Jack’s Mannequin floats above a sea of fans in St. Louis

The week was off to a great start for The Pageant on Monday night, with a packed venue for Jack’s Mannequin — the show having entirely sold-out. There was a buzzing of excitement as people gathered outside to get in line and make their way to the front of the stage.

The evening’s opener was the exuberant Yoke Lore, its existence birthed from the solo talent and mind of Adrian Galvin, who not only is a musician but also a visual artist and dancer. The movement and energy he brought to the stage that night was electric against his soft and gentle music; Galvin jumped and spun about the stage with banjo in hand! Promoting his debut album Toward A Never Ending New Beginning (released September 2023), Yoke Lore‘s music is a great listen for anyone who enjoys indie pop with a bit of folksy grit sprinkled in.

By the time Yoke Lore finished his set, the venue was so full that people were spilling from the aisles all the way to the back of the bar.

The pit was at capacity, but many still braved the crowd as they shuffled and disappeared into a black hole of bodies on bodies pressed against the stage. The lights began to dim, as all the talking faded to a quiet hum of whispers, like hundreds of singing crickets.

Suddenly, the voice of Andrew McMahon began speaking via video, broadcasting clips that span the many years of Andrew’s life as a musician; it was almost like the crowd was watching a Jack’s Mannequin documentary. Suddenly, the tone of the video and the room began to shift as McMahon revealed he’s a cancer survivor. “Jack’s Mannequin wasn’t just a band, it was a story,” Andrew narrates over clips of his journey to recovery. While at times it was somber, this brief video carried a great deal of inspiration and hope as a focal point for Jack’s Mannequin and the celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary.

For those that don’t know, Jack’s Mannequin originated in Orange County, California back in 2004, when Andrew McMahon was the lead vocalist for the piano rock band, Something Corporate. The American rock band quickly took off after McMahon’s first album, Everything in Transit, was released a year later as a solo project. Unfortunately, before being able to tour, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia — a significant moment in his life, which led to the creation of the Dear Jack Foundation. This past January, the band announced their MFEO Tour, a celebration for the 20th Anniversary of Jack’s Mannequin and, for every ticket sold, $1 is donated to the Dear Jack Foundation.

As the video ended, the crowd roared as band members made their appearance onstage.

McMahon sat at a piano dead center, immediately sliding his fingers across the keys like it was second nature. The rest of the show was pure insanity, even with McMahon floating on a sea of fans in a giant inflatable llama. Considering the impact the band is making with this tour, I highly recommend hitting a Jack’s Mannequin show in a town near you! See a show — make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Photography by Sean Rider

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