Midnight Oil

[Powderworks] Oils show at Paramount Great America - review

Miron Mizrahi mironmizrahi@yahoo.com
Sat, 23 Mar 2002 10:53:22 -0800 (PST)


Hi workers,

went to see the Oils at the Paramount Great America last night after
securing tickets at the last minute. Figured it will be a weird show
- in a theme park, with audience that is mostly families and got
free tickets off the local radio station who was putting on the
event. I mean I saw some 5 and 6 year olds in the crowd together
with people who looked as if they had no ideas who the Oils were.
The venue was also a mixed experience. On one hand the size and
decor (or lack thereof) was Oils to the tee BUT it was a seated
setup. Now, if anyone can explain to me how you could possibly sit
at an Oils gig I would be very interested to hear about it.

Almost on time (no warm up band) the "mooooo" sounds started
blasting into the air with the Oils coming on stage and opening with
what seems to have now secured its place in the pantheon of Oils
show openers - Redneck Wonderland. What a great opener !!! The
downside was we had to sit down. Any attempt to stand up was loudly
objected to by the people behind (I was in the first row, 20 feet
from PG). This went on until about half show when eventually nature
could not be resisted any longer and the whole crowd (about 500)
stood up. Towards the end of the show as the crowd was getting more
and more excited, the security forces showed their face. A bunch of
young kids, in their security uniform and their marine haircut. Boy,
would I hate to be doing this job. I mean, standing in front of an
energized crowd, with earplugs on, looking dead serious. What did
they think? that this is a Ricky Martin concert and we are the
teenage crowd with our undies in our hands? I wish concert
organizers would give us some more credit.

Well, anyway, 'nough complaining. The show was awesome. I can't
believe I considered not going. A great mix of oldies with new
Capricronia stuff. Even though the age is showing and the pace is
not as frantic as it used to be the Oils pack a whopping amount of
energy and are still second to none. They were relaxed, having a
good time. Bones even wandered through the crowd, chatting to a few
fans during Short Memory. Peter was in his usual chatty mood but all
very light, fun stuff. Jim and Martin managed quite a few smiles and
Rob looked as comfortable as ever. I came out with sore legs, a
coarse voice and very sweaty - signs of yet another great Oils show.
It was my 8th show and I can't wait for number 9 - the Warfield May
7th.

Setlist

1. Redneck Wonderland
2. Too much sunshine
3. Bullroarer
4. Under the overpass
5. Dreamworld
(now Rob's moved to the front with a stand up drum kit, unplugged)
6. Luritja way
7. Time to heal
8. Golden Age
9. Short memory (finally standing up at the end of this)
10. Blue sky mining 
11. Say your prayers (back to electric)
12. Sometimes
13. The dead heart
14. King of the mountain
15. Forgotten Years
Encore
16. Beds are burning

Oils rule !!!

Miron



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