“Are you ready to hear a man make sweet love to his piano?” I heard this question in 2002 at the House of Blues, as a local disc jockey was introducing Andrew McMahon back when he was fronting the California based emo-pop band Something Corporate. But fast forward to 2007, it was Andrew McMahon of Jack’s Mannequin—not Something Corporate—making love to his piano on stage at the Riviera Theater.
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Jack’s Mannequin
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 Entertainment
Art
Riviera Theater
Chicago, Ill.
February 16, 2007
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From start to finish, the show was an enthralling performance of pop-punk-piano-rock. McMahon’s young, innocent voice and his smile-evoking piano playing was the perfect remedy for the bitter cold Chicago night.
Boasting a sold out show with three opening acts, McMahon humbly (though not quietly) took the stage at the Riv and immediately began belting out his heartfelt lyrics and pounding at his piano. Clearly not a stranger to the importance of stage presence, McMahon spent most of the show racing back and forth between his piano and the mic at the front of the stage. While seated at his piano, McMahon let his hands alternate between clawing at the keys and clutching his mic and made two-handed piano playing—along with his leukemia—look like a thing of the past.
With a set list that skipped around the album “Everything in Transit”—while flowing just as nicely—Jack’s Mannequin kept the crowd’s eyes locked onto the stage from start to finish. McMahon belted out each song while making sure to return the gaze of each and every member of the crowd. The sound quality at the show was exceptional—every word McMahon sang was completely audible. And it didn’t hurt that many of his songs, particularly “The Mixed Tape” and “I’m Ready” are easy to relate to which made singing along twice as fun.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise and most (arguably) notable part of the show was when McMahon quietly led us into a dreamy piano-only version of Something Corporate’s “Punk Rock Princess.” Those that know the song are still swooning, those that don’t are still surfing the web. Why arguably notable? Because shortly after returning to the stage for an encore, McMahon and the boys broke loose into an enthusiastic rendition of The Police’s “Message in a Bottle.” Unexpectedly catchy, the song got the crowd excited and more aware than ever of The Police’s recent return to the stage at The Grammys.
McMahon and crew finished off the set with “MFEO (Made For Each Other),” a Something Corporate-esque song that provoked swaying and loud singing. It closed the set appropriately but still left the crowd wanting much more. My only complaint: the length of the show. It’s 2007—people expect the headliner to play for longer than 2 hours. Although McMahon’s fast-paced piano rocking makes it difficult to catch a breath between songs, it’s always nice to want more—and then get it. But length aside, the show was spectacular and the all-ages crowd had a blast.
Back in ’02 when the world was just catching a glimpse of piano love-making, McMahon was a sun-kissed teenager leading an Orange County based band into the mainstream. But in 2004 when Something Corporate decided to take a break, McMahon and his piano started doing something other than corporate. McMahon teamed up with Bobby “Raw” Anderson, Jonathan Sullivan, and Jay McMillan and launched his solo project under the name Jack’s Mannequin.
Just two months before the release of his album “Everything in Transit,” McMahon was diagnosed with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. He was forced to cancel all upcoming shows for both Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. After undergoing treatment and entering remission, McMahon and Jack’s Mannequin took back the stage in December 2005 and felt immediately at home again. McMahon keeps a detailed blog on the band’s website www.JacksMannequin.com in which he has said, “I was a bald headed bag of bones, weak as could be but finally back where I belonged: under a rig of hot lights with a piano, a band and some songs to sing.” The success of “Everything in Transit” and the growing Jack’s Mannequin fan base are proof that McMahon truly is back where he belongs.
Jack’s Mannequin is currently finishing up their West Coast Winter Tour with the always entertaining Head Automatica, promising newcomers The Audition, and We Are the Fury. Jack’s returns to Chicago on March 6 at the House of Blues for the final show of the tour.
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