T in the Park review: Beady Eye, Radio One stage

The Radio one stage sees Liam Gallagher and Beady Eye close T in the Park’s second day, and those present may well be bearing witness to the final death throes of Britpop.

Liam Gallagher, frontman of Beady Eye, performs at this year's T in the Park. Picture: David P Scott

Beady Eye are not Oasis, yet there is an immediate impression that fans of the frontman quite simply cannot connect with the offerings from debut Different Gear Still Speeding or new record BE. Gallagher still snarls with the fury of a dragon guarding its hoard, but gone are the glittering jewels of his heyday.

There is no question however, that they are a good band. The legacy of Oasis was not built upon the older Gallagher brother’s songwriting alone, and Liam still cuts an intimidating figure behind the microphone, glowing with petulant charisma. He spits ‘I’m Just Saying’ and ‘The Roller’ into the haze of cascading drizzle cascad, and displays a dramatic improvement in the quality of his vocals with softer touches from BE, including a soulful ‘Start Anew’.

The rest of the band too, in Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Chris Sharrock, are all top drawer musicians, and the production touch of Dave Sitek makes a difference on the new tracks.

Clearly begrudging it, Beady Eye serve a slice of the past, and ignite the night sky with a rendition of ‘Morning Glory’, although they cannot tease out the enigmatic guitar riffs of old quite as powerfully.

“Right,” growls Gallager, “You can all go back to f**king sleep”. Before, jibes such as this were part and parcel of the man, yet tonight at T in the Park, the discomfort is only underlined by the fact that Rihanna has drawn the vast majority of the crowd.

As the paltry number of fans gradually ebb away, Beady Eye follow suit. It’s a dismal scene, and Gallagher knows it.

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