In these words I often think you'd recognize me
February 17, 2017 7:51 PM Subscribe
Midnight Oil has announced dates for the Great Circle 2017 reunion tour
Excuse the first post jitters ... What Midnight Oil sang and stood for since the 70's means this tour is both nostalgic and painfully relevant. Peter Garrett described the band as "Brothers in music and aggitation"
Guardian article from their press conference yesterday
I for one welcome this energy back into my life (tix for 29May in PDX in hand)
Go the Oils!
Excuse the first post jitters ... What Midnight Oil sang and stood for since the 70's means this tour is both nostalgic and painfully relevant. Peter Garrett described the band as "Brothers in music and aggitation"
Guardian article from their press conference yesterday
I for one welcome this energy back into my life (tix for 29May in PDX in hand)
Go the Oils!
I guess we saw them on the same tour. I saw them at little ol' Saint Andrews in Detroit in early May of '88. Here's the set list. Peter Garrett owned the night for that show. Man, it was great, and this coming from someone who only went to the show because of a girlfriend.
posted by NoMich at 8:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by NoMich at 8:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
The only chance I ever had to see them, they cancelled the show to go protest the Exxon Valdez spill.
Which is fine and 100% in character, but it was very frustrating at the time.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Which is fine and 100% in character, but it was very frustrating at the time.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
One of the great live bands. Got 2 for Philly!
posted by stargell at 8:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by stargell at 8:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is good timing, as I might be finally ready to forgive Peter Garrett for the compromises he made as an ALP politician.
posted by retrograde at 8:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by retrograde at 8:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
This is good timing, as I might be finally ready to forgive Peter Garrett for the compromises he made as an ALP politician.
Nope. First of all, the fact he became an ALP politician instead of a Green (he would have won a senate seat easily) meant he was nobbled from the start. Second, he did sweet-fuck-all for the Environment when he was Environment Minister (ooh, look, all those mining leases signed, glory be). Third, he's done sweet-fuck-all for the environment since he decided not to re-contest his seat. In fact, Peter Garret has done SFA for almost anyone but Peter Garrett, and maybe his ALP handlers.
Peter Garrett dances like the marionette he is.
posted by Thella at 9:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Nope. First of all, the fact he became an ALP politician instead of a Green (he would have won a senate seat easily) meant he was nobbled from the start. Second, he did sweet-fuck-all for the Environment when he was Environment Minister (ooh, look, all those mining leases signed, glory be). Third, he's done sweet-fuck-all for the environment since he decided not to re-contest his seat. In fact, Peter Garret has done SFA for almost anyone but Peter Garrett, and maybe his ALP handlers.
Peter Garrett dances like the marionette he is.
posted by Thella at 9:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Great Woods, late 80s, I think? One of the best shows I've ever seen.
posted by bondcliff at 9:14 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by bondcliff at 9:14 PM on February 17, 2017
Red Sails in the Sunset? That's the album of theirs all we kids had.
posted by notyou at 10:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by notyou at 10:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm really looking forward to this tour, myself!
Midnight Oil has changed my life in some unexpected ways, and I'm grateful that I have a chance to see them once again.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2017
Midnight Oil has changed my life in some unexpected ways, and I'm grateful that I have a chance to see them once again.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2017
My brother and I have been talking about seeing bands before you can't anymore, and Midnight Oil would be the perfect selection for a band that neither of us were into, but as the reviews attest, are probably worth seeing. Sure, it's not Day on the Green 1987, but I don't know if I can think of a band that typifies the late Cold War in pop music like they do. Well, besides Ratt.
posted by rhizome at 10:13 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by rhizome at 10:13 PM on February 17, 2017
Peter Garrett dances like the marionette he is.
Well that escalated quickly.
posted by Beholder at 10:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Well that escalated quickly.
posted by Beholder at 10:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is why you should go: Jimmy Sharman's Boxers
posted by awfurby at 10:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by awfurby at 10:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
At the time I felt very much the same way about Garrett joining the ALP as Thella does and many friends did as well. As time goes on and my view of the greens becomes increasingly jaundiced (what colour does that work out to?) and I'm starting to really relate to the reasons they have no appeal for 90% of people, I feel like I might understand his decision a little more, even if I'm not entirely convinced he was any good at being a politician.
I own a heap of Midnight Oil records and didn't listen to them for a long time after he went into politics. I revisited that last year sometime - I've been listening to them a bit lately and yeah, nothing's changed, which is shit. I don't want their politics to feel current.
This really, really shouldn't feel progressive in 2017. It's fucking brilliant though.
I'd give a lot to see them in a pub half tanked than at the bowl or hanging rock, that all seems so genteel.
I have Blackfella Whitefella backed with The Dead Heart on 12" 45, which is one of my prized records. I like my Oils.
posted by deadwax at 11:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I own a heap of Midnight Oil records and didn't listen to them for a long time after he went into politics. I revisited that last year sometime - I've been listening to them a bit lately and yeah, nothing's changed, which is shit. I don't want their politics to feel current.
This really, really shouldn't feel progressive in 2017. It's fucking brilliant though.
I'd give a lot to see them in a pub half tanked than at the bowl or hanging rock, that all seems so genteel.
I have Blackfella Whitefella backed with The Dead Heart on 12" 45, which is one of my prized records. I like my Oils.
posted by deadwax at 11:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Saw them once in 1990. I had been a fan, bought all the albums from Postcards to Blue Sky, but now my musical attention was drifting elsewhere. Wasn't planning on going to see them until an Australian co-worker who kept telling me how awesome there were live offered me a free ticket. OH MY GOD! I was not prepared for the explosion of energy coming off that stage that night, truly shocked. I was (and remain) a big punk fan, but I can't recall seeing any punk band match what I witnessed that night. So fucking powerful, just amazing chemistry. The only shows I can think of that produced a similar feeling in me was maybe Public Enemy or The Clash.
Through the 90s though, I found myself shying away from such overtly earnest music. Seemed a little embarrassing for some reason. Still, I would revisit the Oils music every few years, always slightly surprised at how well the songs held up for me. For the past year or so I have been in the middle of a full-blown Midnight Oil revival, rediscovering the music from the perspective of an older, less fickle man. And, as I check out the albums I never owned, I am finding other great songs that I had never been aware of. So this reunion couldn't come at a better time for me. Not coming to my neck of the woods so it looks like I'll be hopping on a plane.
I am sorry that Peter apparently disappointed so many people with his career as a politician, but I have to believe that he is good person who simply wasn't fully prepared for the challenges in that field. On balance, I think he has done much more good than bad in his life. (Fully realize that it's easier for me to believe that than for the Australians more familiar with his shortcomings.)
posted by ericthegardener at 11:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Through the 90s though, I found myself shying away from such overtly earnest music. Seemed a little embarrassing for some reason. Still, I would revisit the Oils music every few years, always slightly surprised at how well the songs held up for me. For the past year or so I have been in the middle of a full-blown Midnight Oil revival, rediscovering the music from the perspective of an older, less fickle man. And, as I check out the albums I never owned, I am finding other great songs that I had never been aware of. So this reunion couldn't come at a better time for me. Not coming to my neck of the woods so it looks like I'll be hopping on a plane.
I am sorry that Peter apparently disappointed so many people with his career as a politician, but I have to believe that he is good person who simply wasn't fully prepared for the challenges in that field. On balance, I think he has done much more good than bad in his life. (Fully realize that it's easier for me to believe that than for the Australians more familiar with his shortcomings.)
posted by ericthegardener at 11:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I must agree Peter Garrett was disappointing as a politician, but I can't say he ever seemed atrocious either. If he didn't have the history of the Oils behind him, he would've been perfectly respectable in the position. It just seemed like he failed to convert activist messaging into personal political action - a better speaker than negotiator.
I rather wish he'd gone in on an independent ticket of some sort.
posted by solarion at 11:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I rather wish he'd gone in on an independent ticket of some sort.
posted by solarion at 11:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I rather wish he'd gone in on an independent ticket of some sort.
He almost had his own party for awhile; the Nuclear Disarmament Party where he missed out on a Senate seat due to ALP preferences to conservatives against him (nearly 10% 1st preferences, needed 12.5% after preferences). So he chickened out and took a safe Labour seat, over-riding the local branch's wishes.
He is a man who, when faced when the opportunity to do something bold, that might truly challenge authority and lose him some favour, chose instead to 'perform' the motions of conviction, but then dropped them when there was real work, real change to be had. Garret is talk, not action.
posted by Thella at 12:13 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
He almost had his own party for awhile; the Nuclear Disarmament Party where he missed out on a Senate seat due to ALP preferences to conservatives against him (nearly 10% 1st preferences, needed 12.5% after preferences). So he chickened out and took a safe Labour seat, over-riding the local branch's wishes.
He is a man who, when faced when the opportunity to do something bold, that might truly challenge authority and lose him some favour, chose instead to 'perform' the motions of conviction, but then dropped them when there was real work, real change to be had. Garret is talk, not action.
posted by Thella at 12:13 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I heard an interview with Peter on ABC Radio National this morning, promoting the tour.
He said Redneck Wonderland was definitely on the set list, because if Pauline Hanson can come back twenty years later, he'll be back with the song he wrote for her in '97.
posted by adept256 at 1:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
He said Redneck Wonderland was definitely on the set list, because if Pauline Hanson can come back twenty years later, he'll be back with the song he wrote for her in '97.
posted by adept256 at 1:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
And they're skipping my city (like most other bands). Damn, I'd love to see them but not enough to drive to Philly.
posted by octothorpe at 5:04 AM on February 18, 2017
posted by octothorpe at 5:04 AM on February 18, 2017
Finally, I have a good reason to question how can I sleep (while the beds are burning)
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I try not to think about Peter Garrtett's political career, or the controversy over "Bullroarer" (where they used a traditional indigenous instrument that they'd been asked not to).
Where I shake out on this is that the writer is not the work - there are writers and artists whose work I don't want to support because they are disgusting human beings and I object to my money going to them, but that doesn't necessarily undercut what the work itself does. Honestly, I'm not sure I want to give Midnight Oil any more of my money, but their music was a huge, huge political influence on me around 1990 and I still think that Red Sails In The Sunset is an incredible, incredible album. Red Sails In the Sunset and Blue Sky Mining motivated me so much when I lived in a suburb, had no real friends to speak of and had absolutely no way to plug into any kind of activism. Also, just trying to puzzle out what some of the songs were about - back before the internet - was educational.
I think sometimes that the best of us can end up in our artistic or cultural production - sometimes there's not too much difference, but sometimes it's extreme. I guess it's better to produce work that inspires and mobilizes people and then be kind of a shitty and useless politician than to be only the latter. The world would have much less much of my political activism, at least (such as it's been - I've never done anything more impressive than showing up, basically) without Midnight Oil, the Clash and certain science fiction novels.
posted by Frowner at 7:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Where I shake out on this is that the writer is not the work - there are writers and artists whose work I don't want to support because they are disgusting human beings and I object to my money going to them, but that doesn't necessarily undercut what the work itself does. Honestly, I'm not sure I want to give Midnight Oil any more of my money, but their music was a huge, huge political influence on me around 1990 and I still think that Red Sails In The Sunset is an incredible, incredible album. Red Sails In the Sunset and Blue Sky Mining motivated me so much when I lived in a suburb, had no real friends to speak of and had absolutely no way to plug into any kind of activism. Also, just trying to puzzle out what some of the songs were about - back before the internet - was educational.
I think sometimes that the best of us can end up in our artistic or cultural production - sometimes there's not too much difference, but sometimes it's extreme. I guess it's better to produce work that inspires and mobilizes people and then be kind of a shitty and useless politician than to be only the latter. The world would have much less much of my political activism, at least (such as it's been - I've never done anything more impressive than showing up, basically) without Midnight Oil, the Clash and certain science fiction novels.
posted by Frowner at 7:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
One of the great live bands. Got 2 for Philly!
One for me? lol
I forgot they were around in the 70's. They didn't cross my path until the early 80's while I was living in Scotland. They made the winter warmer that year.
posted by james33 at 7:47 AM on February 18, 2017
One for me? lol
I forgot they were around in the 70's. They didn't cross my path until the early 80's while I was living in Scotland. They made the winter warmer that year.
posted by james33 at 7:47 AM on February 18, 2017
I must agree Peter Garrett was disappointing as a politician,
seriously, is there anyone who ultimately doesn't disappoint as a politician? Which doesn't excuse the disappointment, but hopefully gives Garrett's stumbles perspective.
I don't really know my Down Under politics but my guess is that Garrett never mattered more politically than when he was making music, rocking the free world, putting forth certain truths with a power and passion that the official political sphere exists to neuter.
I saw Midnight Oil three times in fairly short succession, starting with a comparatively small hall show in Vancouver that isn't even on this list. I'm guessing it was 1986-87 sometime, before Diesel and Dust really took off. What struck me was that they were better the next two times, in bigger halls. One hell of a big strong live band.
posted by philip-random at 10:11 AM on February 18, 2017
seriously, is there anyone who ultimately doesn't disappoint as a politician? Which doesn't excuse the disappointment, but hopefully gives Garrett's stumbles perspective.
I don't really know my Down Under politics but my guess is that Garrett never mattered more politically than when he was making music, rocking the free world, putting forth certain truths with a power and passion that the official political sphere exists to neuter.
I saw Midnight Oil three times in fairly short succession, starting with a comparatively small hall show in Vancouver that isn't even on this list. I'm guessing it was 1986-87 sometime, before Diesel and Dust really took off. What struck me was that they were better the next two times, in bigger halls. One hell of a big strong live band.
posted by philip-random at 10:11 AM on February 18, 2017
Tough crowd here. Garrett was a great activist who made a mediocre politician; I guess some people are better outside the system than in. Letting the disappointment of his time in parliament taint prior good works makes me wonder if we had unrealistic expectations for him. Sort of reminds me of the criticisms that Obama didn't drive through enough of a liberal agenda; maybe he wasn't the only problem.
And yes, they can be a great live band. Might make a show just to see Rob Hirst again.
posted by N-stoff at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
And yes, they can be a great live band. Might make a show just to see Rob Hirst again.
posted by N-stoff at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Garrett wasn't the first person with ideals to find it hard to make a difference inside conventional politics, and he won't be the last. Have some charity, people: assume good intentions. It's easy to snipe from the internet.
posted by michaelhoney at 4:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by michaelhoney at 4:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Someday, I'd like to talk to Bones Hillman, the bassist, and apologize for nicking his name.
Whenever things get tough in my life, I tend to play and Oils-heavy playlist. They're just one of those stalwart bands for me that have always been there, and they never fail to energize and inspire. This latest stint was when I deemed the Gender Dysphora Demons too much to swat back, and something had to be done - I'm a guy, dammit! However, my insurance (and I know this is outdated), wanted me to 'prove' it - dress male (done), get a masculine haircut (done), adopt a male name.
I needed a male name. I searched all over, nothing 'fit', and I was at a loss until I found some ancient interview with Midnight Oil, talking about their new bassist Bones Hillman (nee Dwayne Stevens.) I knew right then and there that I found it: Dwayne. Hit me like a bolt from above.
Since then, I had halfhearted tried other names, but none seemed to fit me as well - so I adopted it as my own, and now I use Dwayne as my new name.
(Later I found out that his *actual* name was 'Wayne', and 'Dwayne' was probably a typo, but in that case, thank you for that typo! But seriously Bones, I'll buy you a beer or something. And thanks!)
posted by spinifex23 at 9:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Whenever things get tough in my life, I tend to play and Oils-heavy playlist. They're just one of those stalwart bands for me that have always been there, and they never fail to energize and inspire. This latest stint was when I deemed the Gender Dysphora Demons too much to swat back, and something had to be done - I'm a guy, dammit! However, my insurance (and I know this is outdated), wanted me to 'prove' it - dress male (done), get a masculine haircut (done), adopt a male name.
I needed a male name. I searched all over, nothing 'fit', and I was at a loss until I found some ancient interview with Midnight Oil, talking about their new bassist Bones Hillman (nee Dwayne Stevens.) I knew right then and there that I found it: Dwayne. Hit me like a bolt from above.
Since then, I had halfhearted tried other names, but none seemed to fit me as well - so I adopted it as my own, and now I use Dwayne as my new name.
(Later I found out that his *actual* name was 'Wayne', and 'Dwayne' was probably a typo, but in that case, thank you for that typo! But seriously Bones, I'll buy you a beer or something. And thanks!)
posted by spinifex23 at 9:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Tough crowd here. Garrett was a great activist who made a mediocre politician
This goes to the heart of my disparagement. Garrett was not a great activist. He was a public activist, but that does not make him a great one. I know great activists and I can list their achievements. Name me one activist achievement of Garrett's. He's had power, enormous social and political power, and what has he done with it?
posted by Thella at 3:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
This goes to the heart of my disparagement. Garrett was not a great activist. He was a public activist, but that does not make him a great one. I know great activists and I can list their achievements. Name me one activist achievement of Garrett's. He's had power, enormous social and political power, and what has he done with it?
posted by Thella at 3:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
he raised a hell of a lot of rather positive consciousness in young men the world over -- I can account for that personally.
posted by philip-random at 9:31 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by philip-random at 9:31 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
All this Oils talk and no love for where that band's actual on-stage drive actually comes from, which is clearly and inarguably Rob Hirst's insanely muscular drum style
posted by flabdablet at 10:20 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 10:20 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Garrett was not a great activist.
I'd like to retract some of my earlier bile against Garrett. Garrett was a pragmatist when we needed his idealism to speak in parliament.
posted by Thella at 9:17 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'd like to retract some of my earlier bile against Garrett. Garrett was a pragmatist when we needed his idealism to speak in parliament.
posted by Thella at 9:17 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
If I go I think I'll wear a Batman costume I've dyed a lovely shade of fuchsia, then dance around like a madman.
It'll be a hastily constructed costume - poorly considered, but it will be all about the impact. I'll ignore expert feedback about whether it's a good idea. If anything, maybe I'll ramp things up by dragging four mannequins behind me.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 4:38 PM on February 20, 2017
It'll be a hastily constructed costume - poorly considered, but it will be all about the impact. I'll ignore expert feedback about whether it's a good idea. If anything, maybe I'll ramp things up by dragging four mannequins behind me.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 4:38 PM on February 20, 2017
And the Toronto show sold out within an hour. Oh well, at least I got to see them once.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:19 PM on February 21, 2017
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 7:19 PM on February 21, 2017
They added a second New York show already, so maybe they'll add another Toronto show. I'd also keep checking for tickets at the Ticketmaster site. Sometimes the promoters claim the sellout knowing full well they have more tickets to release at a later date.
posted by ericthegardener at 6:05 PM on February 22, 2017
posted by ericthegardener at 6:05 PM on February 22, 2017
LA presale sold out immediately. I hope they add another show!
posted by mogget at 10:18 AM on February 23, 2017
posted by mogget at 10:18 AM on February 23, 2017
Every single North American show sold out in pre-sale.
Hopefully more tickets will be released/they'll be taken back from the resellers so that genuine fans can see the show.
The band also joked about how they'd get deported/not be able to get into the USA, with the exception of the bassist, as he has a Green Card and lives in Nashville, TN. So, if things go horribly, amazingly wrong at US Customs, expect the Bones Hillman Solo Tour?!
posted by spinifex23 at 10:09 PM on February 26, 2017
Hopefully more tickets will be released/they'll be taken back from the resellers so that genuine fans can see the show.
The band also joked about how they'd get deported/not be able to get into the USA, with the exception of the bassist, as he has a Green Card and lives in Nashville, TN. So, if things go horribly, amazingly wrong at US Customs, expect the Bones Hillman Solo Tour?!
posted by spinifex23 at 10:09 PM on February 26, 2017
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