Midnight Oil Is Back with a Vengeance

Midnight Oil performs at Webster Hall in New York City on May 13.

There’s a unique sense of anticipation that comes right before a band hits the stage. You can just feel it in the crowd, especially in a more intimate space. That excited mood was on full display last month in New York minutes before the return of Midnight Oil to the stage. Fans had waited nearly 15 years for the five Aussie guys to reunite after their abrupt end in late 2002. Standing in the throng at Webster Hall, I couldn’t believe this moment was going to happen. My favorite band was back, and they would prove once again why they’re the best live act on the planet.

Way back in 1990, I visited a local record store with my brother as a 14-year-old that was just getting into music. I’m not sure why, but I picked up a cassette copy of Blue Sky Mining from Midnight Oil. Maybe I’d seen the video for the title track on MTV, but the reasons are fuzzy. Regardless of how it happened, I was hooked on the politically charged music of Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie, Rob Hirst, Martin Rotsey, and Bones Hillman. Within the next few years, I’d snatched up their past work and become a devoted fan. I caught them live in 1993 at the Riverport Amphitheatre in St. Louis as part of a local radio station’s festival. They sounded great, but the giant venue (and some unexcited friends) made it a less satisfying night.

During the 1990s, Midnight Oil spent more time in Australia and slipped out of the mainstream here in the States. They kept releasing albums but didn’t return for an extended tour until 2001 and 2002. I caught them at six club shows around the Midwest during that time, and the concerts were so much fun. During the last few concerts in mid-2002, I did notice that the guys weren’t as excited by the experience. I wasn’t shocked when they decided to call it quits later that year. With Garrett immersed in politics, it seemed unlikely they would officially reform again. The guys might play a few benefit concerts in Australia, but a full tour was a pipe dream.

The marquee for the Midnight Oil concert at Webster Hall in New York City.

The Announcement

February 17, 2017. Sydney Harbour. Midnight Oil had offered hints about an overseas tour, but we didn’t know if it would be extensive. Sitting on a boat in front of local media, the guys revealed The Great Circle Tour — an ambitious trek around the world that would occupy most of the year. Here in Missouri, I could barely hold back the anticipation as I watched the live online feed on my phone. Where would they play? I knew the guys wouldn’t make it to St. Louis, but would the tour dates work for me? I was determined to attend multiple shows if possible, but I’m not in a phase of life for a long trip. With young kids at home, this would be a quick weekend trip to get as much of the Oils as possible in that short time.

My plans crystalized when the band announced a second show in New York. I could fly there and catch two concerts on back-to-back nights on May 13 and 14. I also have friends in the area that had never seen the Oils live, so it was an easy sell. I bought the tickets just a few months away from the concert dates. Questions were flying around in my mind. Would the Oils still be at the top of their game? Garrett is 64, and the other guys are just a few years younger. What songs would they play? I knew it would be fun, but I was trying to keep expectations in check.

The acoustic set for Midnight Oil playing live in New York City at Webster Hall.

Night 1 – The Power and the Passion

Any doubts about the Oils’ return were gone before they even hit the stage. The female trio BOYTOY opened with a solid 30-minute set, and the anticipation just built during the break. When “Waru” from the legendary Warumpi Band blared through the speakers, the impact of this moment really hit me. Without much fanfare, the guys strolled onto the stage to a huge roar. They blasted into “Sometimes”, the type of song that would normally close a set. This choice set the tone for the night; the Oils were going for broke right from the start. The night’s third song was “Don’t Wanna Be the One”, a fiery anthem from 1981’s Place Without a Postcard album. The oldest tune of the evening, this performance hearkened back to the Oils’ early club days.

After a significant career in politics, Garrett is well into his 60s. Even so, you could barely notice as he lumbered all over the stage throughout the night. There were a lot of smiles from the guys, who clearly enjoyed playing together again. Garrett threw some barbs at Trump (including “dumpster”) as expected, but the general vibe was quite positive. He even took a shot at the difficult range needed on “Somebody’s Trying to Tell Me Something”, which the band hadn’t played live since 1988. Songs like this one built the sense that anything might get a turn in this set.

Hirst grabbed a drum and moved to the front of the stage for an acoustic middle set that lost none of its power. In particular, a stripped-down version of “My Country” made that track from 1993’s Earth and Sun and Moon even more powerful. The bass-heavy “When the Generals Talk” morphed into a dance tune while retaining its cynical look at world leaders. The appearance of B-side “Ships of Freedom” also made an impact with its timely look at the plight of refugees. The Oils have a rare ability to discuss complex, tough issues with catchy rock melodies.

The main set closed with a joyous run through some of the band’s hits. After a refreshing “Arctic World”/”Warakurna” combo, Hirst started hitting the water tank and signified the funky “Power and the Passion”. Easily one of my favorite Oils tunes, the early gem included an incredible solo from Hirst as its centerpiece. By this point, the crowd was full of adults in their 30s and 40s (if not older) bouncing up and down like teenagers. Even critic David Fricke from Rolling Stone was singing along and swaying up in the balcony. It’s hard to beat the massive sing along at the start of “The Dead Heart”, but the guys tried with a closing trio of “Blue Sky Mine”, “Beds are Burning”, and “Dreamworld”.

Standing on the floor in the middle of the action, I loved looking up at the balcony to see people losing their minds and singing along. What could be better? In the encore, the Oils even recalled their 1990 Exxon Protest show in New York by covering John Lennon’s “Instant Karma!”. The night closed with the epic call-and-response of “Best of Both Worlds” from Red Sails in the Sunset. How could they top this show? Heading into night two, I hoped the band could at least match this intensity. Amazingly, this was only the warm-up for an even better concert.

Setlist: Sometimes, Bullroarer, Don’t Wanna Be the One, Bedlam Bridge, Stars of Warburton, Somebody’s Trying to Tell Me Something, Now or Never Land, My Country, When the Generals Talk, Ships of Freedom, Luritja Way, Arctic World, Warakurna, Power and the Passion, The Dead Heart, Blue Sky Mine, Beds Are Burning, Dreamworld. Encore 1: Instant Karma!, Sell My Soul, Forgotten Years. Encore 2: Best of Both Worlds

Peter Garrett and Bones Hillman of Midnight Oil perform in New York City at Webster Hall.

Night 2 – A Dream Setlist

It’s a challenge for me to write about seeing the Oils live without just saying words like “awesome” and “incredible” over and over. It’s even more difficult when describing the second New York show. The first night included eight songs from Diesel and Dust, the band’s most successful album. Even so, I still loved it because they incorporated a variety of eras. Going into this show, I had a mental list of other songs that I hoped to hear. They played all of them. “Progress” and “Redneck Wonderland” were part of that group, and they opened the night. The former was also a key part of the Exxon Protest, while the latter is a scorching title track from the band’s 1998 album. Both set the stage for a more intense and varied performance in night two.

Amazingly, the Oils began their second concert with nine songs that hadn’t been played during the previous night. A highlight was “No Time for Games”, which occupied the early career spot of the show. That song includes a guitar solo from Jim Moginie that was possibly the pinnacle of the entire show. “Only the Strong” and “Read About It” rank among the band’s most powerful anthems, and both appeared during the early segment. The slower Blue Sky Mining tracks “Shakers and Movers” and “River Runs Red” offered a short break from all the mayhem.

The acoustic set again included “My Country”, but it deserved another play given our current political climate. That song connected well to “US Forces”, a stinging 1983 tune that remains so relevant today. This portion closed with everyone singing together on “Kosciusko”, which shifted back to the full band in the middle. It was another example of how the Oils didn’t take the obvious route with songs that already worked. This didn’t feel like a money grab or stale greatest-hits performance. The power emanating from the stage never slipped, and the many setlist changes just added to the impact. The result smashed my already high expectations.

The final run began with “Put Down That Weapon” and “King of the Mountain”, which weren’t played on the previous night. Both could easily anchor a set and show just how deep the Oils’ catalog extends. The last four songs matched the previous night (in a slightly different order), but the hits seemed even stronger on their second appearance. The encore began with “Whoah”, another deep cut that hadn’t appeared live since 1994. A welcome appearance of the more recent “Say Your Prayers” followed, and the classic anthem “Forgotten Years” closed the first encore. I expected the Oils to return for one more song, and I hoped to hear “Hercules”. Amazingly, the guys played exactly that to close the evening. It was that kind of night.

Setlist: Progress, Redneck Wonderland, Tone Poem, Truganini, No Time for Games, Shakers and Movers, Only the Strong, River Runs Red, Read About It, My Country, US Forces, Kosciusko, Put Down That Weapon, King of the Mountain, The Dead Heart, Beds Are Burning, Blue Sky Mine, Dreamworld. Encore 1: Whoah, Say Your Prayers, Forgotten Years. Encore 2: Hercules

Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, and Martin Rotsey of Midnight Oil perform live in New York City.

Just Getting Started

During the February press conference, the Oils hinted that a new album might happen down the road. After seeing them live, I have no doubts that it could happen. They seemed thrilled to be together on stage once again. More tour dates keep appearing on their schedule, and the variety in set lists has been astounding. It feels similar to the reunion tour for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in 1999 and 2000. Following that glorious run, they entered the studio and recorded The Rising. I could foresee a similar approach for the Oils, though likely on a smaller scale.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of saying we “need” the Oils because of the awful situation in the Trump era. A recurring theme of their music is the idea that history repeats itself and we must have a short memory, to quote their classic song. The Oils’ message connects in any era where governments and corporations take advantage of people and destroy the environment. I also hesitate to pigeonhole the Oils as a political band. Their songs are powerful statements, but they aren’t just educational pieces.

In simple terms, the Oils are the best live band that I’ve ever seen. The second concert in New York stands at the top of my concert rankings, and I’ve seen hundreds of shows over the years. The power and the passion still rings true 41 years after the band initially formed in Sydney. Four of the five original members remain, and Hillman has been with them since the late ‘80s. The catchy hooks, soulful harmonies, and singalong lyrics come together in a potent mix. Midnight Oil has no equal on the live stage, and there's still more to come very soon. I can't wait.

Comments

  1. Great review about a great band!

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  2. Awesome piece of writing mate. I've seen them here in Australia every tour since D&D. Can't wait til October once they're back here!

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    1. Thanks! You're in for a treat in October. The Oils haven't lost a step and seemed even more powerful now than they've ever been. I suspect they'll have some special shows in store for Australia. My hope is that this is the start of more than just a tour, and a new album is coming in the future. Regardless, it was amazing to see them again!

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  3. ”the Oils are the best live band that I’ve ever seen”. That’s a big compliment, as I remember you love Springsteen live.
    I only know the 87’ radio hit Beds Are Burning. Reading your post makes me aware they are so much more. You write Diesel and Dust is the band’s most successful LP, which do you think is their best album?

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    1. Chris, Springsteen is definitely in the discussion and has delivered some of the best shows I've seen. The Oils are somethings different, however. They've been my favorite band since I can remember, and their live shows just enhance the impact. I think Diesel and Dust is their best album. It's great from start to finish and has a lot of their signature songs. My personal favorite is 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. It's from the early '80s and isn't as consistent, but it has five songs that rank among their best ever. Blue Sky Mining and Earth and Sun and Moon are also good starting points. If you're curious, they also have a few greatest hits albums that offer a nice variety of their stuff. You won't be disappointed.

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  4. Gday Dan, great review
    Youre right, they are up there with the greatest ever live bands (coming out of the Aussie pub scene of the 70s and 80s which saw ACDC, The Angels, Divinyls, Aussie Crawl etc all great live bands)
    My personal favorite album is head injuries.
    Reason being that its sounds just like they do live.
    And the songs from this album have so much energy live.

    Looking forward to seeing them here in November!

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    1. Head Injuries is so great; I agree that it captures how raw they are live. I'm jealous that they did all of it in a row but Naked Flame at the Selina's show at the start of this tour. I'm guessing you'll get a lot of special sets in Australia this fall. They've been mostly skipping the first three albums (with a few exceptions) overseas, but I suspect they'll play more at home.

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