Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness wrapped up a two-week east coast tour with a sold out performance at Town Ballroom in Buffalo on Wednesday, May 24. The tour, which also featured stops in Syracuse and Albany, was in support of the band’s latest release Tilt at the Wind No More.
Few in the music industry today tout the resume that Andrew McMahon has. His original rise to fame came as the lead singer of the early 2000’s emo rock band Something Corporate. In 2004 McMahon formed Jack’s Mannequin, and later in 2014 would begin Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, a project that continues today. All along the way, McMahon has crafted stellar piano-rock tracks and has amassed a large and devoted following of fans who flock to his live concerts. His current band features Bob Anderson (guitar), Zac Clark (keyboards), Jay McMillian (drums) and Mikey Wagner (bass guitar).
Early arriving fans on Wednesday night were treated to an opening performance by Griffin William Sherry. Known for his work with independent-folk rock band The Ghost of Paul Revere, Sherry delighted the audience with a set of acoustic folk tracks. At times, Sherry’s strong vocals channeled singer/song writers such as Nathaniel Rateliff and Chris Stapleton.
Up next were The Unlikely Candidates, from Fort Worth, Texas. To describe their set as high energy would be an understatement. From the cryptic opening guitar rift of “Sunshine” to the final notes of set closer “Novocaine”, singer Kyle Morris took captive hold of the audience. Morris strutted the stage, leapt in the air, twirled his microphone, at times throwing it high in the air before catching it. Morris would lean in close over the audience, locking eyes with those in the front row, never missing a lyrical beat. A mid-set cover of the A-ha classic “Take on Me” had the showroom bursting with energy. The band was sure to gain many new fans following their set.
Finally, it was time for Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. The standing room only club was packed elbow to elbow with little room to maneuver, with the crowd in eager anticipation of the band’s arrival. Once the houselights dimmed, a lone spotlight shone into the crowd. The light illuminated McMahon, who was standing in the back of the club, and began performing the slow moving, reflective “Nobody Tells You When You’re Young”. McMahon made his way slowly to the stage, providing brief and intimate performances for those whose path he encountered. Once arriving to the stage, McMahon was joined by his bandmates who immediately launched into “The Mixed Tape,” a familiar fan favorite from McMahon’s Jack’s Mannequin days.
While the music was at the forefront, the spectacle of an Andrew McMahon performance was not missing on this night. McMahon donned a colorful, light up cape during “Stars”. He crowd surfed while riding an inflatable llama, making it all the way to the top tier of the club. During “Synesthesia”, McMahon brought a multi-colored parachute into the crowd, singing the song’s chorus from underneath. In all, McMahon and his band would roll through a 23 song set, spanning over twenty years worth of music. It was a memorable evening for those in attendance, one that would be sure to have fans clamoring for a return performance in the near future.
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