Day 13: A picture of your favorite band or artist
This is one of the easiest posts of the 30. In 1995, this sound entered my life and has never left. I was walking the halls of Dieseth Hall at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa when I heard the most glorious music eminating from one of the open rooms. I was so taken aback by the melody and the heartfelt lyrics that I had to pop my head in and ask who was creating the symphony echoing throughout the halls. The girl swung her head around and said "Oasis, they're English. Pretty good, huh?"
Pretty good? PRETTY GOOD? Oasis' Wonderwall changed my life. It was funny, I was certain that it was another Beatles track off the newly released Anthology. So raw, so emotional, so unabashedly inspired by the Fab Four, it was as if the hands of Lennon and McCartney imbued the brothers Gallagher with divine inspiration and an otherwordly talent.
I immediately sought out "(What's the Story) Morning Glory", purchased it and played it non-stop for a week. Then on this new thing called "The Internet" (thank you ISCA BBS) discovered their first album, "Definitely Maybe" and heard the single most gripping, raw, emotional, moving, angsty, dirty and powerful album of all time. While others in the dorm were rocking out to Hootie & The Blowfish, Rusted Root or Dave Matthews Band, I was immersed in all things Oasis.
Rock n Roll Star became my anthem. Up in the Sky would be pouring from my open windows, Cigarettes and Alcohol became a permanent member of our party mix, Don't Look Back in Anger and Champagne Supernova would calm my inner anxiety and emotional turmoil. I was an addict and my drug was Oasis.
Over the next 15 years, the sound would change, but the feeling never did. Every album would be in rotation, and Oasis still holds a place of permanence on my playlist. When I want to get up for something, I simply put their entire catalog on shuffle.
My one regret was never being able to see them live, then Michelle and I heard they were coming to town in December, 2008. She, being an amazing wife, snapped up two tickets as close as we could get, and we were in business! I was counting down the days until I could see my musical icons in person. I was simply holding out hope that neither Liam nor Noel would kill the other before the show date. The day of the concert was (until the following week) the worst day in my professional life, and I had absolutely no desire to do anything but wallow and pout and skip the show. Lucky for me, Michelle knows me better than I know myself and forced me out of the house. Right up until they hit the first note of Rock n Roll Star, I was bitter, angry and hated the world.
With that first chord, everything changed.
The next two hours were magical. They went from one song to the next, each like an old friend returning for a visit, picking right up where we left off. The memories and emotions all came flooding back and I was blissfully unaware of all the crap that happened previously that day. I was there, with my girl and the Gallaghers. It was perfect.
That show was a moment, frozen in time, which it appears will never be reproduced. The brothers have again split. Liam took the other members of the band and spun off a new group, Beady Eye, which is solid but lacks the one thing that made Oasis magical. Noel's words and tunes with Liam's piercing vocals and rock star swagger. I'm just glad they were around long enough to have an impact on my life and I was able to see them live and in person, larger than life and hold that with me. Oasis will Live Forever.
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