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Peter Garrett has a dig at former PM Paul Keating as Midnight Oil triumphantly return to Sydney

MIDNIGHT Oil’s political message was loud and clear as ever as Peter Garrett took to the stage — and he wasn’t holding back in taking aim at Paul Keating.

Midnight Oil guitarist's stage fall

THE message was clear when Midnight Oil made their triumphant return to Sydney in the Domain on Saturday.

They opened with Peter Garrett and the band delivering an entirely appropriate and haunting Armistice Day, the black-hooded frontman imbuing every note with restrained yet forceful emotional meaning.

Then quickly flailing and racing across the stage with the Great Circle tour favourite Read About It. Garrett does a speed moonwalk no one can match in stadium rockdom.

Peter Garrett had a message for former PM Paul Keating as Midnight Oil performed at The Domain in Sydney on Saturday. Picture: AAP
Peter Garrett had a message for former PM Paul Keating as Midnight Oil performed at The Domain in Sydney on Saturday. Picture: AAP

And then for those who would criticise the right of this great Sydney band to play in its green heart, most notably former prime minister Paul Keating on Friday, Garrett had a succinct message.

“Welcome to The Domain, the place where people listen to real music.”

On Friday Mr Keating criticised the decision to fence off The Domain for 16 days to accommodate two weekends of Midnight Oil concerts, saying he was “surprised” that Garrett would “feel in any way comfortable squatting and profiting from Sydney’s central piece of public land”.

It was the first time Midnight Oil have performed in Sydney in more than a decade. Picture: Damian Shaw
It was the first time Midnight Oil have performed in Sydney in more than a decade. Picture: Damian Shaw

He thanked the doctors and band’s crew who helped injured guitarist and keyboardist Jim Moginie play the gig in front of more than 23,000 adoring fans.

The Oils embraced their beginnings by delving way back to pull out Bus To Bondi, its jazzy punk exuberance scoring a roar from the crowd.

Garrett imbued every note with restrained yet forceful emotional meaning. Picture: AAP
Garrett imbued every note with restrained yet forceful emotional meaning. Picture: AAP

But wait. The roars rose louder, rippled further across the Domain’s expanse as they played No Time For Games and then launched into the chant-fest of Short Memory.

As the cheers faded, Garrett gave Keating another serve for criticism the Oils had fenced off the area for the Saturday concert and a second gig on Friday.

“I hope he’s got his windows open and his Mahler turned down ... try listening to Australian music,” he said.

They performed hits <i>Beds Are Burning</i>, <i>Armistice Day</i> and more. Picture: Damian Shaw
They performed hits Beds Are Burning, Armistice Day and more. Picture: Damian Shaw

Rob Hirst led the band in the When The Generals Talk and the crowd swelled in voice again. Guess that answered Mr Keating begrudging fans of the Oils their joy in the band’s reunion.

The significance of the epic singalong, arms in the air chant of US Forces wasn’t lost on anyone as the world’s leaders meet in Vietnam, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull taking selfies with US President Donald Trump and Chinese Xi Jinping.

A band in such supreme match fitness after their reunion romp around the world on the Great Circle rose to their true powers on the 10 to 1 album classic Only The Strong.

Their political message seemed as relevant as ever. Picture: Damian Shaw
Their political message seemed as relevant as ever. Picture: Damian Shaw

Every member was at the height of their powers and the true believers were in full voice. It was a moment which propelled the concert from great expectations to one of those unforgettable nights. The nights when band and fans find their hearts meet somewhere above and beyond the stage.

That sounds too much? You really should have been there.

The crowd in The Domain was 23,000 strong. Damian Shaw
The crowd in The Domain was 23,000 strong. Damian Shaw

As the band delivered song after song stamped on the DNA of the Australian soundtrack — Dead Heart, Beds Are Burning, Don’t Wanna Be The One, Blue Sky Mining, Forgotten Years, King Of The Mountain, Power and the Passion the fans got louder to match the crowd and potently reminded everyone of every moment the Oils mattered in our lives.

And why they matter now.

Midnight Oil perform at the Domain on November 17.

Originally published as Peter Garrett has a dig at former PM Paul Keating as Midnight Oil triumphantly return to Sydney

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/music/peter-garrett-has-a-dig-at-former-pm-paul-keating-as-midnight-oil-triumphantly-return-to-sydney/news-story/cdefe423c9d782d85520e50008e14b51