I like your new stuff better than your old stuff: Peter Garrett at the Settlers Taven
By Anthony Pancia
He hit the stage just as news came flooding out of Germany another mad man was on the loose.
To my left stood a middle-aged lady with a full sized iPad scrolling though her Facebook feed and it was pretty hard not to notice.
She paused for a second on the headline, Terror on the Streets of Munich, before switching to the devices’ camera mode in preparedness for what was about to go down.
She wasn’t the only one, the dimly lit confines of the Settlers Tavern Margaret River all of a sudden illuminated by a couple dozen or so similar devices aimed directly at the stage.
Next to me stood John Butler, holding neither a phone nor beer, but focused rather on the mic stand several feet ahead.
It looked to be extended to its full height and I pondered how the giant man it was set for would fill the tiny stage.
Does he still wave his arms around? Would the guitarist be safe?
And then on he came. Peter Garrett.
Long before Dorian, Kelly and Sean Doherty, he’d been the first bald man I’d looked up to.
I’d vaguely gotten behind the causes espoused by the Oils much in the same way I pretended to know what Derek Hynd was on about whenever he put pen to paper.
Land rights, nuclear waste, asbestos clouds. So pure and innocent butted up against the unfolding terror dominating world headlines today.
But that was then and it was hard not to wonder what all those years in Parliament had done to Pete.
Was he bitter? Was he now fat?
He wrestled with the mic stand and extended it even further, made a quick observation how close his head was to the lighting rig and counted the band in.
The arms and body sprang to life and all of a sudden there he was, Peter Garrett, not the politician, nor environmentalist, just Peter Garrett, the front man, full of beans and ready to go.
Though joined on stage by long time Midnight Oil guitarist Martin Rotsey, 'twas to be no greatest hits show.
Pete has recently released a solo album, A Version of Now, and the bulk of the gig was from that album.
Though hard to separate the man’s voice from the Oils’ legacy, the songs are unique, most definitely work well on stage and would be the perfect accompaniment to a long trip north, south, east or west.
But man, do they work well in a pub.
The familiar themes of Australia and its wide-open spaces colour the lyrics as do Garrett’s abrasive questioning of how we treat it.
Had I been better prepared I’d have been jotting down notes throughout the gig as to the song names but it matters little.
If you’re an Oils fan, you’re going to want to go to this gig.
If you’re a fan of live music, you’re going to want to go to this gig.
Loose, tight and lively.
Despite the three encores, it was over so quick, as good a sign as any we’d witnessed greatness.
Yes, an Oils song had been thrown in towards the end but two weeks later and I’m struggling to recall which one it was.
Bus to Bondi? Back on the Borderline? Power and The Passion?
Maybe, but all I remember was a good gig. //ANTHONY PANCIA
Comments
Don't know about the gig but the album is unlistenable for me. I don't know what happened to his voice but it just grates. More significantly if it was anyone else it would have been absolutely ignored. There is just so much stuff out there far more worthy of attention. William Crighton for starters. Please Pete, let it go mate, have a bit of a sing in the garage now and then but you had your turn and it was over a long time and your superannuation is looking good so get over it.
Is the same true for your opinion Blindboy ?
Grab the mic or shut the fuck up.
Not sure what your point is. If you are referring to my work with Swellnet you might have noticed I don't any longer. One of my reasons, and Stu will back me up on this, was to create more space for younger writers. If you are referring to my music, I haven't had my latest album reviewed by every major Australian media outlet or used the status of my previous band to get played on every radio station in that market.
I stand by my opinion. The album is mediocre at best and he is, quite literally, taking up space that should be devoted to more interesting performers. I named William Crighton as an example as his recent album is a major achievement that received probably 1% of the attention given to Garrett.
I'd be interested to check him out, only because I've only seen the Oils play once before, and that's when I was about fifteen (and it was a big outdoor stadium, which I'm not a fan of - I prefer smaller intimate pub gigs).
I really enjoyed Anthonys review and without having heard any new material, based on the strength of his old stuff, I'd love to check it out. Especially in a small venue.
Not referring to your writing Blindboy, referring to the fact that music isn't a zero sum game and that quality music will always gain an audience especially in this day and age of digital accessibility .
Maybe less live venues , but any true talent will get its platform.
I haven't heard his new stuff, I lost interest after about Diesel and Dust, doesn't mean he should sit at home twiddling his thumbs because I don't want to hear it.
Garret and the Oils made albums over 30 years ago that people still rock out to, he's earned the ability to be as self indulgent as he wants.
If you're listening to mainstream radio stations to find new artists you're looking in the wrong place.
We can agree to disagree about that! As for new music Double and Triple J are both good. Rage also. It is also great these days to be able to stream a whole album after catching a song somewhere. Not so great for the performers who are increasingly screwed by the digital gatekeepers. Do yourself a favour, if you enjoyed the Oils in their day give William Crighton a listen. Huge talent from way out of left field.
will do BB.
And after Peter Garretts miserable capitulation as a politician I just can't take the bloke seriously anymore as any kind of musician with conviction.
But I'll have a listen to his new stuff today.
Miserable capitulation? Really...?
Gonski.
Started solar rebates.
Carbon pollution reduction scheme
Took Japan to the ICJ over whaling.
Hell of a capitulation.
I'm going to PG's Wollongong Uni gig. Little bit excited, little bit apprehensive, never been big on reunions or acts that become cover bands of themselves but curiousity got the better of me on this one.
I'll give William Crighton a burl. BB is a hard task master but (generally) has good taste in music.
Gonski.
Started solar rebates.
Carbon pollution reduction scheme
Took Japan to the ICJ over whaling.
Gonski: policy debacle , not explained well to the Australian people, coalition failing to commit to full funding in years 5 and 6 (when it really kicks in). Thats the least severe policy failing of Garrett.
Solar rebate.: As Minister in charge of the Pink Batts debacle Garrett almost bought down a first term government with one of the most severe failings of policy implementation seen . Should have been a massive success, ended up being a complete disaster and albatross around the governments neck.
CPRS: Twice rejected by the senate (Garrett could not enlist Greens support for what was bipartisan policy), Garrett could not persuade Rudd to call a Double D and hence was responsible for the biggest public policy backflip and subsequent fcuk up maybe ever. Now look at our carbon policy. Thats a direct result of Garretts incompetence and failure to prosecute a clear argument. Under Garrett's watch as Environment Minister and a massive electoral mandate he could not get a bipartisan carbon pricing policy through the parliament. How could you fuck that up?
Japan and the ICJ case: Well, a nominal victory but Japan has now snubbed it's nose at the ICJ and indicated it will continue whaling. Sea Shepherd has been far more effective at stopping whaling.
Christ Stu, if you are using that litany of public policy trainwrecks as examples of his "success" the poor bloke is really in trouble.
'Capitulation' would imply that he surrendered his beliefs, no?
Thats almost self-evident when it comes to Garrett isn't it?
UNless all those MIdnight Oil lyrics and his public statements of the time were blatant lies.
Eh? How do you know how he voted in the party room?
Thats just the "good german" argument.
I know what he said and argued in the public realm.
I was trying so hard not to comment and just ignore this thread.
I had been a HUGE Oils fan, and a huge fan of Peter Garrett. I thought what the Oils wrote about and stood for was genuine.
Social issues.
Environmental issues.
International and domestic political issues.
And when Garrett was one of the figureheads of the conservation movement he really made people take notice. Issues got talked about, by both young and old, left and right.
And then Garrett joined the Labor Party.
Bob Brown said what everyone else except Garrett knew - he would get swallowed up by the machine.
He would have to toe the party line.
No more outspoken figurehead of all that should be changed in this world.
Just another party boy.
Oh yes, he was still in the news, but as FR said, for the wrong reasons.
I couldn't listen to any Oils music for many years because when I listened to the lyrics I couldn't help but wonder: did Garrett change his views and become what he sang about? Or was he always like that? Either way he is/was a traitor to all that he appeared to stand for.
I assume (and hope) that the rest of the band have maintained their original views on the issues they raised in their music, but I see Garrett as a traitor to the music that he sang so passionately.
Have heard that a few times but I can't help but think it's a blinkered view. A protest singer is a very different beast to a politician; both wish to affect change but who has the most capability to do so?
A singer can rally people, stir emotions, but they'll always be outside the building. Change will be indirect, that's if they happen to cause any at all.
Politicians have the greater capacity to affect change 'cos they're inside the buidling with their hands on the controls. Unfortunately if you want to be part of real change then you have to join one of the two major parties, and that requires sucking up and toeing the party line on some issues (at least in public - in the party room thay can say whatever they want). It's not sexy, it's not chic, and no-one sings rock songs about it, but it's the real world so get with it.
Back when you sang along to Midnight Oil songs did you really want change? Or was it just a feelgood sorta thing and it didn't really matter what the outcome was?
If it was the former then why would you begrudge someone using politics to improve the world?
Disclaimer: I don't vote for the Labor Party, don't agree with everything Garrett did, but I understand how the political system works. It may not be efficient but one bit of something will always beat 10 bits of nothing.
Disclaimer 2: The only thing I can see that Garrett publicly reneged on was US bases. He called it an evolution in his thinking. Maybe, maybe not, but Muhammad Ali offers a good insight: "If a man looks at the world when he is 50 the same way he looked at it when he was 20 and it hasn’t changed, then be has wasted 30 years of his life.”
What change did Peter Garrett effect as a politician?
Apart from the very obvious one of adding to the great disillusion with politicians and the political process?
There's no doubt about that part of his legacy.
Yeah, you're right Steve. We'd be better off with career pollies milking the public teat.
don't throw the toys out of the cot Stu.
what c hange did Garrett effect?
As written above Steve:
Gonski.
Started solar rebates.
Carbon pollution reduction scheme
Took Japan to the ICJ over whaling.
I don't agree with you RE Gonski messaging, and if the Coalition rejects it while in power there's nought PG can do.
Solar rebates was a great innovation and is now booming. Insulation was rorted by dodgy contractors.
Seems you have more of an issue with the political proces then anything PG did or didn't do.
Garrett could have had a lovely life as a Greens senator. Instead, Garrett took the tough option and joined the Labor party. He joined Labor, participated in the debates within that party and abided by the decisions of the party. That's how you do it. Unless you have a job where everybody can do whatever they feel like, that's how all jobs work. He tried his best, he gave it a shot, probably didn't feel he was as effective as he would have liked and, rather than hang on ineffectually, he resigned. If that is selling out, then people have a very weird way of measuring it.
And as noted I think you would have to go a long way to find any kind of respected commentator who would assign any of Garretts political projects as a minister as anything other than an abject disaster.
Carbon pricing....I mean, how could he fuck that up?
Massive bipartisan electoral support and all he needs is a few greens to get legislation which could and should have set this country up for decades of economic and environmental transition away from fossil fuels.
Can you remember his impassioned advocacy for the CPRS?
No?
Thats because it didn't happen.
He shat on the most important reform for decades and probably fucked it for a generation.
Carbon pricing was Penny Wong's work, Steve.
You got an axe to grind or what?
Only for any kind of historical revisionism which tries to paint Garrett as either
a) an effective politician
or b) a politican of integrity.
or both.
True, Climate Change was not in his portfolio but as Environment Minister you would have thought his advocacy would have been invaluable for the Govt.
So not only was he a feeble politician but a dishonest politician one too?
You really are too much Steve...
And you sound like you've been drinking too much of the Garrett Kool-Aid.
I'll ask again, more specifically, what changes, what accomplishments was he responsible for as Environment Minister?
You claimed the CPRS and when I suggested that was a debacle you said it belonged to Penny Wong.
So, if Garrett joined Politics to effect change, effectively walking his walk, being a man of integrity, what did he change?
Thats how I'm measuring his integrity.
Like you could measure Paul Keatings or Gough Whitlams.
I'm not saying he was directly dishonest. We're grown-up enough to allow that distinction, right?
Settle petal...
How many times should I list his work? If the Coalition repeals that work it doesn't man he didn't do it, and it doesn't mean he lacks integrity.
I feel like you don't understand party politics.
Thats just a red herring. I understand it fine.
Looks like we have different definitions of effective change.
One thing we can surely agree on is that Garrett, by and large, was an incredible disappointment to the general public as a politician and has added to the general sense of cynicism and lack of trust in politicians and the political process.
Yes?
You can effect change far more effectively outside the system by being in the public eye.
If you're a frontbencher then you can effect some change, but only in your portfolio and then only if it agress with party policy, to which you might have a very small voice unless you've got a big powerbase behind you (and they are always the big industry figures with lots of money - the Murdochs, the mining industry figures, the oil industry figures, etc).
Another nobody backbencher has no say in effecting change, other than voting along party lines. Maybe, just maybe, you might be able to say something in the party room that is listened to.
THAT's how politics works. That's how Garrett went from doing good to being irrelevant.
You don't have to join either of the big 2 middle-right parties to change things. If you're lucky and get elected as an independent and the if government is relying on the independents to swing their way, then you can have real power. That's scary when that power resides in the crackpots.
We also are seeing real power shifts away from the traditional power bases. Ordinary people are finding that the internet now gives them a bit of real power when thousands rally behind a cause. We saw that in the recent election with grassroots campaigns. Politicians got a rude awakening.
I look at the world slightly differently now than 30 years ago as a 20yo. Much more cynical in many ways. I still think 99% of politicians in Australia are corrupt, morally if not financially, and are they are only want to further their own self-interests. But I'm still hopeful that the world is capable of changing, that the far-right and big industry will no longer have undue influence over the government and their power will be balanced by ordinary people. Maybe I'm just as naive now as I ever was.
"Another nobody backbencher has no say in effecting change, other than voting along party lines. Maybe, just maybe, you might be able to say something in the party room that is listened to.
THAT's how politics works. That's how Garrett went from doing good to being irrelevant."
????
I'm not following the causal chain here. It's a politician's goal to join the frontbench, which Garrett did for six years and it's very easy to see what he worked on in that time
Read the frontbencher and backbencher paragraphs together. That's how politics works.
Yes, Garrett was a frontbencher, and what he did was often in the limelight but not for the right reasons. You think he did great work, but I and others think otherwise. He staggered from one disaster to another until the Labor Party power-brokers realised he was becoming a liability.
He would have achieved far more for social issues, environmental issues, etc by staying outside the LP. If he in fact really believed in all that he appeared to stand for.
"He would have achieved far more for social issues, environmental issues, etc by staying outside the LP. "
Really? A forty five year old ex-rock star would've achieved more. C'mon mate...being a bit fanciful there. And anyway, not like he wasted his time while Midnight Oil had the spotlight.
"If he in fact really believed in all that he appeared to stand for."
Pretty arrogant to assume you know what he thinks.
Seems to me you guys have Garrett's effectiveness mixed up with his intentions. Just 'cos he was hobbled by politics doesn't mean he lost integrity or whatever other charge you have against him.
How about this for a radical idea. If you still like Peter Garett & his music, keep listening & go see him live if you desire. However if you don't like Peter Garett & his music, don't listen it to & definitely don't go & see him live. To suggest that Peter Garrett should give up his pursuit of happiness & joy because you don't like him or his music is self righteous, naive, arrogant & egotistical.
I stand by my point and will broaden it to include the numerous other middle aged to elderly "stars" who continue to perform their old material mixed with their more recent boring stuff thus taking up media space that would be better devoted to people who are actually producing good stuff now. I mean who cares about Jimmy Barnes' life story? Or Mick Jagger's 19th child. If they can't find happiness and joy jamming with their old mates then it isn't about the music, it's about the ego. The music industry is erecting barricades against younger artists achieving financial independence by destroying the value of their recorded material so the only way to survive is on the live show treadmill.
Yeah, and older people should stay out of the surf. Who cares about their lame, boring surfing? The same dull turns they did decades ago, except now not as good. Seriously, you are over 45, what chance do you have of producing innovative, cutting edge surfing? Zero. Your wave hogging presence in the lineup is erecting a barricade against younger surfers reaching their potential. Middle aged and older people, just stay out of the way. Go and play between the flags.
I agree wally. The predominance of older surfers in the line up is a problem for young developing surfers. I will give way to superior ability every time, inside, outside whatever, if they are ripping I will wave them on......but as for all the other old farts, fair game.
I reckon you'll change your mind once your over 45. It's the gromets that are inovating. The older blokes will pluck off a few from out the back or maybe where someone couldn't make the drop. Experience will win out on that. If you have not reached your potential by 20 then forget man and just get in the groove.
BB Clearly your not interested in the evolution of musicians as they age but thousands , if not millions of people are. Go figure.....
Well I am interested in evolution and yes some musicians age well by continuing to produce quality material eg Tom Waits......but most just regurgitate their old stuff in modified form eg The Rolling Stones etc etc and should just give it away. As for the millions and millions, I'm with PT Barnum on that point....... ..." No-one ever went broke under estimating public taste."
That's the beauty of diversity BB. Something for everyone. One mans poor taste is another's delight :)
Fair enough.
Listened to some of the new Album.
It's not totally shite.
If plodding, pedestrian middle of the road rock floats your boat.
Although this one does contain the memorable line: the great white shark has got no feelings.
Here, listen for yourself:
Have always been a huge oils fan (although didn't really get into their post Blue Sky Mining era stuff) and I respect Peter for him going into politics, for me that actually gives him more credibility not less.
But i can't say his Solo stuff is really of interest only heard the two songs, sounds okay but yeah i guess middle of the road not bad but kinda bland.
Has there actually been anyone that has gone Solo from a well known or highly rated band and actually got better?
Beyoncé
.
phil collins?
justin timberlake?
robbie williams?
yeah he's in that league now for sure
I was communicating with PG about pink batt's and know for certain that the real project was not implemented and was rushed through by Rudd and his cronies. He and I were both disappointed. As for joining Labor it was in honour of his mum who was heavily involved with the labor party and died in a house fire that Peter couldn't save her. I say let others live their life whilst you live yours. Tolerance freedom and gratitude.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/06/dril-j18.html?view=article_mobile
Some of Peter Garret's "environmental" policy. Oil leaking into the ocean no biggie further license's where still granted.
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/57667
Gladstone harbour anyone?
Rob Hirst the hero! Shut the fuck up Peter! You blew it big time!!!
Days of Oils... I used to write protest songs sing them,drum and front punk bands.Inspired by sound of times my direct family entered murky world of politics at local and federal level (no not Lab/Lib) All that doesn't qualify me to bag a fellow punk.Death to Disco! (FACTCHECK) Firstly my condolences to all families concerned. ...More 'overnite tradies' died previously from falling off roofs under Howards rushed $8,000 Solar rebates than were electrocuted under Rudds rushed Pink batt rebates.Both schemes ended abruptly,only the least of the two devastating schemes was held to account. Believe what you like! (Murdoch loves Howard) Poster boy Mr Garrett was made example of and Liberals to this day never ever been asked a question. Again I apologise to families,seems some are burdened to carry the cross more than others.
Sheep dog have you changed your profile name to Truebluebasher????
Re: indo-dreaming....Sorry no'Sheep dog' ..(profile truebluebasher) - Gold Coast. 1st posted- Swellnet 20,April 2016. (alias) burley bodybash'n bunyip and Sir Victa Chopbone. (1st Punk band GC) -Social Cancer '81 drums/vox. (cd's)- double set titled- 'Whiteshoestompintime'(cd1)Smash Joh's Police State. (cd2)Rock against Russ. (Target class) -bodybasher easy prey.. 500 hits. (Didntseeyamate) - official WR, claims to have heard same line '1,000's of x over and over'. (Dislikes) - being waterboarded then mowed down,hogtied and ridden as surfboard. (Surfcraft) - "Unfathomobile".. shapeshifter goes a bit(a lot) spazz in seamonster mode + multi dimensional timer slips thru silly season/all realms now weather fine. (Ambitions) - Shattering thru seaflooring to crack back of the queue at bottom of seafood chain. (Career earnings) WANTED For funnelling pros' nestegg from greenroom glowstar galaxy. Swellnet cast wide and hauled in truebluebasher. Held up since autumn in swellnet statement rooms, they won't believe a word of it. Hooroo! ps ( indo-dreaming) Is 'Sheep dog' a fellow politicosurfpunk.
Hey True Blue.....
As a wise man once informed myself - Why not try some paragraphs next time , mate ?
And a little syntax wouldn't go astray either.
Thanks guys,I share your wishes. I am product of Qld 1970's..School books were 50 y/o full of scribble,dogeared,devoid of fancy topics and science stuff,new books were heavily censored.Forever accounting/typewriters(keyboards) was for girls. 1977 I with a few learned males conspired,enrolling into 'business school' by using first initials but were weeded then manhandled by teachers from classroom. Punkzines,Uni mags for raising a growing number of youth issues were repeatedly promptly confiscated.There are no lyric sheets for above two cd's because police confiscated them.Had we recorded onto vinyl,then along with all other progressive youth media would've been on top of Joh's bonfires. Joh only ever programmed Queensland youth,to say either "Yes Sir!"or "No Sir!"! Silence mean't you were asking to be locked up. Today Queensland wide all breathe a sigh of relief that Joh's word police,haven't resurfaced from underworld .Hooroo!
Fuck, what a gig!
Had a ticket bought for me to attend Saturday night's gig and went along more out of curiousity than anything else. I expected singer/songwriter material, introspective, overwrought...in short I was prepared to be underwhelmed.
First surprise was that there was a full band, including Martin Rotsey on guitar. It was loud, full bodied, and fast.
Second surprise was that ten years on the hill haven't hobbbed Peter Garrett's natural performing style. Three months before the '07 election Garrett had an off the cuff exchange with shock jock Steve Price at Melbourne Airport. The next morning Price turned it around on his morning radio rant and the new Labor recruit was looking like a liability. "Zip it" said K-Rudd, and Garrett complied. He adopted the politicans position of soundbites lest his words again be distorted. On Saturday night he filled the stage, literally and metaphorically, and gave rousing, free-wheeling monologues between songs.
Third surprise is how upbeat he was; think of all the other pollies who get chewed up and spat out, filled with spite they take potshots at past foes. Yet on Saturday night there was no settling of scores, rather a sanguine onwards and upwards worldview because we live in the greatest country on Earth. And on that score...he's just so fucken Aussie. Which sounds dubious 'cos there are so many distasteful versions of Homo Australis, but he transcends all Hogan-esque stereotypes or the cultural cringe that says the best products are the imported ones. In introducing a Kev Carmody song ("Thou Shalt Not Steal") he resisted the urge to compare Kev to other overseas protest singers such as Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger and spoke of Kev's place in Australian culture as reason alone to exalt him.
Few cover songs through the night, which also surprised but I can't be arsed counting anymore. Ego Is Not A Dirty Word by the Skyhooks was an inspired choice, chosen both because of the encouragement Shirley gave to young Midnight Oil and also the upcoming US election. Great to hear a funky bass line too. Back To The Wall by the Divinyls was one for the sistas and with a female rhythm guitarist and female keyboardist the X chromosones were hitting the high notes.
Oils songs? Two songs into the gig Peter addressed the elephant in the room saying he knew why we were all there - to hear Midnight Oil songs. "But unless we all keep moving forward, artists, politicians, everyone, then we begin to shut down a little." Everyone abided, but truth be told it wasn't an effort. I hadn't heard a note of the new album yet thoroughly enjoyed his new songs - about as good as a litmus test for music gets. Of course the old stuff got the biggest response, and he played Bus To Bondi, The Dead Heart (joined by Wombarra local Jim Moginie), and they ended the gig with Dont Wanna Be The One.
I had no intention of seeing Midnight Oil's 2017 reunion but right now I feel like buying a ticket to every single gig.
PS: There were surprisingly few dickheads with their mobile phones out...
Wicked Stu.