The Observer, February 8, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 16
Jack's Mannequin arrives on campus this weekend
People from as far as Wisconsin and Illinois will flock to Adelbert Gymnasium this Saturday to see Jack's Mannequin, the piano-pop band headlining UPB's Winter Concert, one of the largest and most anticipated events this year. "We've been getting a lot of interest from other schools," said UPB president Brad Collins, "and we've just begun selling tickets to the public."
When asked about ticket sales, concert committee co-chair Mallory Factor responded, saying, "I've sold about 40 tickets in the past half hour. There's been a big demand."
Hundreds of Case students are currently anticipating this performance. The concert will be held this Saturday, Feb. 9, in Adelbert Gymnasium. Doors will open at 6:30, when alternative-rock group Wake Hollywood will open.
"I think this is something students have been waiting for since we released the winners of the Welcome Back concert surveys," said concert committee co-chair Megan Ritchey.
Part of the draw toward the band was convenience. "They were expensive, but it routed well in relation to their touring schedule," Collins stated.
"I guess you can say everything just fell into place," said Ritchey.
Singer/songwriter/pianist Andrew McMahon formed Jack's Mannequin in 2005 in the wake of his former group Something Corporate, which went into an extensive hiatus in 2004. McMahon felt that the new material he was writing wouldn't work well in Something Corporate, and so he put together a backing band and released an album under the moniker "Jack's Mannequin." Everything in Transit was released in 2005 with positive reactions from Something Corporate fans.
Around the time of the debut release, McMahon was diagnosed with leukemia, and he was forced to cancel a summer tour in support of the album. He received a bone marrow transplant, however, and soon went to work on a follow-up to Transit. He is currently touring in support of the new record, entitled The Glass Passenger, which is set to hit shelves on April 22.
Jack's Mannequin's sound is largely piano-oriented, and the songs that McMahon writes come in crystal clear pop packages.
"We've been trying to vary the groups that we've been getting for concerts," said Factor. "The Roots, They Might Be Giants, and now Jack's Mannequin have all been attracting vastly different audiences."
Tickets have also been selling well. UPB director of information Ben Meck said, "We sold over 700 tickets in about two weeks."
Collins added that tickets might still be selling at the door on the night of the show, depending on how many they still have left by Saturday.
UPB is also planning many other events within the next few months. Throughout next week, it will host various Valentine's Day-related events including Love Ballad Karaoke at The Spot and a Make-Your-Own-Valentine event. It is currently planning a Point Blue dance party with a projected early April date. Spot Nights are also continuing throughout the semester, featuring such well-known bands as the XYZ Affair and Tokyo Police Club. "This is certainly a busy and exciting time for the UPB," said Factor.
A calendar of events is available at upb.case.edu.
