Oils ain’t Oils when you can’t get up and dance

Midnight Oil fans and COVID restrictions don’t mix, as was evident at the Queensland preview show for the band’s latest tour.

Nobody puts Midnight Oil fans in the corner.

While the audience made a valiant effort to comply with COVID-19 restrictions at last night’s Oils concert at Sirromet Wines, southeast of Brisbane, by the time the setlist reached a crescendo with incendiary tracks such as Only the Strong and Best of Both Worlds, pretty much the whole crowd was on its feet, many convulsing in Peter-Garrett-esque contortions.

And frontman Garrett’s love-hate relationship with Queensland continued as the New South Welshman again teased the possibility of calling the place home.

Last time the band toured the Sunshine State he said he could picture himself living in the shadow of Cooroy Mountain.

Last night he told the crowd: “I might actually move in to Indooroopilly – and I could humbug Premier (Annastacia) Palaszczuk about a few things.”

Peter Garrett cuts an imposing figure at Sirromet last night. Picture: David Clark

One of those things would be coalmining.

Earlier in the show he said we were letting down mining towns like Gladstone by pretending things could go on as they were, instead of investing in cleaner greener industries that would generate “tens of thousands” of future jobs.

But while climate change was still a hot issue, this preview show for the Makarrata Live tour was all about the Uluru Statement From the Heart, which formed a huge backdrop to the stage.

A giant QR code enabled audience members to sign the e-petition calling for Indigenous recognition in the Constitution and a voice in Parliament.

The main set began with a welcome to country from Quandamooka representatives from North Stradbroke Island, who explained that their people’s territory stretched from Lytton to the Logan River.

The Oils’ latest mini-album The Makarrata Project formed the centrepiece of the setlist, with First Nations collaborators Dan Sultan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Leah Flanagan, Alice Skye and Tasman Keith taking turns to join the Oils on stage

The theme also provided an opportunity to diesel-and-dust off other rarely heard gems such as Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers, Gunbarrel Highway, Luritja Way and Warakurna.

Peter Garrett performs with Leah Flanagan. Picture David Clark

When it came time to rock into the back catalogue again, Garrett swapped his colourful collared shirt for a basic black tee, to the delight of the crowd.

The Queensland references continued with swipes at mining magnate cum politician Clive Palmer and former conservative premier Campbell Newman, and name-dropping sporting legends from Cameron Smith and Wally Lewis to Cathy Freeman.

Garrett dedicated Dreamworld “especially for you”, a song featuring not only an oblique reference to the theme park but mentions of Brisbane icons the Breakfast Creek Hotel and Cloudland.

The Oils’ first concert at Sirromet – “We’ve never been here before; we love the look of it,” remarked Garrett – was also the first major show to feature their fourth bassist Adam Ventoura, who replaces Bones Hillman after his death of cancer in November.

One Country, which originally featured Hillman’s vocals, served both to pay tribute to him and underline the evening’s theme of reconciliation.

And the one-two punch of The Dead Heart and Beds Are Burning brought it home as all the First Nations collaborators rejoined the Oils on stage.

The Makarrata Live tour formally kicks off at WOMADelaide next week.

Peter Garrett with drummer Rob Hirst and new bassist Adam Ventoura. Picture: David Clark

Setlist: No Time For Games, Truganini, Dreamworld, Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers, Uluru Statement From the Heart/Come On Down (with Troy Cassar-Daley), Gadigal Land (with Dan Sultan), First Nation (with Tasman Keith), Change the Date, Terror Australia (with Alice Skye), Desert Man, Desert Woman, Wind in My Head, Redneck Wonderland, Gunbarrel Highway, Luritja Way, Kosciusko, Only the Strong, Warakurna, Blue Sky Mine, Best of Both Worlds, Power and the Passion.

Encore: One Country, The Dead Heart, Beds Are Burning.