An Evening with Andrew McMahon (10.14.09)
So, I need to do this now because I'm never going to get around to it this week if I don't. Way too many hours at work.
I made it up to Amanda's around noon and we were lazy, lazy people for a few hours. Thank goodness for my sister's GPS, though it went out at the most inopportune times on the ride home, we made it to Sommerville and drove around in circles looking for parking. We parked behind the venue and went down the street to grab lunch and came back to sit in the really short line that was already forming out front. We made some friends in line... and all proceeded to stare and wave like dorks when Andrew walked back up the street from wherever he'd gone.
And then it started getting dark and really, really cold. Sometimes I hate fall in Massachusetts. I'm really glad I left a sweatshirt and a jacket in my car. We made friends with the girls in line next to us, a couple of kids from Northeastern. We were all comparing shows that we've been to and kind of rolling our eyes at the girls next to us writing the entirety of Konstantine's lyrics onto t-shirts. I realize that everyone loves this song but to be honest (in my opinion there are so many better songs), and he's said time and time again that he's not going to play it and he's probably not going to make an acception for you.
I felt really bad at six when they ushered the meet and greet people inside and I had to leave Amanda outside 'cause it was so cold. We all stood around in the lobby for a while and then got to go inside...
When we got to go in they were still doing their soundcheck, and there were chairs. Chairs? I can't remember the last time that I went to a concert where there was seating, but then it was an acoustic set. He was playing Rescued and every single person in that room was grinning just as hard as me. It's so nice to be around people who understand me. :-D
I'll go back to the meet and greet later...
When Amanda and the other Northeastern girls came in and we messed around. We discovered, via the zoom on my camera thet there were fortune cookies sitting on top of the piano. Also, a statue of some Buddha-like thing. Pretty sure something was going to happen with those. We also got to hear about early Something Corporate tours from a girl a few seats over who had awesome pictures.
For those of you who have not been properly introduced, this is Andrew McMahon. He is quite amazing. Seriously, just... I have no words. His music and hispiano playing just make me love. Usually when I see him I'm on the other side of the grand piano so I can see his face but this time we ended up with seats on this side and I could not stop watching his hands. Seriously, there are totally videos where I cannot take my camera off of him. If you're looking for facutal information this man is the lead singer of Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin who fought a battle with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia in 2005 and is releasing a documentary on his illness entitles Dear Jack next month. Tommy Lee narrates (and also plays on the first Jack's record) and you should check it out.
And this is Bobby Raw, Jack's guitarist and former member of Bike Lock. I actually do not know much about his earlier band, but he sang a song called Olive during the show and I think I definitely need to check them out.
So throughout the show Andrew threw fotune cookies out into the crowd and made people yell back their fortunes. He told us a few stories, including Bobby getting one that read 'I believe in you.' I love this about shows. He tells sooooo many stories. I can never listen to Walking By and think of it the same way again. Lots of stories about his siblings and his "special wife friend." Seriously, adorkable. I love hearing about songs and he sang so many of the good ones. He started off with Hammers and Strings which is a beautiful ballad off the latest record. He actually skipped over some of the singles I'm not really too fond of. He sang tons of Something Corporate songs. 21 and Invincible was full of stories about being home from tour and arguing with his siblings, and inserted stories into the song - "I've got a girlfriend, she tells me she loves me and she needs me, we'll porbably get married - we did." It led to lots of laughing. He sang a bunch of songs off of North and the acoustic version of Punk Rock Princess. A bunch of songs will probably end up on my youtube account, later though.
So back to the meet and greet. Me and one of the Northeastern girls were totally shaking in the lobby, I was so excited and nervous.
:-DDDDD
I really have no words. He went up and down the rows that were filled, talking to everyone and signing things. So I introduced myself and asked him to sign some liner notes for my friend Amanda, who I told him was outside in the cold. Apparently I was not the only person to tell him this because he looked around at the people around us and said "you guys are awful friends." So I explained that seriously, she made me come inside. Technically I was an awesome friend. I asked if he was playing Cavanaugh Park and told him how much I loved the song.
See, Amanda loves me.
Such a good show, I cannot even express.