You may not know Andrew McMahon by name, but you likely know some of his work. The former lead singer of Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate put on a small show at The Rave as part of the 102.1 Exposure Show series. However, it was apparent from the start that the crowd was already very familiar with his music.
The exposure aspect of the concert was more focused on McMahon’s Dear Jack Foundation, named after one of the first Jack’s Mannequin songs ever written. The purpose of the foundation is to help young people who have been diagnosed with cancer, just like McMahon was in 2005. The concert was free, but attendants were encouraged to donate to the fund.
McMahon is currently touring as “Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness,” promoting the new self-titled album. That didn’t stop him from preforming some of his greatest hits from the past, including Jack’s Mannequin’s “Dark Blue,” “The Mixed Tape” and “The Resolution,” as well as Something Corporate hits like “Cavanaugh Park” and “I Woke Up in a Car.”
The concert became a mix of old versus new for McMahon, and while he still exemplified the youthful spark of his earlier years, there was a noticeable difference in his new music. It still felt like classic McMahon, but more mature now. He explained on numerous occasions throughout the show that the new album was heavily influenced by the fact that he was going to become a father for the first time.
Although the older content was the focus for many of the concert-goers, there was certainly excitement for many of the new tracks, including “See Her on the Weekend,” which McMahon dedicated to his daughter and wife.
The most emotional moment of the concert came in the middle of his performance, when McMahon played Jack’s Mannequin’s ballad “Swim.” He dedicated the song to his friend Todd, who had passed away earlier that day due to cancer. The Rave audience became near silent as he performed, as some teary-eyed onlookers listened intently.
McMahon has performed in very large venues in the past, including right here in Milwaukee at Summerfest. This time there couldn’t have been more than 300 people in attendance, and being able to see that same enthusiasm and some of the same songs in such an intimate setting was quite the treat. He was very open to engaging the audience in conversation, even stopping mid-song to delve into its meaning. McMahon said before his encore that he and his band are never sure what to expect from free shows, but that the crowd was even more than what they had hoped it would be. For the crowd, the feeling was mutual.
