Live Review: Oasis • Soldier Field • Chicago

Brassneck | August 29, 2025

Oasis

August 28, 2025

Soldier Field

Chicago, IL

Review by Jessi Roti

For some people, the thought of being confined to a space amongst 70,000 people singing “Wonderwall” is their worst nightmare.

Then there are Oasis fans. Some of whom have waited nearly 20 years to do it.

Because you HAVE to sing along to “Wonderwall,” and “Champagne Supernova,” and “Supersonic,” and “Slide Away,” and “Live Forever.” They compel you to.

It’s the power of the Brothers Gallagher — Noel as chief songwriter and lead guitar, and Liam as anointed messenger and, well, personality — who actually made it to Chicago’s Soldier Field Thursday night; the first U.S. stop on Oasis’s reunion world tour.

Photos (Courtesy Big Brother Recordings)

Taking the stage to a sizzle reel tackling the initial reunion rumors, spliced with footage from the band’s heyday and found family photos, the spectacle felt surreal–until they were just there. For two, nonstop hours of hits clearly withstanding the test of time — as now defined by the internet’s attention span — Oasis didn’t so much feel like a time warp (their last proper album, “Dig Out Your Soul,” was released in 2008) as they did an indisputable cornerstone of modern rock music.

This has never been up for debate in the U.K., where their influence is steadfast amongst generations, including rising artists like Yungblud and Royel Otis. But the U.S. hasn’t always brought out the best in the boys, or that’s how the Western press made it seem. A myth Liam debunked from the stage to the delight of the crowd.

“It feels mega to be back in America,” he said in his heavy Manchester drawl. “I know you think we hate ya, but we don’t–we fookin’ love ya.”

On their best behavior, there were no tambourines thrown or guitars wielded over head. The Oasis on stage Thursday night was not the combative, brattish outfit of the ‘90s and early ‘00s, feeling like they’ve got something to prove or needing to take the piss out of everyone. This is a band–completed by Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (guitar/piano), Gem Archer (guitar), Andy Bell (bass), and Joey Waronker (drums)–who wants to be here now. Smiles, gracious exits, and talk of love replaced bombast and biting quips.

Not that there was any lack of attitude. No one has swagger quite like the parka-clad lad keeping time with his maracas during “Some Might Say” or holding a pout and steel glare behind sunglasses during “Bring It on Down” (dedicated to the “proper drug takers, glue sniffers”).

In true Oasis fashion, there were no gimmicks–nothing to keep your eyes glued to the stage but the music. The down-and-dirty blues pulse behind “Cigarettes and Alcohol” (which included a masse soccer poznan ritual to the delight of Liam who commented, “Everybody said Americans wouldn’t do that fucking shit, Of course they will”) still ignites an exuberant, youthful recklessness, while the slick, psych-tinged “D’You Know What I Mean?” (dedicated to the radicals) took on an almost-ominous heaviness in its live iteration. Some fantastic accompanying graphics evoked the full spectrum of English living – from the pastoral (highlighting Liam in a field of flowers during “Whatever”) to the Sex Pistols-esque, DIY-collaged excess (as seen during “Rock N’ Roll Star”).

In the 23-song set, there were some that aged better than others, though many still work (and, I’d argue, sound better) coming from more seasoned, elder statesmen–of not only music, but life–like the acoustic giants “Talk Tonight” and “The Masterplan.”

Many artists experience the gift (and sometimes curse) of certain tracks taking on lives of their own; outgrowing their original intention and no longer belonging to them as individuals, but becoming a force to unite strangers. Oasis seems to have a special edge over others in being able to capture exactly what that sounds, looks, and feels like.

“Please don’t put your life in the hands of a rock n’ roll band who’ll throw it all away,” Noel sang on the epic, signature tune “Don’t Look Back in Anger” before handing it over to the thousands of voices soaring into the air, vying to match the vocal prowess of their U.K. counterpart.

“I know we’re a pain in the ass to follow, but we’re glad you did,” Liam joked, thanking the audience, who did not bolt for the doors even after the fireworks decorated the sky as he asked, “Where were you while we were getting high?” and the band took their final bows. “We’re glad you stuck with us. You’re beautiful.”

With that, Oasis didn’t throw it all away. Their fans won’t anytime soon either.

Oasis at Soldier Field, August 28, 2025 ,set list:
“Hello”
“Acquiesce”
“Morning Glory”
“Some Might Say”
“Bring It on Down”
“Cigarettes & Alcohol”
“Fade Away”
“Supersonic”
“Roll With It”
“Talk Tonight”
“Half the World Away”
“Little by Little”
“D’You Know What I Mean?”
“Stand by Me”
“Cast No Shadow”
“Slide Away”
“Whatever”
“Live Forever”
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Star”