Tonight is the largest headlining show that Andrew McMahon has ever played in Chicago. The outdoor capacity for Northerly Island is 8,000 people. Also, he is the lead singer for all three bands! 

Jack’s Mannequin is first to take the stage and they open with “The Resolution” from 2008’s The Glass Passenger. “And I’m alive / And I don’t need a witness / To know that I survived / I’m not looking for forgiveness / I just need light / I need light in the dark as I search for the resolution.” In 2005, McMahon was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. He was able to beat this cancer thanks to a lifesaving bone marrow transplant from his sister. Andrew now strongly advocates for registering to be a bone marrow donor. 

Later on, they play “The Mixed Tape” from 2005’s Everything In Transit. “And this is my mixed tape for her / It’s like I wrote every note / With my own fingers”. There is so much nostalgia in this song about creating mixed tapes on cassettes. It’s a beautiful piano rock song. 

To close the set, they play “Bruised”. “Hours pass and she still counts the minutes that I am not there / I swear I didn’t mean for it to feel like this / Like every inch of me is bruised, bruised”. It sounds fantastic tonight. Also, they are selling a “Bruised” t-shirt that has a picture of a beat-up teddy bear. 

Andrew McMachon in the Wilderness is second to take the stage. They close their set with the fantastic “Synesthesia” from the 2013 EP, The Pop Underground. “And I see colors when I hear your voice / Grab your wings, they’re putting gravity on trial / I see colors, I don’t hear the noise / Because we’re only flying for a while, because we’re only flying for a while”. 

Last to take the stage is Something Corporate. They play “I Woke Up In A Car” from their 2002 album, “Leaving Through The Window”. “She wrote me a letter as we passed through Rockford, She said she won’t forget”. Rockford, IL is located just 90 miles west of tonight’s concert. 

To end the night, all the members of the bands take the stage to play as one for a final set. They play “Dark Blue”, which is their most popular song on Spotify with over 50 million streams.  “Have you ever been alone in a crowded room? Well, I’m here with you / I said the world could be burnin’ / ‘Til there’s nothin’ but dark blue”. It’s emo rock perfected. Everyone in attendance happily sings along.

See the final act setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $140 (GA Pit)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney