The Daily OrangeQ & A with Jack's Mannequin
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Posted: 9/14/09, 4:01 AM EST Section: Feature
Q & A with Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin
Q: Is this your first time in Syracuse?
I've been to Syracuse before, my memory is not so good after eight years, but I'll say it's my first time. I think I've played before, not 100 percent sure, so we'll say it's my first time. It's definitely my first time at the school.
Q: Did you go to college?
I didn't go to college - the first band 'Something Corporate,' I was a junior in high school when we were signed. My parents wanted me to go to college. I said 'give me a year to get my band signed and if I can't we'll talk about college.' But almost a year to the day I graduated my first band got signed. At some point in my life I would love to go back to school, even if it's just to study to get deeper into music or whatever. But yeah, I took this road and I've been on it for a while.
When we're not doing regular tour dates, playing colleges and festivals is really where we focus. We're no strangers to the outdoor hippie festival. It's sort of what we do when we're not doing our other jobs I guess.
Q: When did you start making music?
I started writing music when I was nine. I remember the year 1991; I'd been writing music and playing piano since I was a little kid. I got my first amp in high school around 1996 or so, I've sort of been doing it ever since. I did theater and stuff in high school, starting out trying to find the stage I can get onto and sing and perform. I did this battle of the bands when I was a sophomore back in California. [It was the] first time I thought 'maybe I'll take these songs, set them in a band environment and see how they come out.' And the rest is history.
Q: Do you have a favorite song to play?
It sort of changes, it depends on what the song of the moment is sometimes. You know if you have a record out and you have a single going, a lot of times it'll be a single at the time, but usually, it just depends on the energy of the crowd, you know, certain songs will connect with certain audiences. We just got back from Europe and strangely there are certain songs that triggered more with the audience in Europe than they did in the States and vice versa. Usually at the end of the show we'll have our favorites from the night.
Q: Is this your first time in Syracuse?
I've been to Syracuse before, my memory is not so good after eight years, but I'll say it's my first time. I think I've played before, not 100 percent sure, so we'll say it's my first time. It's definitely my first time at the school.
Q: Did you go to college?
I didn't go to college - the first band 'Something Corporate,' I was a junior in high school when we were signed. My parents wanted me to go to college. I said 'give me a year to get my band signed and if I can't we'll talk about college.' But almost a year to the day I graduated my first band got signed. At some point in my life I would love to go back to school, even if it's just to study to get deeper into music or whatever. But yeah, I took this road and I've been on it for a while.
When we're not doing regular tour dates, playing colleges and festivals is really where we focus. We're no strangers to the outdoor hippie festival. It's sort of what we do when we're not doing our other jobs I guess.
Q: When did you start making music?
I started writing music when I was nine. I remember the year 1991; I'd been writing music and playing piano since I was a little kid. I got my first amp in high school around 1996 or so, I've sort of been doing it ever since. I did theater and stuff in high school, starting out trying to find the stage I can get onto and sing and perform. I did this battle of the bands when I was a sophomore back in California. [It was the] first time I thought 'maybe I'll take these songs, set them in a band environment and see how they come out.' And the rest is history.
Q: Do you have a favorite song to play?
It sort of changes, it depends on what the song of the moment is sometimes. You know if you have a record out and you have a single going, a lot of times it'll be a single at the time, but usually, it just depends on the energy of the crowd, you know, certain songs will connect with certain audiences. We just got back from Europe and strangely there are certain songs that triggered more with the audience in Europe than they did in the States and vice versa. Usually at the end of the show we'll have our favorites from the night.
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