Jack’s Mannequin

7/1/2009 Using two his two mics to perfection while working like a banshee on his piano, Andrew McMahon treated the Cleveland audience to quite a show.

While McMahon first blew up the stage in the band Something Corporate, the lead singer decided to write several songs and initially release them under the side project Jack’s Mannequin.  Soon thereafter, McMahon began to battle with leukemia which he has been lucky to overcome.

Now, along with Bobby Anderson, Jonathan Sullivan, and Jay McMillan, Jack’s Mannequin is going strong after the groups second major release The Glass Passenger.  For all the fans at this performance, Jack’s Mannequin treated them to a blowout of hits!

Having seen the group several times, I expected high energy coupled with intense music and emotion.  The group definitely delivered.  Arriving on stage, the opener “The Mixed Tape” got the crowd roaring and the band never looked back.  If you are wondering what other songs the group played, here’s a tracklist:

01. The Mixed Tape
02. Spinning
03. Drop Out — So Unknown
04. Swim
05. I’m Ready
06. Bruised
07. La La La
08. Lullaby
09. Dark Blue
10. Bloodshot
11. Watch the Sky
12. The Resolution
13. American Girl

A true entertainer, McMahon made sure he jumped off the drum kit and piano several times.  After playing a few hits off the new album, the band cranked out some off of Everything in Transit that had the audience yelling the lyrics at the top of their lungs and shouting as loud as they could.

Big moments happened around “Dark Blue” and “Bruised” where standing still just wasn’t an option.  By the end of the show, the frontman was standing on the keys smiling all the while.

For a songwriter who’s been through so much, McMahon has this unbelievable ability to convey so much in his music…it’s refreshing and empowering all the while…