The roaring crowd had gathered slowly, but by the time Gallagher and his band Beady Eye picked up their instruments, the 4,000 capacity tent - shaped like a dark zeppelin hangar - was nearly packed.
And after the quick courtesy of a "good evening", they burst into Four Letter Word.
Liam proves why he is the ‘greatest frontman of all time’. Beady Eye’s show was ballsy rock and roll from start to finish. The exotic eastern-influenced Four Letter Word showed off Liam’s fantastic voice and guitarist Andy Bell’s skill. Beady Eye's every note was equally punctuated with the dancing crowd.
Liam not only got the chance to promote his new band and their debut album, it was also an opportunity for him to get acquainted with Abu Dhabi, the city that injected life back into his prized football team Manchester City.
"It's the first time we've come here. It's great to visit somewhere new," said the guitarist Andy Bell shortly before the band took to the stage, after admitting that the heat had been something of a shock.
Bell claimed that they'd been kept free from sweat by living in "a refrigerator" since they'd arrived on Thursday evening. Liam - who had apparently spent his brief time backstage meditating with a cup of green tea - was taking on the heat with a somewhat daring zipped-up jacket.
Fans couldn't have asked for more. Peter Redding who lives in Dubai said, "I’ve been to every Flash gig, they are all brilliant. To see Liam Gallagher live is a dream come true".
"I don't actually know Beady Eye that well," said Ian Dickenson from the Flash Forum fan pit. "I'm really just here because of Oasis."
Judging by the crowd's reaction as Beady Eye ploughed through their album tracks, it didn't really matter who was there for Oasis or not.
Beady Eye finished another part of the tour. Next stop: 7-8 October in Italy again and again.
download the Reading festival bootleg here
