T.O. cover band an Oasis from the real thing
Hey, they didn't write it
From National Post, April 29, 2000

Today's discerning rock consumer wishes to be entertained without going broke, so if you couldn't get a ticket for tonight's Oasis concert at Maple Leaf Gardens, consider a Britpop alternative: Wonderwall (the ultimate Oasis tribute band).

By postponing your rock needs for only four days, Toronto music connoisseurs can see these cubic zirconias in the rough play an intimate and interactive set at the El Mocambo on Wednesday, May 3. Lead Liam / lead singer Marco Lebel is excited to be playing at what he calls, "the biggest toilet in town."

Lebel (a mild- mannered mailman by day) promises a very authentic (read drunk and surly) performance. "Don't get too close, cause someone will get hurt, either in the audience or on stage. That's the way it's supposed to be. That's rock and roll. If nobody gets hurt you might as well stay home."

While some might be wary of the I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Butter flavourings of Wonderwall, there are myriad advantages — most obviously, cost. Oasis tickets ranged from $25.50 to $35.50, plus service charges. Wonderwall is a mere $8 at the door (half price with an Oasis ticket stub). Notes Lebel, "After two beers, and 10 feet away, we're Oasis, believe me." You'll also be supporting the local economy, as the lads are all from Toronto.

Those who opted for Oasis will only receive 40% of the original band anyway. The group's first drummer (Tony McCarroll) was "replaced" in 1995 by Alan White, and long-time rhythm guitarist (Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs) and bassist (Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan) "left" in late 1999, replaced by Gem Archer and Andy Bell respectively.

The Original Oasis Percentile (OOP) drops as low as 20% live since Liam Gallagher doesn't sing on every song — such as Don't Look Back in Anger — during which he sulks backstage and perhaps wonders if he'll ever top the lyrical brilliance of his first-ever Oasis song "Little James" an ode to his son with the immortal: You live for your toys/even though they make noise.

Speaking of terrible lyrics, Wonderwall finds another advantage by being one degree separated from the fray. Many people enjoy Oasis in spite of Noel Gallagher's often insipid, banal, obvious lyrics, not because of them. Noel's decision to never bother with second drafts was less of an issue when the music hid this shortcoming -- and rock has never placed a high priority on the written word -- but lately the riffs and melodies sound equally tired and trite. Seeing Wonderwall removes frustrations, since the person responsible for lines like "slowly walking down the hall / faster than a cannon ball" isn¹t around to answer for himself. Wonderwall is merely following orders. But rest assured, those terrible lyrics will be sung with conviction. Lebel formed the band, in part, because "I could do the whiny voice and most people think I'm a fucking prick, so it was a role made for me." He also fears no reprisal. "Our lead guitarist is really big, so if I shoot off my mouth, well, he can take care of people."

Perhaps the truly sophisticated music fan will avoid either option. The British Invasion lead by Oasis has not yet been forced into retreat, but the best battles are being fought by upstart footsoldiers like Travis, Supergrass and Mogwai instead of old Generals like Blur and The Spice Girls. Oasis is a weathered veteran, having overcome the troika of literary conflicts: Man vs. Man (Oasis vs. Blur); Man vs. Environment (Oasis vs. the often impenetrable North American market) and Man Vs. Himself (Oasis vs. drug and alcohol addiction). Unfortunately, with no more windmills left to tilt their Marshall stacks toward, Oasis now finds itself having to battle the ever-nebulous enemy Apathy.

Oasis isn't fighting very hard unfortunately, and given that their new album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants is tanking worse than the NASDAQ, it appears the band is content to coast on past glories. Worse, their bluster and ego (part and parcel of the Oasis experience) has started to falter: there's a track on the new album called "Where Did it All Go Wrong?" Since Wonderwall have little to lose, expect some quality hubris.

If 1997's Be Here Now was the first chink in the armor, then Giants is a sucking chest wound. Studying the liner notes to The Masterplan (a collection of Oasis b-sides released in 1998), it becomes clear that Noel Gallagher hasn't written a real foot-stomper since 1995 (D'You Know What I Mean excepted). One is reminded of the oft-repeated fact that fingernails and hair continue to grow for a few days after death. Wonderwall is free from such pressure and might even play better because of it. If their masters write a bad tune (or a bad album) they have the luxury of ignoring lessor material.

The most ironic thing about Wonderwall is that the real deal might one day find themselves playing to similar-sized crowds, doing the Heavy Metal Hell circuit. Nothing imposes humility like seeing once great bands like RATT or Quiet Riot play to 50 fans instead of 5,000.

Wonderwall need not fear the Gallagher brothers' wrath, however. "Oasis is very cool toward tribute bands. There are a bunch of Oasis cover bands in England and [Oasis members] actually go see them and talk to them and keep in touch with them. Noel Gallagher has said, 'We're the best band in the world. If I'm going to see a band, I might as well see myself.' "

The final word goes to Bart Simpson, who learned of the ugly side of showbiz when he opened his own casino. As he tells Lisa: "I gotta book a new act for tonight. Turns out that Liza Minnelli impersonator was really Liza Minnelli." He then shudders violently.

Don't let this happen to you.