Oasis walk on stage in front of a backcloth emblazoned with the word "Exist". It sums them up pretty well. They don't particularly inspire, they don't particularly rock, but they do a pretty good job of existing. They exist from one album to the next, from tour to tour, grinding out the hits, writing OK new songs, refusing to evolve or become in any way energised by their ongoing success. Tonight is just another gig, another enormous arena with dismal acoustics, another dollar. Do they enjoy it? It is hard to tell.

Oasis have not played in Hull for a number of years. According to local newspapers, there has been a huge demand for tickets, with some people paying up to three times the advertised price. There are a lot of young faces in the audience, plenty of punters who would have been small children when Oasis released (What's the Story) Morning Glory? - their last excellent album - back in 1995. The venue doesn't appear packed to capacity, but the fans who are here don't let that spoil the fun. In between every song there is a rabid, cavemanlike chant of "Liam! Liam!" and when the crowd sing along they threaten to drown out the group altogether.

There is more than a smattering of the new record, Heathen Chemistry, although Liam's swaggering Better Man and the solid Oasis-by-numbers single The Hindu Times are the only newies to really get the crowd going. It is the old stuff that raises the roof, particularly the majestic Don't Look Back in Anger, which towers over the more recent material in the same way that Beatles songs used to stick out at Wings concerts.

Songs apart, the most frustrating thing about Oasis is their steadfast refusal to be, or even look, excited by their own music. Noel is as workmanlike as ever, while Andy Bell and Gem Archer somehow have negative charisma, hacking at their guitars with such bored expressions you feel like apologising for keeping them up so late. When the band slouch off at the end it is hard to imagine them partying into the night. No sex, drugs or rock'n'roll, thanks: existence will do nicely.

· Oasis play Finsbury Park, London N4, from tomorrow until Sunday, and Newcastle Arena (0870 707 8000) on July 10 and 11.