Seeing Midnight Oil in full flight left you inspired to live life more passionately and to get involved. It was like getting smashed by a breaking wave. On Friday November 27, fans around the world will be able to relive that singular experience with the release of a brand new Oils album: Head Injuries (Live At Selina’s), issued via the Powderworks independent label on which the band’s earliest work was released. CLICK HERE to pre-order the album.
The LP is drawn from an unforgettable 2017 gig when The Oils returned after a 15 year hiatus to launch their “Great Circle” World Tour back where it all began: at a legendary, sweat-drenched, beachside Sydney beer barn. Aptly, this extended warm-up gig included a one-off performance of songs from 1979’s pubrock classic Head Injuries. It also featured a rare live version of “Wedding Cake Island”, the surf instrumental from around the same time, named after a rocky outcrop just offshore, beyond the break.
The venue? Selinas at Coogee Bay Hotel.
The date? Thursday April 13, 2017.
Across the rest of that year Midnight Oil would circumnavigate the globe, before returning to the dead heart with performances at Walungurru and Alice Springs in the remote western desert, then circling Australia with a series of huge, unforgettable concerts. They would ultimately play 77 gigs in 16 countries to over half a million fans but only about 2,000 people ever got to experience that tour’s epic first show in a pub … until now.
Head Injuries (Live At Selina’s) features the following tracklisting:
COLD COLD CHANGE
Hirst/Moginie
SECTION 5 (BUS TO BONDI)
Rotsey/Hirst/Garrett/Moginie
BACK ON THE BORDERLINE
James/Garrett/Hirst
KOALA SPRINT
Garrett/Moginie/Rotsey
NO REACTION
Hirst/Moginie/Rotsey
STAND IN LINE
Moginie/Hirst/Rotsey/Garrett
PROFITEERS
Hirst/Moginie/Rotsey
IS IT NOW?
Moginie/Garrett
WEDDING CAKE ISLAND
Moginie/Rotsey
It was recorded by their front of house mixer since the 80’s, Colin Ellis and mixed by Greg Wales, one of Australia’s most experienced live sound engineers through decades of work with Triple J.
The album was completed last year, with the full participation of founding member, Rob Hirst. It is dedicated to his memory and the memory of bassist Bones Hillman who also features on these recordings.
Head Injuries (Live At Selina’s) will be released digitally and on vinyl and CD on Friday November 27. It is released on the Powderworks label and distributed by Sony Music Australia. CLICK HERE to pre-order the album.
