Since crashing onto the music scene with an upright piano covered in Drive Thru Records and “don’t judge a movie by its book” stickers, you may have come to know him as the iconic frontman of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. But in less than two weeks, Andrew McMahon will perform at Chicago’s Riot Fest & Carnival under the moniker Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness*.
*This is also the name of the band’s debut album.
His famous words, “I’m Doctor McMahon with a Ph.D. in sweet-ass rock and an emphasis in set-list creation” couldn’t ring more true than they do at this point in his musical journey. Inspired piano ballads and high energy pop songs from all three of his projects will make their way into this much anticipated Riot Fest set.
Watching Andrew McMahon perform is a lot like that moment in Mean Girls when Lindsay Lohan’s character wins her math team’s state championships by finding the answer she knew all along — “the limit does not exist.” There is something euphoric and ostensibly limitless about the piano man, whose notes rise and fall in perfect harmony with the music at his fingertips.
During upbeat tracks like “Punk Rock Princess” and “La La Lie”, you’ll often see Andrew dancing on his piano and soaring off its keys in a superman-like fashion. On occasion, he is known to land himself in a mixed bag of fans: those who have stuck by him since the Leaving Through the Window 2002 debut, and those that have been lured in by Andrew’s flawless delivery on newer favorites like “Synesthesia”, a song about a supernatural phenomenon that even Wikepedia can’t fully explain.
In 32 years, Andrew McMahon has released seven full-length records, kicked cancer in the ass, received an Emmy nomination, and reached radio success with AMITW’s first single, “Cecilia and the Satellite”. The only reasonable explanation for this level of achievement is that Andrew McMahon really is Clark Kent. Why else do you think that he sings about flying and watching the sky more than any other Riot Fest artist?
Andrew McMahon’s Riot Fest & Carnival performance will be his first, and he couldn’t be more thrilled about it. “I’m excited to be playing outside in the summer in one of my favorite cities and I got my good friends in The Academy Is… who are doing a reunion at Riot Fest, so I’m excited to see them too,” he tells me, as he proudly raises his arms in satisfaction.
Whenever I am in the presence of Andrew McMahon, I get this massive breath of positivity that is so genuine and all encompassing. Underneath the exterior of his California-soaked blonde hair and laid-back demeanor, is a musical genius with so much talent that he can light up any audience.
5 Facts You Might Not Know About Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
1. Something Corporate formed when Andrew was still in high school. Their nine and a half minute long break up ballad, “Konstantine”, references Jimmy Eat World and might actually bring you to tears.*
*NO CRYING AT RIOT FEST
2. Tommy Lee and Nate Ruess are good friends of Andrew’s. If you want to feel like Andrew McMahon is a friend of yours, you might consider purchasing this t-shirt.
3. Andrew McMahon runs The Dear Jack Foundation, and is currently promoting the 72K Challenge.
4. Three-fourths of AMITW also played for Jack’s Mannequin (Drummer Jay McMillan joined Jack’s in 2005 and bassist Mikey “The Kid” Wagner joined in 2010). Keyboardist Zac Clark is the only exception.
5. During live shows, Andrew keeps a Buddha figurine on his piano. It is known to change outfits from time to time.
Recommended Tracks off the Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness LP: “Cecilia and the Satellite”, “All Our Lives”, and “High Dive”
For fans of: The Format, Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”, space travel, space brownies, feeling like you’re in California, feeling high.
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