Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ The Usher Hall, 27 October

Six years ago, a guitarist walked off this very stage with the band he will forever be synonymous with. Since then he has become a husband again and a father again (twice), but perhaps more significant is his acrimonious departure  from the group he made his name with. Casting our eyes around the cavernous room tonight, it seems an equal number have squeezed into the Usher Hall to witness the return of one-time Inspiral Carpets roadie turned anthemic songwriting millionaire, Noel Gallagher.

Having observed the hasty return of ‘our kid’ and his old comrades, Noel has bided time and delivered a fine solo album in the form of the eponymous High Flying Birds, which he plays almost in its entirety tonight. However, unlike his sibling’s 'new' outfit, Gallagher senior promises to play the songs that have afforded him the luxury of buying expensive cars and a swimming pool, despite the fact that he can neither drive or swim. Beginning his set with an Oasis b-side not only goes to show the substantial arsenal that Noel can call his own, but the significance of its chorus is not lost when he chimes: "It’s good  to be free."

The crowd seem just as enthusiastic for the new material, although the tender If I Had A Gun – which Gallagher dedicates to his native wife, “the Queen of Edinburgh” – is particularly distinguished. A euphoric rendition of Don’t Look Back In Anger provides another highlight, but big brother is quick to dampen the chants of “Who the fuck are Beady Eye?” that follow it, leading one to suspect that perhaps the ice isn't quite so thick as we've been made to understand.