Andrew McMahon | |
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Andrew McMahon performing in July 2014
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Background information | |
Birth name | Andrew Ross McMahon |
Born |
Concord, Massachusetts, United States |
September 3, 1982
Origin | Dana Point, California, United States |
Genres | Alternative rock, pop punk, indie rock |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, producer |
Instruments | Vocals, piano, guitar |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | Vanguard |
Associated acts | Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness |
Website | andrewmcmahon |
Andrew Ross McMahon (born September 3, 1982) is a singer/songwriter. He was the vocalist, pianist and primary lyricist for the bands Something Corporate and main songwriter for Jack's Mannequin and performs solo both under his own name as well as his moniker, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. On April 30, 2013, he debuted his first solo work, an EP titled The Pop Underground, which was followed by his debut album Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, released on October 14, 2014. His second solo album, Zombies on Broadway, was released on February 10, 2017.
McMahon was born in Concord, Massachusetts. He briefly lived in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey until 1991, when his family moved to Bexley, Ohio where he attended Cassingham Elementary School. McMahon's family relocated frequently due to his father's occupation in retail. McMahon recalls that while he was in fourth grade, they briefly stayed in California to support his mother's family after the loss of her brother. Following the death of his uncle, who was an artist himself, McMahon became inspired to get involved with music and began teaching himself piano soon afterward.
McMahon's family decided to settle in California shortly before he entered eighth grade. He would later describe himself as "a pudgy, outgoing, artistic little kid who never quite fit into the California scene". He graduated from Dana Hills High School in 2000.
McMahon started playing the piano at age 9. The following year, he began performing piano solos before he could even read music. McMahon stated, "my mother was a good player and I started playing by ear. After a year of that, I began writing songs, and found outlets to perform them at school assemblies. Eventually, I got lessons."
McMahon started his first band, Left Here, with his high school friends and future Something Corporate bandmates Kevin "Clutch" Page on bass and Brian Ireland on drums in 1997. Even though they won a local battle of the bands competition, they soon broke up. McMahon went on to record the self-released eponymous four-track demo CD Andrew McMahon with the aid of several friends of his, including guitarist Josh Partington, whom he had met his sophomore year in high school. Joined by rhythm guitarist Reuben Hernandez (who was later replaced by William Tell), the quintet formed the piano rock band Something Corporate in 1998.