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Willie's Bar & Grill: A Rock 'n' Roll Tour of North America in the Age of Terror
Part tour diary, part war commentary, part history brush-up and cultural junket, Willie's Bar & Grill charts legendary Australian band Midnight Oil's progress through North America shortly after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the US. Rob Hirst, the band's drummer/songwriter, relates his version of life on the road in alternately serious, light-hearted but always entertaining, fashion, introducing the group's American tour manager, Willie, as well as the band members and the often bizarre characters they meet.
- GenresNonfictionMusic
235 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
16 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Rob Hirst
6 books1 followerRobert George Hirst was an Australian musician from Camden, New South Wales. He was a founding member of rock band Midnight Oil on drums, percussion and backing vocals from the 1970s until the band took a hiatus in 2002. The band resumed activity as a group in 2017. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 6, 2016
This was a surprisingly good read – I say that because after hearing Rob speak at the Bryon Writer’s Festival I was feeling a bit disillusioned & was unsure whether I’d enjoy the book or even if I still wanted to read it (that was August 2005). I am glad I finally got around to it; it is an easy read, it flows well and it is entertaining.
Hirst comes across as having a finely tune observational eye. His comments on American culture and society, & his descriptions of life on the road are witty, insightful and absorbing. The book is not about being a member of Midnight Oil, as such, but about being a guy on a rather long road trip far from home with a bunch of other guys.
The writing comes across as honest and thoughtful. Hirst comes across as intelligent and unaffected; his experiences feel real. I enjoyed the cynicism he brings to his observations and the unhidden agenda and attitudes he holds, which come though in the way he depicts people and places. I particularly liked his descriptions of the different bus drivers – hilarious - and the way he explains the differences in American and Australian attitudes, as well as his observations of the changes in the physical and psychological landscape after the 9/11 attacks.
I also liked his explanation of what good rock is and the way in which it should be a transcendental experience at its best; he writes “it should make you want to play air guitar, and airhead drums, at home, and party like a dancing fool at gigs. It should be tough enough to interrupt your heart pattern, melodic enough to make you burst into song, fast enough to galvanise your arms, legs and hips, and loud enough to fry a terrifying number of brain cells.”
Hirst comes across as having a finely tune observational eye. His comments on American culture and society, & his descriptions of life on the road are witty, insightful and absorbing. The book is not about being a member of Midnight Oil, as such, but about being a guy on a rather long road trip far from home with a bunch of other guys.
The writing comes across as honest and thoughtful. Hirst comes across as intelligent and unaffected; his experiences feel real. I enjoyed the cynicism he brings to his observations and the unhidden agenda and attitudes he holds, which come though in the way he depicts people and places. I particularly liked his descriptions of the different bus drivers – hilarious - and the way he explains the differences in American and Australian attitudes, as well as his observations of the changes in the physical and psychological landscape after the 9/11 attacks.
I also liked his explanation of what good rock is and the way in which it should be a transcendental experience at its best; he writes “it should make you want to play air guitar, and airhead drums, at home, and party like a dancing fool at gigs. It should be tough enough to interrupt your heart pattern, melodic enough to make you burst into song, fast enough to galvanise your arms, legs and hips, and loud enough to fry a terrifying number of brain cells.”
July 1, 2017
Being a fairly large fan of the music of Midnight Oil, and not knowing much about the band members beyond their music, I thought reading Rob Hirst's book would be a good way for me to learn more of them, the music, etc.
This book was mostly covering a short period of time during Midnight OIl's North American tour in the days and months that immediately followed the 11 Sep 2001 attacks on the United States. Rob talked about many of the cities visited, some of that city's history and what he saw on their visit.
He does mention things about other band members, live music, their process for writing certain songs, tour crew, but I thought that material (in terms of volume) was far outpaced by Rob's detailed description of the cities of tour stops and such.
This book was mostly covering a short period of time during Midnight OIl's North American tour in the days and months that immediately followed the 11 Sep 2001 attacks on the United States. Rob talked about many of the cities visited, some of that city's history and what he saw on their visit.
He does mention things about other band members, live music, their process for writing certain songs, tour crew, but I thought that material (in terms of volume) was far outpaced by Rob's detailed description of the cities of tour stops and such.
May 12, 2018
You don’t have to be an oils fan to enjoy, but it helps. The book stands out as a outsider’s view of America right after 9/11. And that lens makes it interesting as you can see a giant pivot occurring through hirst’s observations. A light, quick, witty observation from perhaps one of the most thoughtful and observant rock bands of the last forty years.
October 29, 2019
Long time fan
I was quite excited to see a book written about my favorite band! This tour was my first live experience seeing the Oils and i !enjoyed reliving the experience through the story on the road!
<3
I was quite excited to see a book written about my favorite band! This tour was my first live experience seeing the Oils and i !enjoyed reliving the experience through the story on the road!
<3
July 2, 2013
A snapshot of the U.S. from the perspective of a political rock band in October and November 2001.
Hirst paints a picture of being on the road, but he leaves a lot of what being in Midnight Oil is like on the stage. One wants a deeper look at the band, but his writing comes across as deeply protective of the men with whom he works. Peter Garrett's decision to leave the group, for example, is dealt with in just about one sentence (to be fair, there's some exploration of the post-last-gig conversations between he and his bandmates about what to do next).
As a travelogue, it's well made. And some solid turns of phrase — the writer can put words together.
Hirst paints a picture of being on the road, but he leaves a lot of what being in Midnight Oil is like on the stage. One wants a deeper look at the band, but his writing comes across as deeply protective of the men with whom he works. Peter Garrett's decision to leave the group, for example, is dealt with in just about one sentence (to be fair, there's some exploration of the post-last-gig conversations between he and his bandmates about what to do next).
As a travelogue, it's well made. And some solid turns of phrase — the writer can put words together.
February 6, 2010
Excellent memoir of the cultural & political climate of the period, as well as a tour diary.
On a personal note, as one of the Oils' "Front Row Girls" during the Great Lakes region gigs, this read was a lovely trip down Nostalgia Road.
On a personal note, as one of the Oils' "Front Row Girls" during the Great Lakes region gigs, this read was a lovely trip down Nostalgia Road.
February 16, 2016
Really enjoyed this - a bit dated in some of the references (since it's a tour diary reacting to 9/11, set in the aftermath) but a fascinating potted history of a great band and of the slog of touring. Really well written.
February 17, 2012
A must for oils fans, a maybe for music fans and a no way for everyone else.
February 13, 2013
As a fan of both the band and the man, I loved it.
February 7, 2021
Sometimes you're taken to the wall but you don't give in
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews