Hello again and welcome back! We left off this time, with me on the floor of The Rose Bowl, watching Oasis, with tears in my eyes, filled with joy, humility, validation, and love. The second song (of 4) of the encore was playing and I felt like I might be having an out of body experience. There’s a point coming, I promise.
In case you missed it:
Read Part One Here.
Read Part Two Here.
People have been trying to figure out why this tour of old dudes, none of whom seem to be the undisputed champ of their respective craft, has taken the world by storm. I have some theories, but it’s never just one thing, is it? A part of the magnetism is that there is something so endearingly transparent about the Gallagher Brothers, for better or worse. There is no room for bullshit when it comes to the Gallaghers. Sometimes in an effort to refrain from using a word that is played out I can get caught up dancing around it so much, that the lack of using it makes it even weirder than just using the word in the first place. In this case, that word is authentic. You can’t be an Oasis fan and *not* appreciate authenticity.
I keep getting asked, “was it life changing?”, and while the sentiment isn’t far off, it’s not quite accurate. I reply, “I’d say it was more life-AFFIRMING, than changing.” For years prior to the conception of Oasis Weekend, I felt foreign / alien / out of sync with modern American pop culture. And while I am a person who generally has a lingering finger on the pulse of trends, that doesn’t mean I vibrate on their frequency. To be aware of something isn’t necessarily to identify with it.
As a culture, we have normalized realities including, but not limited to; A lack of interest in critical thinking, the glorification of not knowing basic facts and world events, deifying celebrity, parasocial relationships, eagerness to conform, robotic everything, driverless cars, AI writing for students and sometimes even teachers, banning books, endless violence, poisoning our faces, injecting ourselves with all kinds of who-knows-what, and cutting up our bodies to meet beauty standards that don’t make sense, formulaic living, hyper-consumerism, celebration of mediocrity, and myriad other travesties that have left me feeling exhausted and hollowed out. In the words of “Zoolander”’s (2001) Mugatu, “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!” Organically finding your people swimming in a sea of this ^^^ can feel like an insurmountable task.
And then you (read: I) go to Oasis Weekend (tm), and suddenly you (I) realize, your (my) people are there. Oasis + their fan base are the antidote to these infectious dis-eases (yes, I spelled that the way I intended to). They reminded me that society hasn’t always operated this way and maybe I’m not as crazy as this rotting hellscape of a world has tried to make me feel for years! Maybe it’s healthy to identify the sickness, when it’s present? Maybe it’s okay to care when I see establishments and phony societal constructs taking priority over people, and to refuse to allow it to consume me as well? (Even if that undertaking can be exhausting.) In a time where everything seems to be curated and micromanaged, where money conquers all, and morality matters not, as long as “they’re taking it to the bank,” it’s a gift to be a part of something where the fans are the focus and the imperfections are not only tolerated but celebrated.
Sure, Liam’s swagger, style, and one-of-a-kind timing and tone, mixed with Noel’s knack for whipping out a timeless, earnest, sing-a-long or a biting, subversive, “fuck you,” of a song is unparalleled, but the bold human messiness of them both individually, and as a pair, is the secret sauce that brings their fans to a state of spontaneous emotional purge. The very humanness and human-mess is a part of the Oasis experience, and the Oasis experience mirrors the Human experience right back to us, in all of it’s grit, grime, and glory. In short, they make us feel seen. They validate us!
We all know they’ve had a tumultuous history. It can be punishing to be an Oasis fan. But through it all there’s an unspoken exchange of understanding: The people are the point. Not just existing, but living, is the secret sauce! Oasis makes you feel things without making you feel judged for feeling them. No flying over the audience on a song-appropriate prop of choice needed. We just need our kids on stage, playing their instruments and singing their songs. They’re filled with swagger, and piss and vinegar, and an undeniable craving for mischief, but they’ll bring a tear to your eye when they start singing about family dynamics, and loves gained and lost around the world. They’re a safe space for the Mr. Blondes (i.e. tough guys and gals +) of the world to really feel and, if needed, find absolution. You can’t fake that. It’s a gift that only family can give you.
Once “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” ended, I was able to get it together and enjoy, “Wonderwall,” and, “Champagne Supernova,” - complete with spectacular fireworks show - in their entirety without tears. But the awe and the uninhibited love and care for each other imprinted on my soul. There is no end to it. Through no small number of minor miracles, I stumbled into the Church of Gallagher and heartily sacrificed my voice and body (boy, did I abuse her) at the altar of Oasis, only to be baptized in my own tears. *sings* “You ain’t ever gonna burn my heart out…”
Epilogue:
If you made it through this whole tale, thank you. This reunion is so much more than just a tour to me.
We live in trying times. It’s never a bad time to recognize the things you love and to embrace them fiercely. To start highlight reels about your passions, like I did on Instagram starting July 4th, is a celebration and we all could use more of that. Holding on to the thing that brought me joy and hope, got me through this coarse, non-sensical, violent summer. In times like what we’re currently living through though, it’s *especially* important. Imagine a world where people spent less time fixating and obsessing over the horrifying injustices taking place daily, and spent more time following what makes them feel excited, passionate, and fulfilled. (Please note the wording there, staying up-to-date on current events is necessary, fixating is not). Fascists hate feeling dismissed. I can’t help but think that the world would be a much better place if people embraced their loves as openly and vehemently as they do their grievances. I can say, from experience, that even though several people tried, there was no getting me down during Oasis Weekend, and I aim to carry that frequency forward. I think about what it must be like existing as the band Oasis right now. The world is mad, and they get on stage every night and bring tens of thousands of people pure, unadulterated joy. That’s power. My takeaway, and I’m hoping it’s not just me, is to authentically (there’s that damn word again) create. Create anything; Be it a sandwich, some cookies, knitting, a grand opus, this substack piece, anything, as long as it feels true. No act of creation, if it’s motivated by love or something like it, is too small. I’ll sing it again: “You ain’t ever gonna burn my heart oooouuuuut.” Sing it with me. “Sooooo Sally can wait, she’s knows it’s too late …”
Thank you Oasis fans. You’ve restored my faith in us.
