swim for the music that saves you
November 23, 2008
Oh my god.
Why did it take me so long to see Andrew McMahon play a show?
Yes, I know a lot of his music. Yes, I worked the project while I was at Warner. Yes, everyone told me how awesome he was. I wanted to see a show, but those didn't happen to often in the South.
Well, it finally happened on Friday night. It was a last minute. I feel like most good things happen last minute. Always keep your options open for as long as possible - it let's you take the best one.
Andrew McMahon and the concert attendees embodied the perfect fan/artist relationship. This is going to sound a little bit cheesy, but I truly felt loved as a fan and audience member at both shows I attended (yes, it was so good that I Craigslisted some tickets for the Saturday night show because I was that inspired). He would smile and look into the audience like he was in genuinely in love - and I that think he was. You can't fake that, no matter how hard you try.
When he played us "Caves" and needed somebody to listen, everyone stood silently and listened very intently. When we wanted to dance and sing, he played us a song from "Everything in Transit" that made everyone there smile and sing along. Nobody persistently harassed him to play Konstantine because we respected him and knew that he didn't want to play it. He threw in a few SoCo songs because he knew it would make the long time fans feel nostaglic and special. He showed us that we were important to him, and we showed him that he was important to us. It was truly the perfect, loving, fan/artist relationship.
I can't wait to see another show like this. It was absolutely phenomenal. Not to mention the fact that Andrew McMahon rocks out on the piano like a maniac. He was SO FUCKING GOOD. It's hard to be that entertaining while you're playing a giant instrument, but he pulled it off so well. He sounded AWESOME too. Amazing entertainer. Amazing musician. Amazing artist.
Not only that, but an amazing person too. Heather just sent this to me and I can't believe that's the person I saw on stage tonight. Wow.
Alright - I will stop being a crazy person who is WAY behind on the music curve. Good night everyone :)
Heather Sorrenty said:
Great blog. And I think if I say anything more on what I think about Andrew or the band people will think I am crazy and have gone overboard! haha - but that's one amazing person right there..and I totally agree about the "feeling loved" at the show, I got that too. 
Caroline said:
i respect and love that man like a crazy. 
Jade said:
i need to stop reading this blog before i blow my christmas shopping money running around the country to small fob shows! 
Lauren Eberle said:
oh god i remember how hard i cried when i saw that video for the first time. i'm so glad you got to see him, he is so dreamy and such a fantastic artist. ANDREW MCMAHON FOR TOL '09. 
Emma Chirapongse said:
it's so rare to have that feeling at concerts now a days. that's awesome you got to experience that.... two nights in a row! 
Carmen Khoo said:
Yes! Andrew McMahon is <3. 
Adele Connolly said:
i've only heard radical things about his show at the gramercy.... i heard it was up there with butch :)
he was good with paramore but i feel like he took it to a whole other level with this, yes? 
