Gary Paine, frontman of Noasis, spills the T on leading the charge of the nation’s massive obsession with Oasis.
by Editorial Team
I met Gary, the frontman of the UK’s leading tribute band Noasis, in The Optimist pub on Fish Street a year after Oasis announced their reunion tour.
How have Noasis gigs been received since the news was announced?
“The gigs have definitely stepped up,” says Gary, who lives in Northampton, and sports a familiar-looking sharp haircut, casually nursing a pint. “Yeah – we’re doing alright.”
For a lead singer with Liam swag on stage, offstage Gary comes across as just a great bloke. Unassuming, down-to-earth.’ ‘Alright’ might actually be something of an understatement.
Formed in 2006, the band—featuring Gary Paine and James Cropley as Liam and Noel Gallagher, alongside guitarist Paul Read, bassist Paul Holland, and drummer Arron Hancock—has been in constant demand touring up and down the UK playing to sold-out venues and at major music festivals.
Since Oasis-mania took hold of Britain, they are headlining festivals and performing to rather large crowds.
Last month at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Noasis played to to 16,000 fans in what Gary casually describes as “our tent.”
In August they will be playing at CarFest in Laverstock Park, Hampshire, to an anticipated whopping 42,000 people alongside Madness and the Lightning Seeds.
Founded by broadcaster Chris Evans, Carfest began as a small charity event with Chris letting people drive his collection of Ferraris and luxury cars to raise money for Children in Need. It’s since evolved into one of the UK’s biggest family festivals commanding crowds of over 40, 000.
When Noasis played previously at CarFest they caught the attention of Liam Gallagher himself. Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, Liam jokingly wondered why Noasis were playing to crowds of over 20,000… and he wasn’t.
Noasis with 20,000 people ‘avin it! We gotta get out and do something”
Liam Gallagher
Had a seed been planted?
Bumped Up to the Main Stage
Talking of massive festivals, Noasis also played the Y Not Festival in Derbyshire in July – a four-day Peak District party drawing 20,000 revellers. The festival featured everything from indie classics to rave anthems, and due to overwhelming demand, Noasis were bumped up to the main stage—another boost from the Oasis summer fever.
So how does Gary feel about these big stages?
“I describe it as beans on toast. I can see the first row of smiling, happy faces —and beyond that, it’s just a sea of beautiful beans.
“Honestly? Smaller gigs make me more nervous,” he admits. “Take The Picturedrome—we’re playing there in October. In a place like that, you can actually hear the heckles! There’s more pressure when it’s your hometown—I only do two or three gigs a year here, so I really want it to be good.”
So who’s turning up to Noasis gigs? Are they fans who couldn’t get tickets to see Oasis?
According to Gary, it’s a mix of die-hard fans and a younger crowd discovering the magic of Oasis for the first time.
At most gigs, I’ll say something like, ‘Bet you’re glad you didn’t pay £440? Then I ask who’s actually going to see Oasis. Usually, it’s three or four hands out of 400. So yeah—most missed out, but they’re still getting their fix with us. But then there’s a lot of people who’ve got tickets that still come.
“Our audiences are full of kids too—like the new generation. We played at the Corn Exchange Hertford the other night and there were five lads right up front. One of them had an Oasis t-shirt with an ‘N’ pinned over it—proper effort!”
Speaking of T-shirts, Gary, who lives in Northampton, recalls another surprising moment when a women gave him what she claimed was one of Liam’s Adidas shirt.
“We were playing at the Picturedrome —one of a few shows we’ve done there—and this lady was right at the front, sitting on a stool ‘cos she’d had a knee op. I recognised her from a few gigs. After the show, she came over and said, ‘I’ve got you a present.’ She pulls out this Adidas-style shirt—but it said Oasis instead of Adidas. I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, sure…’ thinking it wasn’t legit. But then she said, ‘It’s official. It didn’t fit Liam, so he told me to give it to you.’”
As unlikely as it sounded, the next day she texted him a photo: there she was with Liam Gallagher, his partner Debbie—and the very same shirt.
“Turns out the lady is called Lisa, she’s from Northampton, and she’s mates with Liam’s girlfriend Debbie. Somehow, she bagged me one of Liam’s actual shirts.”
As for their setlist?
“We wrote one back in February and said we’d stick with it until Oasis came back—then we’d see what they’re doing. And when they did come back, they played practically the same set… in the same order!”
That proven tracklist has helped Noasis sell out venues across the country—not just attracting fans priced out of seeing the real band, but a loyal crowd that keeps coming back for more.
Noasis will be returning to Northampton’s Picturedrome on October 11th—and they’re giving away two free tickets.
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Read last year’s article as news of the reunion tour just broke. https://northantsmag.co.uk/tribute-band-noasis-prepares-for-sell-out-shows-amidst-oasis-mania
For full details of all of Noasis’ upcoming gigs visit: http://www.soasis.co.uk/ or the band’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NoasisOfficial