THE OIL STILL BURNS
As the legend will say... Midnight Oil wasn't really sure to compete in the Tour de France or in a Flanders Classic. But their road captain was wise enough and knew that in Flanders you often ride against the wind. So they took the right direction and made it in time!
Midnight Oil is one of the few bands that knew how to combine protest songs with hit success. That doesn't have to be a paradox if one for example donates his gains to the good cause besung. What Peter Garrett and his band didn't warn for or put the light on, we honestly don't know. Just read the lyrics of the song 'Protest' from 1985.
The band from Sydney had built up that hit success quite cleverly out of their experimental sound in the late seventies and early eighties - with even an occasional disco tune. It culminated in a more mainstream protest rock which distinguished Midnight Oil from around 1984 on with a series of strong albums and with in the lowlands three singles that gathered a lot of airplay, among which tophit 'Beds Are Burning'.
The nineties brought confirmation of their big political and environmental voice in versatile artistic productions but without notable singles. Garrett was already busy with Australian nature conservation and Greenpeace. From 2003 on the singer even wanted to practise more intensely what he preached. He got a seat in the Australian parliament and managed to become minister in two consecutive administrations. Midnight Oil went into slumber status until may 2016, a month wherein Garrett announced the comeback of his band as well as a solo album.
Beats have become loud
As an early ecologist the words of the bald front man still easily find connection with reality. Also on a musical scale the mature band still performs solidly. The Oils played an energetic set in Zottegem just as they hadn't really been away. But in the meanwhile beats have become loud, even on a rock festival. Luckily the comical spastic dances of Peter Garrett - a real minister of silly walks - were not techno driven.
Drummer Rob Hirst also had a great time - he's the band's driving force - and threw with just as much enthousiasm his drum sticks in the round. Guitarist Jim Moginie took place at the organ for 'Whoah' and it had something of an intimate celebration. 'Truganini' opened with Garrett on mouth organ, a familiar sound for the fans that grew along with the band, and was captivating. Before yet another great harmonica solo in 'Blue Sky Mine' - a song on asbestos victims and still actual - Garrett asked the public's compassion: "Because it's a tough time for people in the US, having the dumbest president in the universe", he spoke. Today he's free again to reclaim such statements.
"Because it's a tough time for people in the US, having the dumbest president in the universe" - Peter Garrett
"Because it's a tough time for people in the US, having the dumbest president in the universe" - Peter Garrett
Nothing new of course but he wanted it said! After that the piano melody in 'My Country' and Martin Rotsey's acoustic guitar met for a highlight that flowed out into a powerful collective singing of the other members.
'Short Memory' came refreshing the world's conscience up to the Belgian events in Congo. Hirst had then already taken position at the front, next to Bones Hillman on acoustic bass, and his onehanded beat on the snare drum created a unique momentum with Moginie's piano-improvisation. Another superb soft spike was 'Put Down That Weapon' - somebody's got to sing it - with airy keyboards by Moginie and the band completely under current.
The Australians had brought with them a sax player and that added value was played out well in 'Beds Are Burning' and last song 'Forgotten Years'. While the band members received inspiration and political energy at large through the situation of the aboriginals even a few of the indigenous peoples came over to see and support them. Obviously 'Beds Are Burning' ended in a beautiful public chant. A concert a little longer than an hour - we could take more - but it was intense enough as a compensation. A happy meeting again in the heart of Flanders!
Setlist: The Dead Heart/ Redneck Wonderland/ King Of The Mountain/ Whoah/ Truganini/ Blue Sky Mine/ My Country/ Short Memory/ Kosciusko/ Only The Strong/ Put Down That Weapon/ Beds Are Burning/ Forgotten Years
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