Midnight Oil recently announced it would kick off its global reunion tour with a “back-to-basics pub gig” in Sydney this week, but have now pre-empted that by playing a surprise warm-up set Sunday that marks the band’s first public performance in eight years.
The Oils performed at the Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney, debuting their reunion ahead of Thursday’s show at Selina’s at the Coogee Bay Hotel. After that, the band to Brazil for dates later in April and into May, then North America, Europe and the U.K., New Zealand, and back to Australia.
Peter Garrett and Co. performed a 10-song set, opening with “Pictures” off 1985’s Species Deceases EP, and playing hits including “Forgotten Years,” “Dreamworld,” “King of the Mountain” and “Best of Both Worlds.” The set also included a pair of songs — “Too Much Sunshine” and “Say Your Prayers” — off the band’s last album, 2002’s Capricornia.
The gig was the first public performance by Midnight Oil since 2009’s Sound Relief concerts to benefit the victims of that year’s bushfires.
Below, check out the full setlist and a selection of fan-shot video.
Setlist: Midnight Oil, Marrickville Bowling Club, Sydney, Australia, 4/9/17
1. “Pictures”
2. “Too Much Sunshine”
3. “Progress”
4. “Burnie”
5. “Renaissance Man”
6. “Say Your Prayers”
7. “Best of Both Worlds”
8. “Forgotten Years”
9. “Dreamworld”
10. “King of the Mountain”
“Dreamworld”
“The Best of Both Worlds”
“Progress”
“Forgotten Years”
“Pictures”
“Burnie”
“King of the Mountain”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS:
- Midnight Oil to kick off worldwide reunion tour with ‘back to basics pub gig’ in Sydney
- Vintage Video: Midnight Oil lights up Alan Thicke’s ‘Thicke of the Night’ in 1984
- Midnight Oil adds U.S. festival date, moves Vancouver show to larger venue
- Midnight Oil may move some North American shows to larger venues after tour sells out
- Midnight Oil announces massive 2017 reunion tour, 3 huge box sets with unreleased music
- ‘A busy year ahead’: Midnight Oil poised to announce reunion tour later this week
No ‘Beds are Burning’ or ‘Dead Heart’?
Welcome back, fellas! You’ve been sorely missed and are needed now more than ever!
And no 10-1 songs too!
“Pictures” is a killer opener, I did not see that (or Burnie) coming at all.
Yeah, no 10-1 songs is a pity, but sets on the full tour will be longer so there is hope!
I want them to play more of the rarer songs: Dust, Naked Flame, I’m The Cure, Someone Else To Blame, Maralinga, Bells and Horns…, Shipyards of New Zealand, Blossom and Blood, Mountains of Burma, Shakers and Movers, Bushfire, Ships of Freedom, Common Ground, Barest Degree, anything from Redneck Wonderland besides the title track…stuff like that.
Thank god there was no beds are burning or dead heart…..
They have been played to death and are far from their best.
As a fan from the beginning I really hope they play heaps of their best stuff from Head Injuries, Place without a Postcard, Bird Noises and 10-1.
Brilliant Oz rock at it’s best.
Can’t wait for the Oil’s to arrive in Los Angeles. They sound great and still carry a high energy performance. Welcome Back!
If I can rock this effectively when I’m in my 60’s(!): that’s “Progress!”
(Sadly wasn’t there…)
Hey USA people, check out the bands by Individual members too…
Peter Garrett and The Alter Egos, Jim Moginie and The Family Dog; Rob Hirst: Solo andf with The Break; Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey and Brian Ritchie from Violent Femmes (Resident of Tasmania). All TOP stuff…