The second and final day of Toronto's Virgin Festival will take place tonight, headlined by Manchester-based rock superstars, Oasis. Yesterday was said to be an excellent opening day, graced by artists such as Bloc Party, MGMT, and Foo Fighers. It goes without saying that Oasis, accompanied by a lineup including Moby and Silversun Pickups, will give Toronto a night it will never forget.
Probably one of the world's most successful rock n' roll bands, Oasis has recently followed a similar path as fellow Britpop pioneers, The Verve, in that despite indescrete bitterness between members (specifically Noel and Liam Gallagher), the band has sucked it up and made its triumphant return with a forthcoming new album and international tour. The album is to be realeased on October 6, and is titled Dig Out Your Soul, from which many tracks will surely be played at the festival. 
As strange as it may sound, much Oasis' appeal stems from all the vicious feuding, substance abuse, and ego-fueled power trips. The reason for this is that the band's music is undeniably catchy. The songs are accessable and their chord progressions provide the listener with a sense of warmth and an uncontrollable desire to move one's body. Oasis is, in a sense, the comfort food of 90's music. This is why Oasis remains one of today's most ironic bands, and that's what much of rock n' roll is all about. It's presenting your audience with what they want to hear, despite anything that occurs behind the curtains.
It's fantastic when music sends a message, but it's not always neccessary. Sometimes people want to hear the familiar melodies of "Hung in a Bad Place," or "All Around the World." As guitarist Noel Gallagher once stated, music doesn't change the world and that it's only the men in the suits that have control over that. This may be a bit extreme and probably untrue, but Gallagher made a valid point when he put simply, "We're entertainers." Some artists want to start a revolution, and others simply set out to please the masses.
Attendees of the festival tonight will most likely not receive any sort of sociopolitical messages. But without a doubt, Oasis will give the people what they want, and that's all a festival-goer can really ask for.
