[msira@calis.com]

I was on the list many years ago, dropped off sometime after "Breathe" came out.
Well, I'm back annnddd....

I Finally got to see the Oils for the first time in SF!

I've been trying to see these guys since like, 1986.  
Things that have prevented me:
- (in the early days) NOBODY liked the Oils.  I tried and tried to get somebody 
to travel down to the city (I'm in Sacramento) to see them with me.  No 
success.  I regret these the most, because I should've just gone by myself.
- Met girlfriend (future wife)
- Mysterious ailment that gave me such bad vertigo that I couldn't walk for days
- Had to propose to wife
- Birth of first child
- Birth of second child

I sware, It was like God was against me on getting to see Midnight Oil.
I thought I'd missed my last chance when I missed them in October.   I was 
totally in shock to find out I'd get (hopefully, at least) one more chance.

Well, all the patience paid off.  The Oils were every bit as amazing as I'd 
hoped!  They played pretty much every "Absolute must" song that I had to hear ( 
at least off of Diesel and Dust and beyond).

That being said here are my (small) complaints-
Too Short!  The whole double-booking thing that happened with Will Hoge and 
John Eddy...I'd REALLY like to think that the additional set up time for the 
extra opening band did not cut into the Oil's set.  Can somebody who was at 
this show and at others on this leg of the tour confirm this?  I know that the 
Oils traditionally always have openers, but it sure would be great to see them 
in a one band only show.  Hell, they've got tons of material to draw on...

Not enough older material!  Yeah, hearing "Tin Legs" was a real suprise, great 
version too...  I would have loved to of least heard ONE pre-Diesel and Dust 
classic ("Power and the Passion" at least, would've killed to hear "Kosciusko").

OK, you're going to play newer stuff...bring on Redneck!  I was really glad 
when the intro to "Redneck Wonderland" started up.  People standing next to me 
thought I was a total freak because I totally screamed my head off at that 
point (and nobody else seemed to be familiar with the tune).  I love RW, what a 
great album.  Two songs only off of Redneck was NOT enough!  I really wish 
they'd at least played "Cemetary in My Mind".  That ending guitar lick always 
sends shivers up my spine.

So, uhh  Rob...why are you out front?  Please excuse me if this is some 
traditional Oils concert thing that they always do.  It was great to see my all 
time favorite drummer really up close, but I thought that the little mini-kit 
he was playing on at the front of the stage sounded, well, somewhat weak in 
some of the more "bigger" songs that they played with him on it.

Golden Age.  Yeah, I know...it's the single.  Sorry, I just don't dig this 
song.  Would've rather have heard "Mosquito March" if we had to do something 
off of the new album.

That's it!  Was anyone taping?  I'd love to get a copy if so...

-Mark Sira