I’m still on a post-concert high from last night. It’s so rare that a band or musician that I love makes it up to Flagstaff for a concert, so I’m always very quick to grab tickets when one does.
And last night – that was Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness on his New Friends tour!
I absolutely love Andrew McMahon and every project he embarks on. I loved both Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin back in high school, and I’ve been following along with Andrew McMahon’s latest project (Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness) for years now.
I got to see Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness perform during his Upside Down Flowers tour back in 2019 when I lived in Chicago, so I absolutely jumped at the chance to see them again when I found out they were coming to Flagstaff.
I was fortunate to have a great vantage point back at the Riv in Chicago, but I lucked out even more this time-
I ended up in the front row!
I didn’t have any friends who wanted to join and Ryan is currently out of town on a fire assignment, so I went by myself.
I really don’t mind going to concerts solo. It was easy to wedge myself up into the front row (hehehe), and it’s not really like you can hold a conversation with a friend at a concert anyway.
And, who needs conversation when you’re unable to look away from the stage?
He started his show in the crowd (with the song “Nobody Tells You When You’re Young”) before making his way RIGHT PAST ME (!!!) up to the stage.
Then, the band launched into “I Woke Up in a Car” (Something Corporate) and I cried a little bit, I’m not going to lie.
In addition to all the Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin covers, Andrew McMahon and his band played several songs from their latest album (“Tilt at the Wind No More,” released earlier this year) and a ton of my favorites from his Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness project, including songs from the self-titled “Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness,” “Zombies on Broadway,” and “Upside Down Flowers.”
Andrew McMahon is absolutely electric at a piano. He couldn’t sit still, and would continually jump away from his stool, hover over the keys, and at one point he even (accidentally?) kicked the piano stool over.
He’s incredibly mesmerizing to watch, and even more mesmerizing from a front row vantage point.
Oh, and also?
My only — ONLY — critique is that “Halls” wasn’t on the set list. It’s one of my favorites and I would have loved to see it performed live! Oh well, I guess there’s always next time?
LIVE AT THE RIV: ANDREW MCMAHON IN THE WILDERNESS WITH FLOR AND GRIZFOLK – Randi with an i, March 4, 2019
That situation was rectified! I got to hear “Halls” live and I’m very, very happy about that!
The band invited a fan/ contest winner on stage to sing along at one point of the show, and then things closed out with a two-song encore: “New Friends,” where both Michigander and Wildermiss (the openers) came onstage to sing along, and then a cover of Jack’s Mannequin’s “Dark Blue.”
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness’s set is “Camp Wilderness” themed for this tour, complete with a tent that was installed in a corner of the stage and stagehands dressed up as camp rangers and bears.
At one point, the bear chased the ranger around and in front of the stage, and during the encore, the band members started throwing jumbo marshmallows at the crowd.
I didn’t get to the venue until 30 or so minutes after doors opened, so I missed most of Wildermiss’s set with the exception of the last few songs, but I did catch Michigander’s set in its entirety.
I’ve never seen Michigander/ Jason Singer perform before, but since he’s from mid-Michigan (hence the name), I have a ton of friends back home who love the guy, so I was excited to catch his set.
Also, the other crazy thing? Back in 2019, Flor opened for Andrew McMahon… and oddly enough, Flor also played here in Flagstaff at the Orpheum earlier this year! I went, of course.
If you haven’t listened to Andrew McMahon, I definitely recommend you give him a listen.
Until next time!
