My 12 Favorite Concerts - #5 Midnight Oil

#5
Midnight Oil
Aug. 28, 1993, Lakewood Amphitheater (Atlanta)

A few people were dropped onto this Earth with a natural ability to command a stage and lead a crowd through a night of music. Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Prince all come to mind. But a lot of folks forget that Peter Garrett could put on a show. I had no idea what to expect, but the six-and-a-half-foot singer was just a monster on stage. It was protest music during a decade where no one was singing protest music, and Garrett's earnest pleas for aboriginal fairness and environmental awakening were potent; it wasn't a surprise when he left music for a life of public service. In 1993, the band had just released the Earth and Sun and Moon, their latest in a slew of great records (five Oils records got 4.5 stars from All Music Guide). By the time they played "Beds are Burning," the crowd was nuts. I went expecting just another rock show and got one of the most memorable instead.