George Huitker and Junk Sculpture have paid musical tribute to John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen. Now they’re moving closer to home with Burning the Midnight Oil.
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The catalyst, Huitker says, was taking some of his Radford College students on a trip up to northern New South Wales to work with students there, many of them indigenous.
Aboriginal issues featured strongly in Midnight Oil’s music, which he played on the trip.
‘‘It was pretty hard in the late ’70s and early ’80s not to have been influenced one way or another by their music,’’ he says. But that seems to have faded with the passing of time.
‘‘I was surprised at how little my students – who were intrigued by the music – knew about the band and their links with indigenous Australia. From there, the idea of an Oils show was born.’’
Huitker says Midnight Oil’s music is ‘‘very complex ... it’s quite challenging for musicians and singers.’’
He thinks the band’s musical complexity is often underestimated and that while they were known for political and polemical songs such as US Forces and Beds Are Burning, their songs were stylistically diverse and sometimes poignant, as in such personal songs as In The Valley.
‘‘My heart is probably with the indigenous songs,’’ Huitker says. Diesel and Dust speaks to me.’’
Peter Garrett’s post-Oils political career as a Labor minister has in some cases meant the songs have ‘‘depths of irony’’ as their ideals come against the realities of politics, Huitker says.
‘‘It will be interesting to see [how] the stuff stands up now.’’
He says Burning the Midnight Oil will be ‘‘playful but respectful’’ and would like to think Midnight Oil will be happy with what they do.
‘‘I’m 46 and feeling it,’’ Huitker says. ‘‘Doing Peter Garrett gyrations on stage seems to be taking a toll on me.’’
Burning the Midnight Oil: Teatro Vivaldi Restaurant, ANU Arts Centre, May 18 and 25, three-course dinner and show from 7pm. Tickets $70/$80/$90. Bookings: 62572718.
