LIVE: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in 3Arena + full cover story interview

A choir, a brass section and, gulp, a saxophone solo. Rock 'n' roll life has most definitely moved on for Noel Gallagher.
Size isn't as important to the disgustingly youthful 47-year-old as it used to be, but he'd have been chuffed that the 3Arena is pretty much sold-out.
His second date proper promoting Chasing Yesterday, Noel looks a little ill at ease - a hangover from The Saturday Night Show debacle perhaps? - as the 20-song set kicks off with '(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach' but gets his mojo working fully for the quadruple whammy of 'Everybody's On The Run', 'Fade Away', 'In The Heat Of The Moment' and the seriously stomping 'Lock All The Doors'.
Although nothing's going to beat the acoustic renditions of 'Champagne Supernova' and 'Don't Look Back In Anger' in terms of OTT crowd reaction, it's noticeable that the pick of his solo tunes - 'The Dying Of The Light', 'If I Had A Gun...' and 'Ballad Of The Mighty I' among them - are actually greeted more enthusiastically than tonight's other Oasis flashbacks. Which, for the record, are 'Shout It Out Loud', 'Digsy's Dinner' and closer 'The Masterplan', which is accompanied by orgasmic bursts of golden fireworks on the very big screen.
While L**m isn't missed, the fact that his High Flying Birds are session men reluctant to steal Noel's thunder means that it's him who has to do all the heavy lifting. By his own admission still finding his feet as a frontman, he could do with a few people throwing shapes around him. As it is there's a 10-foot exclusion zone around Mr. G that none of his Birds dare to enter.
Although in the crowd and namechecked by Noel, there's no tearful onstage reunion with Bonehead - he's in town along with big brother Paul Gallagher for an unofficial aftershow party - or superstar jam with Bono and The Edge who are sitting a few rows in front of yours truly. This is all a bit David Beckham metatarsal-y but Mr. Hewson's ability to clap rigorously suggests that his shoulder is well on the mend. Ali and Guggi completed the very happy looking U2 party.
All in all tonight's show is a bit like his beloved Manchester City - awesome at times, but too reliant over the 90 minutes on the star performer in the middle.
To relive the action (without audio, sorry!), check out our photo gallery HERE
If you missed our extensive Noel Gallagher interview last fortnight, fear not, it can now be read in all its glory here