European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps Michael Abram caught in the act Joan Baez _ Joan Baez climbed into America s spotlight while the nation s youth were asserting their displeasure with the status  became a Barefoot voice of that movement. Her Crystal Clear Soprano was a Call to Battle for those who protested a War and supported an end to the blatant racial inequality of the time. She travelled to Hanoi to meet the Quot enemy Quot and walked with Martin Luther King or. She Sang to the Muddy throng at Woodstock. It is difficult then to think of Baez and not immediately Flash on her political image. Her Long dark hair ringed with Flowers and her songs tinged with messages of peace and love. But behind the politics and the image has always been a huge Talent. Now shorn of her lengthy locks and the political baggage of the 1960s, that Talent is in the forefront. During a two hour show in Frankfurt West Germany recently Baez Sang 22 songs including four during three encores. In each one her voice showed More strength than it did when she was a Skinny Folk Singer pining for another Skinny Folk Singer named Bob Dylan. Her repertoire was varied. A Dylan song forever Young opened the show and she returned to Dylan a Large collection later with a hard rain s Gonna fall. She went Back to her first album for House of the rising Sun and to the first song she Ever wrote Sweet sir Galahad. And she jumped to the present for songs from her new speaking of dreams album. There is still room for politics. She is after All Joan Baez. Peter Gabriel a Biko an Anthem to the late anti apartheid Leader Stephen Biko who was tortured and killed in a South african jail in 1977, was Well received by an audience ranging in age from teen agers to senior citizens. Hand to Mouth a song about the poor and homeless written by pop Star George Michael was handled beautifully by the 49-year-old Baez. With a voice made for love songs Baez May have been at her Best on Farewell Angelina and diamonds and rust. Perhaps the biggest crowd please was the night they drove old Dixie Down. She Sang a Spanish love song and an Irish Folk Ballad from the Middle Ages. Simon and Garfunkel s the Boxer was a highlight As was an a Cappella version of swing Low Sweet Chariot. Before closing the show Baez said to those shouting out song titles a i won t disappoint you a and then proved it with no woman no cry from the late reggae King Bob Marley. For most of the songs Baez who declined an interview with the stars and stripes accompanied herself on acoustic guitar and was backed by a four piece band. The Impact of the movement that Baez helped Lead More than 20 years ago is now debated. It might have played an effective role in ending a War and bringing Down two presidents. Or perhaps it was a wrongheaded rebellion of Young people More interested in drugs and sexual Freedom than compassion and Justice. Maybe it was just a fad. Whatever Baez s concern seemed always genuine always honest. Even the critics she attracted during that time must admit that there was nothing phony in her efforts. But it is time to appreciate Baez for her Talent As Well As her heart. One is As big As the other. A by Ron Jensen staff writer Joan Baez performs in the following locations in Germany Ludwigshafen Ebert Hatle May 6 Cologne philharmonic May 8 Hannover Capitol May 10 Bremerhaven Stadt Nalle May 11 Munich Deutscher museum May 14. For information Call Walter gommers concerts 0201 -792059.Midnight Oil take some musicians from Down under. Put them in a concert Hall packed with thousands of fans. Mix the band s rocking melodies with an explosive rhythm Section. Add a 6-foot-5 Bald Singer spouting political lyrics a and what do you have if you guessed a Midnight Oil concert you were right. The australian rockers a Singer Peter Garrett guitarists Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey bassist Bones Hillman and drummer Rob Hirst a performed in Offenbach West Germany last week As part of a european tour in support of their latest release Blue sky mining. After a Superb performance by warm up band Hunters and collectors Midnight Oil rocked through an 18-song set that Drew heavily from Blue sky mining and its predecessor 1987�?Ts diesel and dust. Where diesel dealt with aboriginal land rights and other political issues in Australia Blue sky is about world Unity and the environment. Garrett s imposing stage presence and snarling vocals Are the soul of Midnight Oil but the heart is Moginie and Hirst. Writing or co writing most of the songs and adding excellent guitar playing and powerful drumming it is these two who give the band s music its shape. The oils use their music to run the Gamut of today s political issues from environment on River run red to disarmament on put that weapon Down to world Unity on one country and Back to their Homeland with the aboriginal issues of dead heart and their worldwide hit Beds Are burning. The two pre diesel songs in the set did no to quite fit in. While they both had the Punk bar band intensity of the other numbers they did t hold up musically i the songs from diesel and Blue sky. After 100 minutes of their Brand of socially conscious music the oils fittingly ended the concer with Nick Lowers what s so funny bout peace _ love and understanding. A by Michael Abramo s8,s. Michauo Abrams Page 16 the stars and stripes wednesday april 25,1990