Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness in Milwaukee 2023

21 May, 2023 Mosie Hillis Alternative, Concert Reviews, Indie, Pop

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness - Photo credit: Mosie Hillis

The Show

On May 21th, American singer-songwriter Andrew McMahon (under the moniker Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness) brought his 2023 tour to The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

While Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness has been making music for almost ten years, McMahon himself has been making music through a variety of other avenues for decades. His musical career began with operating as the frontman of Something Corporate in 1998. After signing to what is now known as Geffen Records, the group began releasing music and touring all throughout the United States, including stints on Van’s Warped Tour and supporting New Found Glory on a European tour.

In the mid-aughts, Andrew McMahon began to write music separately from Something Corporate; however, feeling that the vibe of the songs he had written did not fit with what the group was producing at the time, he did not release them. When the group took a break in 2004 after an extended period of time touring, McMahon had the time to begin shifting his focus to his new solo project: Jack’s Mannequin. Making music from 2004 to 2012, Jack’s Mannequin put out three studio albums: Everything in Transit (2005), The Glass Passenger (2008) and People and Things (2012).

McMahon’s most recent passion project, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, has put out four full-length albums, including his most recent, Tilt at The Wind No More, released at the end of March of this year. He has completed a plethora of headlining tours, including one to promote his memoir, Three Pianos, where he played music in a more intimate setting and told stories of his life. This tour, in contrast, was pure and utter fun.

Openers:

Griffin William Sherry

Portland, Maine native Griffin William Sherry (former frontman of The Ghost of Paul Revere) put on a rustic, acoustic set with soulful vocals, making it the perfect opening to the show.

The Unlikely Candidates

The second opener of the night, The Unlikely Candidates put on a show that could not have been more different from Sherry’s. (Also, check out our most recent post of The Unlikely Candidates) They were energetic from start to finish and did a great job getting the audience excited to see Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Singing some of their hits (“Novocaine”) as well as singing a well-known cover (“Take on Me” by Aha), the band offered something for everyone in the crowd.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness:

With Andrew McMahon beginning his first song “Nobody Tells You When You’re Young” in the middle of the pit, it was clear that the show was going to be special from the beginning. Playing a mix of songs from his Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin days as well as songs from his previous four albums, Andrew McMahon brought the energy from start to finish. From wearing a light-up rainbow cape, jumping off of his piano and standing on the keys to crowd surfing on a gigantic llama pool floatie, the show could be described as nothing other than unadulterated good times. Talking about the number of performances he has had at the venue, McMahon even coined himself “King of The Rave” at one point in the evening. If you have the chance to catch a show, I would recommend it without a doubt.

To catch them on tour and keep up with the latest news for Griffin William Sherry, The Unlikely Candidates, and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, check out their sites: www.griffinwilliamsherry.com, www.instagram.com/theunlikelycandidates, and www.andrewmcmahon.com.

Set List: