BOURNEMOUTH - THERE was something in the way Liam Gallagher took the stage - he wasn't even entertaining the possibility that last night's show was going to be anything other than stratospheric.
Studied arrogance, casual confidence, savage cool - the charismatic frontman projected effortlessly from centre stage as the faithful went wild before him. With few words, but bags of presence, he took his place at the head of Britain's finest rock 'n' roll band. To his left, brother Noel engineered the sonic highs and lows seemingly oblivious to the showmanship of "Our Kid". To his right, the expressionless but dependable Andy Bell (bass) and Gem Archer (guitar) did everything that was asked of them with the minimum of fuss. Behind this carnival of rock cliché, the Britpop generation's favoured skinsman Zak "Son of Ringo" Starkey clattered and filled like he'd been with the band since the dawn of time; and an unnamed player fleshed the whole thing out on keyboards.
When you look at what's on stage it's hard to imagine just how such a majestic feeling can be minted from such unremarkable constituent parts. And there lies the enduring appeal of Oasis.
They matter... to a lot of people. And they matter a lot.
Opening with Rock 'n' Roll Star - a less equivocal statement of intent has yet to be written - the mob sang along, punched the air, grinned, gurned and sweated like a single entity. Supersonic was invoked and thrown to the throng who eagerly lapped it up - their heroes untarnished by the headline-filled decade since their landmark debut album, Definitely Maybe.
Liam cracked a gag about their next album coming out in 2010 before storming What's the Story (Morning Glory)? with all the glee of an overwrought puppy. But there was better to come.
After taking the applause for a new song destined for inclusion on Oasis' long-awaited sixth album, Noel sourly pointed at Liam and told us it was him that wrote it. "Yeah, that was MEE-IINE!" the young Gallagher sneered back.
The two boys avoided eye contact, never mind conversation, for the entire show, but any tensions were left off-stage. This is simply their schtick - something to be expected, embraced, amused by even, but not taken too seriously. Nobody was leaving that stage until they'd proved beyond doubt to themselves that they are still the best.
The boys out front didn't need convincing.
Stop Crying Your Heart Out was dedicated to any Italians in the show by Liam - a gag Noel borrowed later for Don't Look Back In Anger. Cries of "Eng-ger-land! Eng-ger-land!" rose from the swarm of air-punching, pogoing humanity whenever there was a lull - usually for Noel to tune up - and Liam just stood there, shades on, jaw jutting forth, bathing in the acclaim of ordinary people. Just like he was.
Noel's vocal shortcomings were hideously apparent in a weak run through Little By Little, but the storming psychedelic swirl of The Hindu Times brought us back on track. By the end of Live Forever, Oasis could have got away with anything. That they chose to showcase what could well be the title track of the new album, Heathen Soul, showed just how confident they are. A storm cloud of garage-band freakbeats with a nagging chorus and car crash of an abrupt ending, the song is more than ready to earn a worthy crust in the Oasis set list.
As it has done for years, Champagne Supernova brought the house down. People have talked about the best Oasis gigs being spiritual occasions of near religious experiences. They uplift, soothe the soul and demonstrate the faith the human soul is willing to place in music. It's 10 years old now, but Champagne Supernova remains the band's almost mystical touchstone. Those that get Oasis, really get the way Champagne Supernova holds a mirror up to their condition, articulating the bonds they forge in a way that few English bands have done since The Jam.
The encore was perfectly judged to quell the demands for more more more. Songbird is possibly the slightest Oasis single to date, yet the faithful adore it because it was Liam's first A-side. Ahh.
There was only one tune that could follow it - Wonderwall. Noel's paean to a previous love still touches hearts and minds among the fans for whom over-familiarity is never going to be a problem. Don't Look Back In Anger, a fine song as it is, sounds almost apologetic in the wake of Wonderwall.
A rousing romp through The Who's My Generation and the phenomenon that is Oasis were gone - off to party with Jude Law and other celebrity mates (Paul Weller's dad John was spotted outside, along with recently departed EastEnder Lucy Speed) and to get ready for the gig that really matters to them: Friday night at Glastonbury.
Still, for one night only, they were ours and we made sure we'll remember it.