2008 Woodie Awards
Hope not just a four letter word for McMahon
Alexandra Capotorto
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Arts&Entertainment
Jack's Mannequin is a piano rock band from Orange County, Calif. that formed in 2004 and released their first album, "Everything in Transit," in 2005. A side project of Andrew McMahon, originally from Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin has received praise from both critics and fans. The Chronicle had the opportunity to talk with McMahon about hopes for their new album, the pressures of achieving mainstream success and a documentary titled "Dear Jack."
The Chronicle - How do you prepare for a college show as opposed to a headlining show or festival?
Andrew McMahon - They're all pretty much the same, to be honest. I tend to find when we're doing regular gigs it's like it's kind of a mix of high school and college aged kids. We pretty much try and do the same sort of thing, whereas some shows when we're headlining we might not necessarily throw out a cover. At college shows we might throw in a cover to change it up and get it exciting for some kids who don't know the band as well.
The Chronicle - Does it feel strange to play alongside a rap/hip-hop artist such as T-Pain? It's a completely different genre of music, it has to be new to you.
McMahon - I mean, a lot of the colleges like to do that and we're not one to tell them how to run their show. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it really doesn't. I get the idea of trying to mix it up and open it up to all the students, to cover their base. It can make for a different kind of gig. The fans of what we do usually show up in spades and do their thing, and if nothing else, sometimes it could be weird for the hip-hop artist before us because hip-hop in general is not as live. The amount of touring hip-hop artists compared to rock artists, it's considerably rock heavy. Sometimes that can be awkward. I'm sure it'll be fine. It always works out.
The Chronicle - How do you plan to capture the attention of people who are here for T-Pain?
The Chronicle - How do you prepare for a college show as opposed to a headlining show or festival?
Andrew McMahon - They're all pretty much the same, to be honest. I tend to find when we're doing regular gigs it's like it's kind of a mix of high school and college aged kids. We pretty much try and do the same sort of thing, whereas some shows when we're headlining we might not necessarily throw out a cover. At college shows we might throw in a cover to change it up and get it exciting for some kids who don't know the band as well.
The Chronicle - Does it feel strange to play alongside a rap/hip-hop artist such as T-Pain? It's a completely different genre of music, it has to be new to you.
McMahon - I mean, a lot of the colleges like to do that and we're not one to tell them how to run their show. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it really doesn't. I get the idea of trying to mix it up and open it up to all the students, to cover their base. It can make for a different kind of gig. The fans of what we do usually show up in spades and do their thing, and if nothing else, sometimes it could be weird for the hip-hop artist before us because hip-hop in general is not as live. The amount of touring hip-hop artists compared to rock artists, it's considerably rock heavy. Sometimes that can be awkward. I'm sure it'll be fine. It always works out.
The Chronicle - How do you plan to capture the attention of people who are here for T-Pain?
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