Noel Gallagher :: Flying High

Noel Gallagher's short six date UK theatre tour kicked off on a massive high, debut solo album straight in at number one and his beloved Man City destroying their red rivals 6-1 just the day before the opening date in Dublin. I wonder which Noel savoured the most.

A brief stop off in London to pick up the 'Q Icon' Award ("I've got lots of awards, but I'd like to say... this is definitely the most recent") then on to play Manchester Apollo, unapologetically coming on to the Man City 'anthem' Blue Moon. I guess any Man United fans in the audience would have guessed that they'd be getting it tight.

On to Edinburgh for Thursday's sell out gig at the Usher Hall, recently refurbished, packed to the rafters and buzzing like you wouldn't believe. I don't think I've ever had so many hoops to jump through to get a photo pass - but then Noel is very much man of the moment and it seems that everyone wants a piece of him right now. Before going on, Noel professed nerves at his new-found role as lone front man, but no nerves were on show - laconic, witty and self-assured as ever. I got some cracking shots (sorry - they're embargoed right now) and retired to the grand circle to enjoy the rest of the show.

Great setlist, the new Flying Birds numbers and older material drawing similarly rapturous reception; no surprise really, everyone was here for a party. No surprises either that Noel wheeled out some of the big guns and sprinkled the evening liberally with Oasis numbers - they're his songs after all, and he's staking his claim... little brother Liam has had to steer wide of performing any Noel-penned numbers with Beady Eye, much to the frustration of his audience. Liam himself would surely have turned a shade of Pretty Green had he witnessed the roof-raising sing-a-long Noel got for Don't Look Back In Anger.