This past Halloween, for the first time, I saw Andrew McMahon in concert (I also saw him perform the song in the video below – “La La Lie” – in an astronaut helmet. Pretty dang cool). While his current moniker is Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, he has also stood behind monikers like Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin.
The latter of those he abandoned two years ago as of yesterday. While two years is hardly historical, it was a special night for Jack’s Mannequin fans across the country, as it was their last concert, as well as the third annual Dear Jack Benefit.
The Dear Jack Foundation was founded by McMahon in 2006 after McMahon himself was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Despite being cured, he found many problems with cancer treatment and research for the young adult population, which is why his foundation supports “initiatives that directly benefit adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer.”
Last night, November 11, 2014, the foundation held their fifth annual concert, which was a sold out show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Including last night, the Dear Jack Benefit has seen openers such as Hunter Hunted, Junior Prom, Matt Nathanson, Matt Thiessen of Relient K, FUN., and The Academy Is…
While McMahon’s November 11, 2012 performance was his last with Jack’s Mannequin as a band, he has continued performing songs from their repertoire, as well as Something Corporate’s, and has continued the Dear Jack Benefit show, the past three years falling on the same date as well.
Watching this video below, which bears so much similarity to his performance just a few weeks ago, is bittersweet (there isn’t a dry eye in that video), but I’m only extremely excited for the chance to see him again. Maybe one day, at his benefit show.
