Somewhere on the northern line, deep beneath the city of London, Noel Gallagher's saxophone player (Andy, as he is later introduced) and I are exchanging furtive looks. He is wearing a lanyard emblazoned with "NGHFB", I'm wearing a t-shirt with the words "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds" on it, and he knows that we know, and we know that he knows. Sticking to true tube etiquette, we don't say anything, but my friends and I spend the rest of the tube journey filled with pre-gig anticipation and trying to figure out where he fitted in amongst "The High Flying Birds".
His proper introduction is to come later, during the passionate encore of NGHFB's set. First, though, after securing a spot at the barrier, we wait for support acts Graham Coxon and The Kooks. Graham Coxon is received with mostly half hearted nods and sways from the crowd as he races through a short sample of his noisy, punky collection of songs, including "Running For Your Life", the comparatively laid back "You and I", and some pretty impressive guitar playing. The Kooks gain a more enthusiastic reception. Frontman Luke Pritchard's energy is infectious, and paired with a set list featuring songs like "Seaside", "Ooh La", "She Moves in Her Own Way" and "Shine On", it's impossible to resist bouncing around. By the time the band finish with a mass sing-a-long of "Naive", the atmosphere is electric.
Of course, everybody is here for the man himself, and there is rapturous applause as Noel Gallagher walks onto the stage, looking utterly relaxed and carefree in the face of the 12,000 strong crowd. At V Festival a few weeks ago, he was present, but not entirely there. It was a good set, but Noel didn't seem enthusiastic, and the crowd were more intent on getting completely off their sunburnt faces than watching him. However, tonight everybody is feeling every moment, and voices shout back the lyrics of "It's Good (To Be Free)" right from the very first second.
The first most deafening cheer comes when the choir and the rest of the band leaves the stage, and Noel is left standing there with an acoustic guitar, and the first thing that leaves his mouth is "I need to be myself...". Somewhat unsurprisingly, the Oasis songs are the ones that get the best reception. The stripped-back, soft acoustic version of 'Supersonic' is something that shouldn't sound right, but somehow does, and of course 'Don't Look Back in Anger' is received rapturously, ending the gig with that infamous chorus echoing around the enormous room like an amplified hymn, and a beautiful knowledge that this is exactly the way that live music should make you feel.
