[Andy Gillcrist]

G'day all, long-time fan and Powderworks newbie here.  I had the privilege
of being at both the Seattle and Portland shows -- definite highlights of
my 37 years of life so far, as was the one other Seattle show I saw on their
Blue Sky Mining tour.  That was great, but being there in the much smaller
venues this time around was REALLY FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!  Up close
and personal with the Oils... what more could you want?

At the beginning of the Portland show, Peter announced that they'd be
playing a few songs never before performed live in the U.S. and I'm
wondering which ones those were.  Probably Bus to Bondi (cool!), Wharf
Rat (surprise!), and Know Your Product (huh?).

BtoB was awesome.  One of my favorite older Oils songs, and having the
sound guy come out to play bass was a treat.  He looked kind of dazzled
to be up there at first, but played expertly and really got into it.  At the
end, Bones came back and fell to his knees in worship at the guy's feet.

Wharf Rat is such a strange song to begin with, it's about the last one I'd
ever have expected to hear the Oils play live.  In fact, it's the only song
on the Deadicated tribute album that I felt was a clunker.  (Even though
it's the Oils playing!)  Over time, it's grown on me a lot though, and when
Peter said "Wharf Rat," I knew it was going to be good.  A lot of people
around me were like, "Huh?  What song is this?"  So I was one of only a
few singing along to the "I'll get up and fly awaaay..." parts, felt good to
know it and love it.  Major goodness.

KYP was the only song that I didn't recognize at all.  Having since learned
here that it's actually by the Saints, now I'm wondering what (if any)
connection exists between them and the Oils.  Didn't find any on the Saints
website -- so to the Oils, is KYP just a great song?  I don't know too much
about other old punk bands from Oz.

I was surprised they didn't play Power and the Passion, though.  They
did in Seattle, and during the drum part Rob banged all over that metal
culvert thing, so during the Portland encores I kept thinking "he hasn't
played the culvert yet, P&P is still coming!"  But alas, it was not to be.
Missed Hercules also -- one of the best of the Seattle show.

But that's okay -- I caught a drumstick!  Rob tossed it right to me.  :)
And I had a lot of eye contact with Martin -- I was right up front between
him and Peter, and was watching his playing really closely.  During King
of the Mountain, he looked right at me and grinned!  How cool was THAT!

One other question.  Did anyone else at Portland think Jim looked
really wiped?  He just kinda stood there and played, never even cracked
a smile that I saw, while the rest of the band was so into it.  Is he always
like that, playing live?  Seemed that way in Seattle too, perhaps not as
much though.  What'd ya think?

Can't wait for Capricornia and their imminent return to this country.
I overheard someone at Portland (another Worker?  I don't know any
of you yet) say they'd be storing their gear in L.A. for the time being,
since they'll be back so soon.

I think I'll get an old Holden and follow them around the country, like
a Deadhead in a VW bus.

Peace all,

	Andy