Little River Band Lady

Jack's Mannequin hits the road as fans await new album

While changes in technology have made recording an album cheaper and faster, the wheels of a major label can still turn slowly. And for musicians stuck while commerce catches up to creativity, it's like “awaiting trial,” jokes Andrew McMahon , vocalist and pianist for Jack's Mannequin.

He's itching to release the band's new album, “People and Things.” The band hasn't had a new album since 2008; even the stopgap “Dear Jack EP” is from late 2009.

“Look, I just want to know if people are going to like it or not,” McMahon said.

Formed in 2004, the quartet, which headlines a four-band bill Saturday at Backstage Live, was initially a side project for McMahon, then frontman for Something Corporate. Jack's Mannequin has released two albums, 2005's “Everything in Transit” and 2008's “The Glass Passenger.” In between, Something Corporate went on hiatus and McMahon survived acute lymphatic leukemia; he has since formed the Dear Jack Foundation to support young adults diagnosed with cancer.

The band tends toward billowy ballads and pop-rock anthems driven by McMahon's piano, and singles such as “Resolution” and “Swim” can hook even unbelievers. Live, McMahon's expressive face and searching, emotive voice seem to compensate for being restrained by the piano.

While McMahon said previous albums were arranged piece by piece in the studio — he calls it “building it in the speakers” — the forthcoming “People and Things” was rehearsed and arranged to have more of a live feel. He said he's also pulling the piano back from the forefront at times, treating it like any another instrument. The album features several songs penned by Reliant K's Matt Thiessen .

Although “People and Things” is expected later this year, McMahon is reluctant to give an exact release date. A sneak peek at the new songs is just one reason to catch the band's tour Saturday, which also features Steel Train, Lady Danville and River James.

Fans seem just as excited to hear the older songs, according to a video posted on the band's YouTube channel last month, titled “Who Is Seeing Jack's Mannequin?”

The video is a compilation of clips from a half-dozen fans talking about what they're looking forward to on the tour — young women who talk about relating to particular songs and one guy who just seems a little too into it.

Seated in front of a Jack's Mannequin poster, “Tom” talks about how he's rearranging his schedule to catch not one, but three shows.

Little River Band kicks off Blast - NUJournal.com | News, Sports ...

NEW ULM - Little River Band, an Australian rock group famous for hits in the '70s and '80s, returned Thursday to the Brown County Fairgrounds in New Ulm to perform another packed concert.

The band, which had hit songs like "Lady," "Cool Change" and "Lonesome Loser," performed in New Ulm last year as part of its 35th anniversary tour. The 2010 concert and Thursday's event kicked off Bavarian Blast.

Amy Furth, Bavarian Blast board member, said the band was excited to return to New Ulm.

"They said they loved playing here. They said we were one of the most interactive and enthusiastic crowds they have played for," said Furth. "When we called them again for this year, they were very enthusiastic."

The opening act was performed by the band Kicker, which is comprised of some members of last year's opening band Van Gogh's Ear.

Furth also said that the hope is that the musical event will start a tradition of hosting a concert the day before the Blast begins, with more variety in performers each year.

"Our goal is to have an event that makes the community come out. If Bavarian Blast isn't your thing, then maybe you could do this," said Furth, "We ended up having Little River Band again because they were the best value for the time slot. But, we will be doing other bands in the future."

She said that one fun, unique aspect of the concert is that it brings out a higher concentration of New Ulm residents then the Blast, which draws people from all over.

Although it acts as a kick-off event, the concert is not formally part of Bavarian Blast. The concession stands will be operated by Blast members, but the revenues will go to fund next year's Blast. The ticket revenues will be used to cover the expense of bringing the band to town.

Furth said that last year's Little River Band concert drew more than 1,300 people.

(Josh Moniz can be e-mailed at jmoniz@nujournal.

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