It was a night I've been looking forward to for months. The day finally came.

I saw Oasis at MSG and Baltimore in 2005. The Madison Square Garden gig was the mecca for me. It was the first time I got to see them live...it was packed....people were going crazy. It was one of the best nights of my life.

But for some reason...this concert coming up in DC meant more to me. I had this feeling in my gut that it was going to be a spritual experience...and I couldn't have been more right.

Let me begin by saying...I actually thought Matt Costa was great. I saw him one time before, and I just didn't think he fit in to the lineup. But I really enjoyed his short set. He closed with an acapela piece that pretty much broke my heart.

Ryan Adams...in my opinion...wasn't very good. I just didn't enjoy him...couldn't hear his voice very well...he seemed like an immature punk. Also, my thoughts on him were a little tainted. 4 seats over from me were a couple of his fans...and they had little to no interest in Oasis. He just didn't do it for me...and I like some of his earlier albums.

Okay...now on to the main attraction. Fucking in the Bushes started and I was elated. Immedately I knew I was in a great section. I was lucky enough to get seats on the floor, and everyone around me knew all of the material. We sang all night long...and I truly feel that who directly surrounds you can affect your experience. I was very lucky to be surrounded by some true fans. We were singing arm in arm throughout most of the night...complete strangers...but best friends for 20 songs.

The house was almost completely full...save for some nosebleeds ont he extreme sides...and as I looked around...everyone seemed into it. What really surprised me was the different age groups. There were 40's, 30's, and 20 somethings everywhere...even a few younger ones. They knew the new material...and I was in heaven.

Now about the set. The first thing I noticed was that Youtube doesn't do Liam's voice justice. It sounds really really good live...but the quality isn't there online. I don't know...maybe because it was the last tour on the American leg...but it seemed he was really into it. He clipped some syllables...he messed up the first verse of TSOTL...but he was responding...and in front of the light show...he always seems larger than life...ready to burst at the seams.

I think the show had an amazing continuity to it. Each song seemed to flow right into the next one. Honestly, when I looked at the set list I thought there would be some low points...but I found myself enjoying tunes live more than I had on the disc.

Noel seemed a little cautious at first, but warmed as the evening went along. I've read several posts about how they haven't talked much, but I thought they were great. They both kept me laughing...and no matter how egotistical or heinous they get...they are just too cool not to like. They make you root for them. That's why I love them. They embody everything Rock and Roll is supposed to be.

I thought that Rock and Roll Star was unbelievable...I thought The Shock of the Lightning sounded mega...but my top 3 highlights were....Waiting for the Rapture, Cigarettes and Alcohol, and Slide Away. I didn't expect much from the first one...and I just felt honored to hear Slide Away in person. IT is...far and away...my favorite Oasis song of all time. It means more to me than words can explain.

In summary, I thought the crowd was great (of course that's from where I was), I thought the band sounded amazing....my throat is killing me. I had an amazing time. It blew MSG out of the water for me, because...well...

The reason I like Oasis is because they touch a musical part of me that I never knew existed. I picked up the guitar because of them. I started writing songs because of them. I kept doing both because they inspired me to do so. I know the words to everysong...I know every chord progression...I'm as crazy for them as I ever have been.

They are Rock and Roll Stars because they play the part so well. They get up there and own the arena for two hours...and they do so in a way that makes you leave all of your troubles behind. The only thing that exists during an Oasis concert is you and them. Everything else doesn't matter.

Oasis, for me, are an escape. I consider myself a fan of music in general, but never has...or never will a group come along that matters this much to me.

So...yea...I'm a little biased...but I love them because they know what they can do...and they do it well. And in a small microcosm...I think that's what we should all strive to do. Last night... I was there then...and that's all that matters.

Peace,
Brandon