Signs of Life 2008: Best Music
Leona Naess - "All is Fair"
the everybodyfields - "Worth Keeping"
Noise Pop 2009 date, films and musical acts announced
Live at Paste: Whitley
#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.
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The Countdown:
#12 Radiohead - Oct. 6, 2003, HiFi Buys Amphitheater
#11 Guadalcanal Diary - Sept. 15, 1989, Center Stage
#10 The Hold Steady - Oct. 25, 2007, The 40 Watt
#9 Uncle Tupelo - Feb. 11, 1994, The 40 Watt
#8 The Ramones - Nov. 22, 1988, Center Stage
#7 U2 - Nov. 19, 2005, Philips Arena
#6 INXS - March 3, 1988, The Omni
#5 Midnight Oil - Aug. 28, 1993, Lakewood Amphitheater
#4 Sufjan Stevens - April 1, 2005, Calvin College
#3 Beck - Oct. 28, 2006, The Knitting Factory
#2 Pixies - Oct. 15, 1989, The Roxy
#1 Arcade Fire - May 1, 2007, Atlanta Civic Center
The Countdown:
#12 Radiohead - Oct. 6, 2003, HiFi Buys Amphitheater
#11 Guadalcanal Diary - Sept. 15, 1989, Center Stage
#10 The Hold Steady - Oct. 25, 2007, The 40 Watt
#9 Uncle Tupelo - Feb. 11, 1994, The 40 Watt
#8 The Ramones - Nov. 22, 1988, Center Stage
#7 U2 - Nov. 19, 2005, Philips Arena
#6 INXS - March 3, 1988, The Omni
#5 Midnight Oil - Aug. 28, 1993, Lakewood Amphitheater
#4 Sufjan Stevens - April 1, 2005, Calvin College
#3 Beck - Oct. 28, 2006, The Knitting Factory
#2 Pixies - Oct. 15, 1989, The Roxy
#1 Arcade Fire - May 1, 2007, Atlanta Civic Center
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Oh yeah! That was a great show, and there were so many opening acts on the bill that it was almost a festival. Before the Oils we had X (though not the Billy Zoom X), An Emotional Fish (wretched) and Ziggy Marley (fantastic). And then didn't you stick around while I got my CD single signed by Peter & co. and then had to take a cab to the train station because the buses had stopped running?
And don't forget Hothouse Flowers. I didn't remember having to leave in a cab, but that sounds like something I'd try to put out of my memory.
I caught Midnight Oil on one of Peter Gabriel's WOMAD tours (with Arrested Development and Live) You captured it correctly, he did command a presence on the stage...Definitely one of my favorite concert memories...