HE described his brother and former bandmates as an Oasis tribute act after their slot at the Olympic closing ceremony.

And while the set for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds included a sizeable chunk of classic Oasis material, much of it lesser known or rearranged, they excelled as both a great band in their own right and as a continuation of the glorious past of Oasis from their songwriter and maestro.

Since the seminal band split up three years ago after yet another argument at a music festival in Paris, elder brother Noel is literally flying high with his solo project while Liam’s Beady Eye are somewhat floundering – not helped by a slightly below par performance of Wonderwall as the curtain fell on London 2012.

A buoyant Noel resisted any swipe at his younger sibling as he played Bournemouth last night and let the music do the talking.

Without doubt the highlight of the set was Noel leading the five-piece through a trio of Oasis favourites as a climax to a joyful sold-out show, which was surprisingly civilised given the audience the Gallaghers normally attract. Whatever and Little By Little were followed by a deafening audience singalong to Don’t Look Back in Anger backed by the Crouch End Festival Chorus.

High Flying Birds songs also impressed in a live setting, most notably with catchy crowd-pleaser Everybody’s On the Run and the anthemic AKA...What A Life, which became somewhat of a hit on the BBC coverage of the London Games.

Support came from Graham Coxon, who came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of arch rivals Blur.

You can forgive your enemies it seems.

But only if you’re not related.