A Must See: The Final Performance of Jack’s Mannequin

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Jake Craney

Favorites: Bloc Party, 3EB, Gaslight, Tokyo Police Club, The Kooks, Pete Yorn, Andrew McMahon

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  Ever want the chance to go back in time to a concert of one of your favorite bands you never got to see? Whether they were prominent before your time or abruptly broke up before you got the chance, seeing them would have been special. The opportunity to see one of the best bands of the last decade one final time has presented itself—don’t miss out!

  Southern California’s own Jack’s Mannequin, fronted by the eternally loveable Andrew McMahon (formerly the front-man of piano-rock band Something Corporate), formed in 2004 and have since released three vibrant albums that have one of the toughest qualities to have in music—lasting value. Put on any of these albums, the sunny piano-driven “Everything In Transit,” the catchy-yet-deep “The Glass Passenger,” or the latest, more “vintage sounding” pop-rock release “People and Things,” and you’ll instantly travel with the music to when you first heard it. Listening for the 40^th time is just as enjoyable as the 4^th.

  November 11^th and 12^th at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, Jack’s Mannequin will play their farewell shows. McMahon has decided to retire the band name and move into solo music, thus closing another chapter in his musical career. While this won’t be the last chance to see McMahon in concert, it’ll be the last with his band mates in Jack’s Mannequin, playing the songs so memorable and meaningful to many of us. Having only seen McMahon live as the front-man for Something Corporate (A fantastic live performance), I’ll definitely not missing this one. If you’re a fan of catchy, up-tempo music with memorable piano lines, find a way to get yourself to the El Rey.

  There’s something people like McMahon share with contemporaries such as John Mayer or icons like Billy Joel: the ability to craft a song. The voice, the melody, the lyrics…everything has a purpose and everything fits perfectly. Rarely does a Jack’s Mannequin release contain filler or a song you skip over.

  Whether you’re new to Jack’s Mannequin, are an avid fan, or have only perhaps heard of McMahon through his philanthropy (surviving a fight with Leukemia and starting the Dear Jack Foundation), these two final shows are sure to be a microcosm of the last eight years of passion, enthusiasm, and genuine love for creating music.