Emo staples The Early November know how to make an entrance and how to kick off a show, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Once you remember they’re from New Jersey and a former Drive-Thru Records band, you already know they’ve going to be bringing the energy. Maintaining high energy and high spirits throughout their entire set, The Early November are tried-and-true staples for good reason as they effortlessly flowed through their set.
Coming off the back of a new record and celebrating 20 years of music, there’s a lot for The Early November to be excited about. Yes, there’s a ton of nostalgia surrounding them, but their consistent release schedule over the years, combined with staying active on the road, has created longevity through their passionate, emotional music and performances, fostering a strong sense of community and dedication from their fans.
One of the best live performers from the early 2000s to mid-2010s emo scene, Andrew McMahon, as a solo artist, is top-tier talent, so being lucky enough to see him perform under the name of one of his most iconic projects is an extra special treat. Originally forming as a solo project next to Something Corporate, Jack’s Mannequin would grow into its own following the release of 2004’s Everything in Transit. A new, but still familiar, sound and direction for Andrew McMahon, Jack’s Mannequin allowed him to swim into new waters as an artist, allowing for more experimentation and a more therapeutic approach to songwriting, resulting in more interpersonal and intimate songs. Jack’s Mannequin would continue to grow into the eventual emo staples they are now, following the release of two more full-length albums, but seemingly at the top of their game, McMahon would put an end to Jack’s Mannequin in 2012 … or at least we thought.
While they did a small batch of reunion gigs in honor of the 10th anniversary of Everything in Transit, nothing permanent or huge came out of it. It wasn’t until last year that we finally saw some real serious activity come out of the JM camp, featuring an appearance at When We Were Young Fest, and now a massive 20th anniversary headlining tour. Performing to their largest crowd ever, from the moment they hit the stage to the last, the energy didn’t die down once from either the crowd or from JM. For most people in attendance, it’s been years since they last saw JM; for many others, it was actually their first time. Hittin’ all the big moments with tracks like “The Mixed Tape”, “Dark Blue”, “La La Lie”, “Bruised”, and more, JM didn’t leave anything out of this massive anniversary party.
I’ve been able to catch Andre McMahon on his solo runs and sadly missed Something Corporate last year at Riot Fest, so I already knew the passion and energy he brings to his performances. Watching him perform within this context, he seemed to have a different level of energy to him throughout the night as they delivered an intimate, emotional night driven by emotional, nostalgia, and memorable moments. Most important and impressive was the love and long-time dedication from fans. On full display throughout the night, it didn’t matter if you were an OG fan from the MySpace days or even a post-breakup fan, the love and appreciation were a two-way street that night.
Jack’s Mannequin
The Early November
