Midnight Oil performed at A Day on the Green in Geelong on Saturday, March 5 as part of their final ever tour.
What a weekend for the Geelong region and after a huge night watching a little band from the states it was time to back up and go and see one of the greatest and most influential rock bands in Australia’s history.
All Our Exes Live in Texas got the day going with a high-intensity set. The vibe was great as the evening rolled on and the rain started just as Goanna got going with ‘Razor’s Edge’. They played on as the crowd settled into some beautiful melodies from a band that had been playing together for 40 years which showed in their appreciation not only for each other but their thanks to the crowd and those who have supported them for so long. It was a gentle build-up to what would be a more intense offering from the Oils but all the same, appreciated by the crowd and was finished off with their biggest hit of all, ‘Solid Rock’!
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Midnight Oil hit the stage and it was clear they all still have the power and the passion to put on a great show after all of these years. The first song started with Peter Garrett up the back of the stage blending into the huge screen behind the band that was full of political and environmental messages throughout the night. This put the focus on the whole band and was a nice touch by Garrett who understands better than most that one person does not make a band. Beginning with ‘We Resist’ and ‘At the Time of Writing’, from their new album Resist they followed up with ‘Put Down That Weapon’ in which Putin was squarely in Garrett’s sights.
‘Back on the Borderline’ got the crowd up and about and it was followed by ‘The Barka-Darling River’. Following comments about our spineless prime minister, ‘King of the Mountain’ came out of nowhere and set the stage alight!! ‘My Country’ from Earth and Sky and Moon was helped along by the entire crowd as it sang with Peter Garrett who by this point was dripping wet along with the rest of the band. It didn’t seem to bother anyone and Garrett made it clear as long as we are staying they are staying and playing as well!!
Photo Credit SHOTZ BY JACKSON
‘Short Memory’ followed which was one of the best songs of the night. Garrett was dancing like your dad on stage at his very best in a way that should be embarrassing but is far from it and seems completely natural and in its place. Garrett made a point of the night to make his way around the stage and embrace all members in an attempt to focus on their incredible input into the show.
Hirst, Moginie and Rotsie were all in fine form along with the incredible backup singers. US Forces give the nod ripped through the crowd and caused tingles as one of the greatest lead-in lines to a song of all time!! Australian icons and legend of cricket were both made mention of leading into ‘Only The Strong’ and led to a short Warnie chant which seemed fitting at the time.
Photo Credit SHOTZ BY JACKSON
Photo Credit SHOTZ BY JACKSON
‘Rising Seas’ from the new album ticked off the climate change reference and the obvious connection with the devastating flood crisis in Queensland and NSW. ‘Redneck Wonderland’ got the powerful guitar riffs showcased at the oils very best followed by ‘First Nation’ and ‘The Dead Heart’.
They ripped into ‘Beds Are Burning’ ‘Power and the Passion’, ‘Hercules’ and it felt like The Oils were just getting started as they walked off stage to the huge roar of the crowd. We all knew there were just too many hits left over for them to leave us hanging like that. Well, they didn’t take long to walk back up onto the stage and go whack with a huge trio of absolute belters that got the mount pumping!! ‘Blues Sky Mine’ was amazing and they finished off with ‘Best of Both Worlds’, plus a massive sing-along to ‘Forgotten Years’.
Wow, it was a privilege to see the Oils again after so many years and they seem more relevant now than ever before with the world around us and all that is going on. They may be on their final tour but I hope their music will continue to influence the coming generations to look outside their own little world once in a while!!
Listen to Midnight Oil’s 15th studio album, Resist, here. Tickets to their final gigs are still available, head here.
