“Louder Than Expected”: Oasis Tear Through Secret Viper Room Gig – December 18, 1995

The venue, partially owned by Johnny Depp at the time, was already infamous for its exclusivity. On this night, it became a sonic pressure cooker, with Oasis turning up the volume and attitude in front of a few hundred stunned insiders.

Setlist – December 18, 1995

Sourced from both Setlist.fm and the official Oasis Live Archive:

The Swamp Song (Intro jam)

Acquiesce

Hello

Roll With It

Some Might Say

Cigarettes & Alcohol

Live Forever

I Am the Walrus (The Beatles cover – extended outro)

This short, ferocious set mixed B-sides, lead singles, and a now-iconic Beatles cover to close the night. The band opened with the instrumental Swamp Song, before diving straight into Acquiesce—a fan-favourite B-side that arguably upstaged many A-sides.

Firsthand Glimpses: Chaos and Charisma

According to journalist Samira Ahmed, who attended the gig, many in the audience expected something polished and Beatlesque. Instead, they were hit with something “rather more akin to Slade.” She described Liam Gallagher as “a bored lion pacing in a cage,” while Noel played it cool, letting his wall of guitars do the talking.

The atmosphere was electric—claustrophobic, loud, and unpredictable. As the Oasis Live Archive notes, the room was “rammed with friends, media, and celebrities,” and many attendees were taken aback by how loud the band were in such a small space. At one point, Liam reportedly snarled, “This is our fookin’ club now.”

Why It Still Resonates

In an era when Oasis were quickly moving from cult band to global phenomenon, this stripped-down club gig was a reminder of their roots. It was messy, thrilling, and utterly real.

While the band would go on to headline Knebworth less than a year later, this Viper Room set captured the raw edge and unfiltered energy that drew fans to them in the first place.

“There was a kind of danger in the air.” — Samira Ahmed
“Noel Gallagher, ever the pro, held it together.” — Oasis Live Archive