IN stark contrast to the flashy fanfare preceding concerts from single-name superstars Robbie, Kylie and Elton in the past few weeks, Noel Gallagher's solo tour of Australia has been relatively low-key.

The tour was announced only weeks before it was due to take place and the tickets sold out within minutes, yet many fans didn't even know Gallagher was coming.

For the lucky couple of thousand who scored tickets to this intimate acoustic performance, this was a chance to hear tracks Oasis never play and see Noel Gallagher perform them without being upstaged by the simian-like antics of his younger brother, Liam.

During the hour-and-a-bit show last night at the Perth Concert Hall, Gallagher played some of his favourite songs, many of which were album tracks and b-sides, and a few well-loved classics.

Joined by Oasis guitarist Gem Archer, who shifted from guitar to a theatrical box organ, and Terry Kirkbride on snare and percussion, Gallagher sauntered on to the stage with his trademark "come on" hand gestures before plonking himself on a stool, plugging in his acoustic and launching into (It's Good) To Be Free.

Focusing his attention at his feet, Gallagher was hardly an energetic performer, but what he lacked in showmanship he made up for with sincerity, handling each song like an old friend and delivering it flawlessly.

Talk Tonight was a crowd pleaser and got several audience members on their feet. It was followed by the Noel-sung acoustic and much better version of Fade Away.

Addressing the lad-heavy crowd, Gallagher asked: "So how are you anyway?" before acknowledging that England's cricket team were not doing too well. The team had arranged to be at the show, but given the misery of their day at the WACA, who could blame most of them for opting for a warm bath and cup of tea instead.

Introducing Archer and Kirkbride, Gallagher pointed to himself and said: "And I of course, is Liam's brother." The remark was greeted by cheers as the always straight-faced Gallagher launched into Cast No Shadow.

A barrage of quips, requests and banter from the Brit-packed crowd flowed throughout the night, causing Gallagher to remark: "Is there anybody here who is not from England?"

During a rare moment when all fell silent in the Concert Hall, Gallagher looked up and said: "This is why Liam doesn't come to things like this. It would do his head in. Just that 45 seconds of silence would do his head in."

It was a rare and welcome treat to hear obscure Oasis songs and see the elder Gallagher playing outside of the Oasis stadium rock environment without the necessary posturing and posing of his younger sibling.

The song selection reflected the laid-back vibe of the performance, from Gallagher's latest favourite, The Importance of Being Idle, to the excellent Slide Away, crowd pleasers Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger and even a cover of Strawberry Fields Forever.

Possibly one of Oasis's greatest b-sides, Listen Up, was greeted by an enormous roar that caused Gallagher to remark: "You all think it is Supersonic and it's not, so you can take that cheer back."

"No I'm not doing Rock N Roll Star that would be ridiculous," he remarked to another heckler.

"If you keep shouting songs at me I will just shout them back," he said, before reeling off a few ending with Beethoven's 5th.

"Fortunately it's not as good as this one," he remarked of the maestro's masterpiece before playing his own gem Half The World Away.

A slightly different version of Wonderwall prompted the explanation of: "I wrote it, so I sing it the way I want to."

Gallagher’s wit and unchecked ego were both in full flight and it was clear he was lapping up the limelight, in his own way.

With the "goodbye I'm going home" strains of Married With Children, Gallagher, who would the very next morning be boarding a plane back to England "to do the Christmas shopping", gave the audience a clap and walked off stage.

It was hardly the gig of the year, but it was a rare and warm treat delivered with style by England's premier rock ‘n’ roll songwriter. Gallagher, at least, did England proud.

news.com.au