Over a decade after their landmark album What’s The Story Morning Glory, the UK act Oasis is quietly achieving even more breakthroughs with their latest Don’t Believe The Truth. Seemingly gone are the Gallagher brothers, hijinks. In it’s place? A group earnestly playing its solid rock before an even wider audience than ever before. We caught up with guitarist Jem Archer ahead of the group’s February 18-19 show at Bangkok 100 Rock Festival.

Do you get excited about playing at the 100 Rock Festival in Thailand?
We don’t talk up anything really but if you ask individual people, they’re up for it. I am. I just remember the last time we played Bangkok and the princess of Thailand came. There were a lot of soldiers in the mosh pit. We were a little confused as to why and then she ended up coming backstage and there were loads of photos. She even got Liam’s tambourine. That was a big gig as well. 10,000 people came. We had about six days off there as well. I’m sure we’re all up for that. We’re pretty much itching to get back on with it.

When you’re onstage what songs get you excited?
Of the new stuff I like “Lyla.” Of the old stuff I love “Rock n’ Roll Star” and when Noel hits the solo on “Live Forever” I’m still blown away after all this time. “The Master Plan” is great too.

Your tour has been quite successful and it finally seems as though you broke through the U.S. Was this a pleasant surprise after all this time?
Yes and no. A lot of the British press said “failed in America.” Quite honestly, I think you can’t break America anymore. It’s not like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin days. Nowadays the media controls it. One band can sell millions in America and they can be forgotten in a month. We just kept going over there. We went over there with the Black Crowes and we didn’t even have a record out. This time they said "You’re going to Madison Garden, Hollywood Bowl and Red Rocks"...and we were like "Are you sure?”...and it became one of the fastest sellouts ever. Playing at Madison Square Garden surpassed all my expectations. You know the history but when you get there and the guy in the dressing room is giving you all the talk about this being the place where Marilyn Monroe sang to the President, it makes you raise your game. As for Red Rocks you think U2 because of their live show there, but then you realize they’ve had gigs there since 1908. When you’re there, you feel special. At some other places, you might as well be playing the car park.

As a group what have you all enjoyed musically and filmwise?
We had a band called the Red Walls supporting us from Chicago. We like The Coral. As far as movies go it would have to be that Metallica film. Andy and Liam are all into that Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office. I also really like a guy named Banksy. Check him out. He’s a British street artist. He’s just done a book. He’s great... Apart from all that, there’s all the bollocks that gets talked until sunrise. There’s a board game that we play called Frustration. You roll the dice and have to win the PDs back. We play that quite often.

As for the future, what can we expect soundwise on the next album?
We’ve got so many songs that we didn’t put on this album. There’s already talk of working with producer Dave Sardie. Some of the songs that didn’t make that album will can certainly make the next one. They’re a member of the same family but the family doesn’t look the same. I’d love to go back to Capitol and work with Sardie again. We’ll see.