Liam Gallagher / Photo by Alex Crick

Bathed in violet light, the stage of Seattle's WAMU Theater was set last night for an evening of prodigious musicianship from fabled Britpop stalwarts Oasis, who began the North American leg of their world tour to a sold-out audience.

Solo artist Matt Costa, with his raspy yet beautifully crisp vocals and understated acoustics, opened the show, followed by Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, who took the stage for an all-out detour from Adams' alt-country style into fully-fledged rock territory, replete with drilling drums, dueling guitars, and tremendous, gospel-eque harmonies. Adams' wistful vocals and melodic guitar playing threatened to steal the entire night's show -- but as proved later, no one can take the limelight from the Gallagher brothers.

With a frenetic blast of beautiful noise, Oasis began their lightshow-infused set with "Rock'n'Roll Star," reminding the audience just who the night's headliners were and why. Though known for being aloof, Liam Gallagher belted out his vocals with gusto, providing energetic counterpoint to brother Noel's lilting melodies. Liam fronted favorites like "Cigarettes and Alcohol," "Slide Away," and "The Meaning of Soul," while Noel took center stage and offered gorgeously lush vocal and acoustic guitar arrangements on "The Masterplan" and "Wonderwall."

New material, including "The Shock of the Lightning" off the forthcoming album Dig Out Your Soul, was interspersed throughout the set, showcasing the band's masterful subtlety and restraint coupled with their unparalleled exuberance for loud, feedback-laden rock.

The show concluded with a cover of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus," bringing a fitting end to a show that sparkled from start to finish. On opening night, Oasis' proved themselves to be an ever-evolving band whose talent and skill never fails to awe and amaze.

Check out two show videos below and then see pictures from last night on page 2.

"Don't Look Back In Anger"

"Slide Away"