One wet October night….
The rain just won’t stop falling today even. One more day and perhaps Midnight Oil would have been cancelled, given the conditions. I’m glad it wasn’t, despite the fact we stood in the driving rain for hours, getting slowly colder and wetter, right up until getting home.
The organisation was a bit shit, with over an hours wait for the shuttle bus from Nambour, but in the end we arrived while it was still daylight and before the 2nd support act, The Living End. Being with friends there was a little bit of faffing around choosing a spot, and we started our night high up on the hill with a tiny view, which was a fun spot to listen to the Living End who I enjoyed quite a bit, especially their sense of humour about the weather. Phoebe loved their double bass and the insanity of the “pizzicato” and antics of the bass player. I think she’s suddenly found a new instrumental passion.
But then Midnight Oil came on and I can’t remember what came before! By then we’d moved to a spot on the side of the hill where we could see the whole stage and enjoy the full view of Peter Garrett’s dancing which has changed only by virtue of having slowed down in the past 25 years!!!! He looks like himself in slow motion
I loved the political messages; it felt good to know my values matched the values they were singing about. I must admit that it was odd being uncertain if we were in a like-minded crowd! I was especially disappointed by the half-hearted sounding support when Peter talked about what I think was his crowning achievement as Environment Minister, which was saving the Mary River from a stupid stupid dam. I was cheering as loud as I could but it felt like I was the only one on the whole hillside shouting my support. That was uncomfortable and I felt embarrassed as here we were, in the heart of the country he’d saved from environmental stupidity and no-one voicing their appreciation. The sentiment wasn’t really helped when people seemed to leave after the big screens displayed huge “Vote YES’ messages. I would like to think it was the spate of heavy rainfall at the time, but the rain eased and I’m sure some of the crowd didn’t seem to return. It always amazes me when people say they are a fan of a musician but they don’t agree with their politics or world view. The concept challenges me. Not sure how you can listen to an Oils song multiple times and not ‘get’ it.
The highlight for me was the entire second half really. From the moment that they started playing “When the Generals Talk” I was in another place. It was just incredible when they played Generals, Short Memory then US Forces in a row.
My next big emotional moment was Blue Sky Mine. Although Peter gave an emotional speech about Adani by way of introduction, the reality of Asbestos mining is close to home for me. My Mum’s been gone for 15 years because of Asbestos cancer so the words “If the Blue Sky Mining Company won’t come to my rescue, who’s going to save me?” really means quite a bit. No-one saved my Mum. The Blue Sky Mining Company (James Hardie) certainly hasn’t saved anyone. They’ve avoided all compensation and Peter Garrett well knows this, hence the song. Rain hid a lot of tears but wonderful cathartic tears of enjoyment of the communion of great music.
I probably could have listened to their entire back catalogue all night had it not been pouring rain, so as the night wrapped up with the favourites and we knew it was soon to be over the timing seemed perfect, it was time to go home and get dry. The overwhelming sense of peace once on the dry bus (DRY BUS!!) really struck me. While Springsteen leaves you feeling energised and ready to tackle mountains after his performances, I feel that Midnight Oil left us feeling deeply at peace with the world. That is truly something special!
