Review: Peter Garrett & the Alter Egos at Regal Theatre

Peter Garrett & the Alter Egos at Regal Theatre
w/ Helen Shanahan
Saturday, March 23, 2024

Celebrating new solo album, The True North, Peter Garrett’s return to WA was a welcome celebration of his art and politics.

His second record and first following Midnight Oil’s ‘final’ tour, it’s an improvement both on 2016’s A Version of Now and even Midnight Oil’s 2022 effort, Resist (2022).

Kicking off by playing most of the album (including the opening three tracks in order), Garrett slowly but surely interspersed the set list with older solo and Oils tracks. Loves on Sale was a notable highlight early, a rare co-write between Garrett and guitarist Martin Rotsey, the only other member of the Oils onstage.

Still, two fifths of one of Australia’s greatest bands in such intimate environs was a wonder to behold. It didn’t take long for Garrett to warm up into his signature discordant dance moves, and it never gets old. Whether at a mid-tempo groove through Paddo or getting the energy well and truly pumping through his limbs on Put Down That Weapon, it was impressive to see the 70-year-old looking as lithe as ever.

The latter kicked off the best part of the set. Solo highlights It Still Matters and Permaglow sat comfortably next to the monster hits, and Perth got perhaps the best setlist of the tour. It was the closing night of The True North Tour 2024 after all, and with a big 18 tracks filling out a jampacked 90 minutes, there was plenty of dancing in the aisles during Blue Sky Mining and The Dead Heart.

Best of all was a radical reinterpretation of Beds Are Burning, somehow making the Oils’ signature song even more affecting, helped along by the eerie backing vocals of daughters May and Grace Garrett. You could even hear their dad’s voice crack during the chorus, and the song’s message remains as relevant as ever.

There were deep cuts too, with 1993’s In the Valley a welcome addition. Other highlights included the rousing spoken word finish to Innocence Parts 1 & 2, taking it to environmental terrorists not standing up and taking responsibility or playing their parts (it’s also the best song on the new album). Later, an impassioned speech named and shamed the likes of Woodside, Gina Rinehart, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg before an inspired Hey Archetype.

Earlier, Perth’s own Helen Shanahan was joined on stage by partner Matt Allen, joking that it felt like date night for them as they warmed themselves to an attentive full house, completely at home on the big stage.

Generous and charismatic with an addictive laugh, Shanahan gave us insights into her creative process during I Only Hide and Camouflage and even earned a gentle singalong for the closer, Finding Gold.

The return of Peter Garrett from politics to the stage has been an inspired one. Unhampered by party lines, his celebration of activism and the opportunity to make better choices for ourselves rang as clear as ever leaving the Regal. What a treat to still have moments like this with the great man, even after the Oils have stopped touring.

HARVEY RAE

Photos by Alan Holbrook