Mark Seymour Performs Live on Wisewould Mahony Rooftop
Whilst we concede that it is perhaps not as culturally significant nor historically entrenched in the world musical annals as the 1969 Beatles rooftop performance, judging by the reaction of our guests and my very vocal fellow Wisewouldians in attendance you'd be forgiven if you felt you had experienced a sense of musical deja-vu.
For 18 years, Mark Seymour has been the front man of the iconic Australian rock band Hunters and Collectors. Their renowned songs such as "Throw Your Arms Around Me", "Talking to a Stranger" and the legendary, and now universally embraced as the national football anthem "Holy Grail" have over the years graced numerous concert halls, festivals, and overflowing pubs.
More than 20 years after he came to national prominence, Mark Seymour's reputation for memorable performances was on display. But even for someone of his experience, having performed at numerous local, national and international venues would not have anticipated that he would be playing his classic rock anthems to a bunch of lawyers, legal staff and members of the wide legal fraternity on an office building rooftop in the middle of the CBD, where the mosh pit did not consist of screaming teenagers but screaming firm partners - a truly unprecedented event.
The evening commenced with the steady stream of arriving guests and dignitaries. They included judicial officers, clients, and of course our own staff.
Whilst the weather was not ideal, no one seemed to mind, nor did it dampen the sense of enthusiasm and restless anticipation which was prevalent in the period before the main attraction took the stage.
As a prelude to the main event the guests were served culinary delights concocted by the specifically arranged team of chefs and hospitality staff. The food was exceptional and if the stacks of empty trays is anything to go by, was universally and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Once everyone had settled in, and a few drinks were had, Mark Seymour made his Wisewould Mahony debut to a true rock star reception.
He sauntered on to stage to a massive roar, the same blue collar rocker that most Australian audiences remember from the 80's and 90's.
Mark Seymour is 52 years old, but from his energy and youthful demeanour you wouldn't be embellishing if you thought he resembled a man at least 10 years younger. Darting across the brilliantly constructed makeshift stage with guitar in hand and voice in fantastic form, it is no surprise that the former Hunters & Collectors front-man is renowned for his stage presence. While the rest of the rockers of his ilk have faded into oblivion, Mark Seymour is doing what he has always done: playing live to fans.
From inception, the hits came, and what a better way to start off than with an eternal classic "When the river runs dry" followed by the equally melodic "Do you see what I see?".
However the loudest and most thunderous applause was expectedly reserved for what some would say is the epitome of Aussie rock - "Holy Grail". Considering the footy-loving culture of our firm, the song allowed some of the most fervent of supporters to reminisce about that one day in September...
After an hour of continuous playing and two crowd pleasing encores, the concert concluded with a long standing ovation.
The crowd's vehement desire for the band to return to the stage almost necessitated an announcement to be made, "Mark Seymour has left the building!"
Although the main event may have concluded, the attendees did not disperse. Instead in the true Wisewould Mahony tradition the party continued on into the early hours of the morning. And all this on a school night!
The success of the evening must be attributed to all our staff whose collaborative and unified effort with assisting with the preparation for the evening and associated duties throughout the night has ensured the event was a resounding success and have set in stone the likely prospects of similar acts in the future.
If all the feedback is anything to go by, we might just have started a mini "Woodstock'".