An article about Mark Seymour’s upcoming car related gig in Canberra.

Author: Hamish Boland-Rudder, The Canberra Times.

Date: 15 October 2013.

Original URL: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/carcrazy-frontman-revs-up-for-big-act-20131014-2vj30.html

Article Text

Musician Mark Seymour, of Hunters and Collectors fame. Photo: Anthony Geernaert

Coming to Australia’s most car-loving capital, it would take a real revhead to impress Canberrans with a concert all about cars.

Mark Seymour is hoping he qualifies.

The musician, best known as former Hunters and Collectors frontman, said he has had a string of Monaros – named after the region – and has been guilty of keeping cars well past their use-by dates purely out of affection for the vehicles.

Musician Mark Seymour’s daughters with his red Holden Monaro.

“If you’ve ever succumbed to the lure of falling in love with a car and said all that be damned, I’m going to hang on to this car for as long as I conceivably can, despite its declining value, I think you qualify as a car lover, and I’ve definitely fallen into that category,” he said.

Seymour will be in town with his band, the Undertows – renamed the Petrolsexuals for this weekend only – as the headline act for the grand finale of the SPIN festival, celebrating all things with wheels as part of Canberra’s centenary.

He was asked to put together a set list comprised entirely of songs about cars, which he said was a real treat. “It’s a really interesting angle. It’s a theme that really underpins the culture in a lot of ways,” he said.

“Every generation has got one, and they range from incredibly super-silly to very deeply emotional, so it’s a pretty big canvas we’re painting.”

It was a 1972 red Monaro HQ coupe that first stole Seymour’s heart – a car he kept for about 20 years, through three house moves, a car his children grew up in before it was stolen.

“That little journey is part of the whole show, and I talk about that,” he said.

“Cars are like the family home, extended. People live in them, and they experience so much, there’s so much narrative inside cars. People talk to each other, they get close together.”

While the show promises to be a “solid rock gig” as part of a day of high-power theatre and events in the greasy venue of the Territory and Municipal Services depot hangar in Fyshwick, Seymour was a little concerned that revealing his current ride could undermine the raw, revhead feel – he recently bought a Volvo.
“It’s a really nice one!” he exclaimed with a hint of resignation.

Tickets for the SPIN Saturday evening show at the TAMS depot, 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick, cost $25 (proceeds go to charity), but a big screen will be set up outside the hangar for free viewing. More information available at spinweekend.com.au.

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