m not doing that. 2026 maybe?”

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Meanwhile, Oasis ‘ classic hit single ‘Wonderwall’ was recently named the most-streamed song from the 1970s to the 1990s .

The 1995 single reached Number Two on the official singles chart at the time of its release and has since gone on to be one of the biggest selling ever, despite never topping the charts.

Elsewhere, it was recently announced that the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ ‘Supersonic’ would be marked by a re-release of the track as a physical single later this month.

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• Noel Gallagher

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