Andrew McMahon (vocals, piano) and Bobby Anderson (guitar) of Jack's Mannequin performing at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA. January 20, 2016. Photo: Jared Stossel.
Sometimes, it takes seeing an album performed in its entirely to remember just how spectacular it truly is. I actually saw Andrew McMahon perform Everything In Transit, the first (and by far, most iconic) album from his post-Something Corporate endeavor, Jack's Mannequin, several years ago. He showed up at a free festival in San Francisco, and decided to perform the album in full. I don't know if this was a spontaneous choice or not, but it was a huge surprise to everyone in the audience, and an incredible treat.
This time, fans went into the show knowing what they were going to get, and they were fully prepared: the show sold out within a short amount of time, given that the tickets went on sale only a month before hand. This is an impressive feat, and speaks to the power of a band like Jack's Mannequin. Whether this is the last tour or not for the band, it was amazing to see the album performed live, even if fans will be seeing it for the last time.
After a lovely opening set from indie-rock outfit She Is We (if you remember the band He Is We, it's them, but with the female vocalist handling full vocal duties), the band took the stage to a roar of applause. Not a single word was left unsung.
Once the band finished Transit, they immediately launched into a plethora of material from their other two efforts, 2008's The Glass Passenger and 2011's People and Things. The encore that followed included "Restless Dream" (People and Things), "The Resolution" (The Glass Passenger), concluding with a cover of a highly enthusiastic, energetic version of "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, whose performance could very well envy that of the original band.
The last note is hit, and McMahon climbs on top of his piano, performing with the same amount of gusto as the second he took the stage an hour and a half before. The entire band gives it everything they've got, letting the last chords and drum hits ring out, before McMahon screams, "We are Jack's Mannequin! Good night!" He jumps off of the piano, and lands as the last note powerfully hits, reverberating off the screams of the crowd. No one in that room wanted the night to end.
On behalf of everyone in that room, thank you Jack's Mannequin for creating such a powerful and important album for the scene. Thank you for writing a symphony of sound. Hopefully, we'll see you around.
SET LIST
Everything In Transit (in full)
Holiday From Real
The Mixed Tape
Bruised
I'm Ready
La La Lie
Dark Blue
Miss Delaney
Kill The Messenger
Rescued
MFEO
Into The Airwaves
Crashin' (The Glass Passenger - 2008)
Annie Use Your Telescope (The Glass Passenger - 2008)
Spinning (The Glass Passenger - 2008)
Television (People And Things - 2011)
Swim (The Glass Passenger - 2008)
Bloodshot (The Glass Passenger - 2011)
ENCORE
Restless Dream (People And Things - 2011)
The Resolution (The Glass Passenger - 2008)
American Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover song)
This has been another Shameless Promotion.