Few bands shaped the 1990s like Oasis. Formed in Manchester in 1991 by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, the group’s Beatles-inspired melodies and no-nonsense attitude made them the face of Britpop as the century turned. Their 1995 album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? produced era-defining hits such as “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova,” while their notorious sibling rivalry became part of the band’s mark in rock legend. After the band’s split in 2009, many assumed Oasis would never return.
Sixteen years later, they’re back. The Oasis Live ’25 Tour brought Britpop back to New York at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, on August 31 and September 1. While online commentary circulated that the brothers would split before they finished the UK portion of the tour, both nights sold out, drawing tens of thousands eager to witness a reunion that once seemed impossible.
From the opening chords of “Hello” to a firework-lit “Champagne Supernova,” the stadium pulsed with energy. Metal beams jostled under the weight of 70,000 backs facing the stage during the Poznan segment, instigated by the band, as fans linked arms and jumped to the introduction of “Cigarettes & Alcohol.”
With a reputation almost as big as his ego, only the unexpected spews out of Liam’s mouth. But the most striking moments weren’t just musical. Between the younger Gallagher’s dedication of “Live Forever” to victims of the recent Minneapolis school shooting and a quick jab at Coldplay during his introduction of “Slide Away,” the performance illustrated a rarely-seen humanity in the brothers.
Across two hours, Oasis delivered the songs that made them international icons: “Morning Glory,” “Supersonic,” “Roll with It,” and “Rock n’ Roll Star.” Encores of “The Masterplan,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Wonderwall,” and “Champagne Supernova” provoked every voice. One anonymous Redditor summed it up:
“I’ve never seen a concert at MetLife where every single seat was taken before the show started.”
Gen Z turned out in Britpop-inspired streetwear, belting choruses alongside fans who first saw Oasis in the ’90s. The arena was a sea of moving bucket hats and Adidas apparel; fans ages 10 to 60, indiscernible in waves of Liam Gallagher-inspired fashion.
At MetLife, Oasis proved they weren’t just revisiting history–they were making it possible for those who live in the now. For two nights, tens of thousands sang as one, turning a long-awaited reunion into a cultural moment of rare electricity.
