Live Music Review | Oasis at MetLife Stadium

The Oasis reunion tour took them to New York and the MetLife Stadium

It was another memorable night for the brothers from Burnage.

Author | Natalie R

Oasis burst onto the stage with the expected set list, but the delivery was anything but routine. The songs came loud, fast and fiery, with no hint of age or artifice. It felt like a proper rock’n’roll show. Cage the Elephant had already set the tone with a blistering support slot, earning a raucous response as the Shultz brothers tore through their set with punkish intensity. To move from that wall of energy into Oasis’s own sonic onslaught was nothing short of exhilarating.

There were moments of rust, but they only added to the charm, a reminder that this was no polished exercise in backing tracks or pre-recorded vocals. It was a band sounding raw, real and alive.

The night delivered classic rock’n’roll at every turn, with Gem Archer emerging as one of the standouts. Though most of the big solos were left to Noel, Gem was locked in throughout, hitting every melodic line, lick and bend with precision.  At times it felt as though he was driving the band forward in the best possible way. Noel, for his part, was equally sharp, firing out each iconic guitar hook with the same bite and clarity as the records, only louder and more urgent.

What an ending

Words hardly capture the experience of hearing Wonderwall in a packed stadium. A song most of us have sung in cars, showers or supermarkets took on an entirely different life when shared among tens of thousands. Whether a casual listener or a devoted Oasis fan, it was the stuff of magic, a moment to be passed down through generations, the kind of song that can bring tears as soon as those opening chords ring out.

Don't Look Back in Anger was as emotional as always. The one everyone loves belting out at a wedding. Just like at Heaton Park in Manchester, friends and strangers were embracing. You can’t buy that atmosphere.

It was matched only by the finale. Liam and Noel closed with the ever-gorgeous Champagne Supernova, which might quietly be their greatest song. “Where were you while we were getting high” remains one of the most indelible lyrics in British rock.

Post-gig scenes

The show was over, but another encore of sorts occurred on the 30-minute commute back to New York City, as train cars buzzed with Oasis fans belting out the choruses to Don’t Look Back in Anger, Wonderwall and “Live Forever”. There were older couples who had traveled from overseas, fans in their 20s and 30s who never thought they’d see Oasis live, and children wearing Live Forever shirts that were born after the band broke up in 2009.

Maintaining a fanbase across the world

Oasis may have broken up, but their fans stayed together. They held out during the band’s 16-year hiatus, and, while it’s sure nice to have Liam and Noel back together, the fans will remain after the brothers inevitably decide to part ways again. 

Reaction from those who were there

Frank moved to New York from Manchester in 2010 and never thought he'd see the band again. He spoke passionately about the atmosphere around the venue on the day. He said: “I'm a huge Oasis fan, but that alone does not explain the scale of it. This was not just a city-wide event; it felt international. Every bar and train in New York City was packed with fans, many sporting bucket hats, parkas, and sunglasses. People speaking every language imaginable spilled into the trains, bars, and stadium. They created a lively mix of music fandom and shared appreciation. It felt like an Olympic or World Cup event, with the city buzzing from the moment we woke at my friend's apartment. There was a palpable magic in the air, a feeling that has grown increasingly rare in recent years.

Tony was also there; he had a similar perspective: “What took me by surprise was the strength of the emotional connection between band and audience inside the 82,000 capacity Stadium. It genuinely felt as though everyone was moving in step with the band and with each other.”