Piano-rock quartet Jack’s Mannequin delivered a rousing resolution to their People and Things Tour on Feb. 11 at the 9:30 club. The band treated fans to an extended concert in celebration of their last show.
Frontman and pianist Andrew McMahon told an ecstatic audience that, although his voice was tired from months of touring, he planned to “push it till the last drop.”
That he did. The impressive 22-song set list featured plenty of old favorites from the band’s beloved 2005 debut album “Everything in Transit,” as well as current tracks from the recently released “People and Things.”
Following the two openers, soul singer Allen Stone and indie-rock trio Jukebox the Ghost, Jack’s Mannequin took the stage early to accommodate the additional songs.
Backed by bassist Mikey “The Kid” Wagner, guitarist Bobby Anderson and drummer Jay McMillan, McMahon opened the show with the band’s current single “Release Me,” followed by their first single “The Mixed Tape.”
The crowd turned up the volume during the defiant “Holiday from Real,” singing and dancing along to the piano-heavy tune.
During the trippy “Bloodshot,” McMahon jumped on top of his piano and instructed the crowd to wave their arms. Popular tracks off “Everything in Transit,” such as “I’m Ready” and “Bruised,” kept up the energy level throughout the night.
Upbeat pop numbers were consistently balanced by poignant ballads like “Hammers and Strings,” the hopeful “Swim” and the sentimental “Casting Lines,” which McMahon said was inspired by a recent reunion with childhood friends. These slowed-down songs showcased McMahon’s on-point vocals and formidable piano skills.
The band closed the show with fan favorite “Dark Blue,” followed by an extended rendition of “Made for Each Other/You Can Breathe.” The last number gave McMahon ample time to thank his band mates and crew before exiting the stage.
After only about a minute of applause, McMahon quickly returned solo and began the encore with the emotional, classically inspired piano ballad “Caves.” McMahon explained he wrote the song while hospitalized with leukemia, a subject that inspired much of the 2008 album “The Glass Passenger.” He dedicated the ballad to a fellow cancer survivor he had met on tour and gave a shout-out to the Dear Jack Foundation, the charity he founded after his battle with cancer.
The opening acts joined Jack’s Mannequin on stage for a fun cover of The Zombies’ “Time of the Season.” For the final encore number, McMahon broke out his harmonica and invited the audience to sing along to “La La Lie,” celebrating the end of the tour through showers of confetti.