It’s been said before, by me and likely many others, that Andrew McMahon has the ability to make every show feel special. I’ve had the privilege of attending some truly remarkable McMahon performances, including his 40th birthday bash, the Tilt at the Wind No More album release show, and The Three Pianos Tour, each carefully curated for a unique experience. However, the Something Corporate New Year’s Eve reunion shows emerged as an event of unparalleled significance, particularly for seasoned pop punk enthusiasts, promising a magic that may never be replicated in our lifetimes.
Driving down to the venue from LA, my anticipation was high, aware of the sizable crowd (1,700 to be exact) and the sold-out status of both shows. What I didn’t expect was the grandeur that awaited us — spotlights guiding us to a massive building draped in Something Corporate banners, lines wrapping around the venue, and a food truck lot offering dinner before the celebration. Orange County seemed delighted to welcome Something Corporate and their fans back, as if it had been too long since they last saw us. Adding to the ambiance, SoCo cocktails were available for purchase and, to my surprise, they were fantastic. My girlfriend Sara and I savored the “She Paints Me Blue” drink and the “Watch The Sky” seltzer brewed by a local Anaheim brewery, declaring them the best drinks we’ve ever had at a concert.
With smiles and excitement permeating the venue, Winona Fighter took the stage as the sole opener of the night. At a nostalgia-driven show like this, where most attendees are focused on reliving the past, it’s uncommon for an opening act to capture attention. Knowing this, I was pleasantly surprised looking around at the attentive faces during the opener’s 45 minute set. Winona Fighter understood the assignment. The power-punk four piece from Nashville ripped through their songs, stopping occasionally to engage in decently-received stage banter. Their covers of “Song 2” and “Dammit” were perfectly pleasant, and the band held high energy while singer Coco exercised remarkable core strength during her many mid-song back arches. They thanked Something Corporate and the crowd for being part of the night, wrapping up their set by 8:45 pm.
By 9:30 pm, as the lights dimmed, the crowd was primed for a night of nostalgic dancing. Something Corporate took the stage, playing five songs, including our cocktail’s namesake “She Paints Me Blue,” before addressing the crowd. What struck me about the night, upon reflection, was how little time McMahon spent talking. While he engaged with the crowd, this show felt even larger than the usual storytelling that often comes with a McMahon show. This one was more about the band and the moment’s that band created with everyone in attendance. There wasn’t much more that needed to be discussed.
That is to say, in this night filled with joy, we were okay with banter being short and sweet. McMahon thanked the audience for not minding a few missed words early on (which I didn’t catch at all), introduced “Ruthless” as a song that got people through breakups, and shared his memories of having his senior prom in the same room we were all standing in. Above all, he, along with the entire band, felt like they were enjoying this moment as much as the crowd was. It was as if 1,700 friends had reunited to sing along to songs that once plagued LiveJournal usernames, AIM away messages, homeroom notebooks, and homemade custom Vans via permanent marker scribbles on their white soles.
The night was a continuous celebration of the ‘scene’ we all experienced in the early 2000’s. Not a single smile disappeared throughout their 21-song set. Laughter erupted during video breaks on the TV screens behind them, showcasing MTV-style interviews of each band member from 20 years ago. Along with McMahon’s LED piano casing occasionally displaying a Drive-Thru Records sticker showcase, the audience was immersed in teenage recollections.
Crowd favorites included SoCo classics such as “Forget December,” “Hurricane” (for which Andrew walked into the crowd), and, of course, “I Woke Up In A Car.” Before playing the latter, Andrew shared a story about a tour they went on before writing their debut album, claiming it was for Van Morrison. At least, that’s what I’m pretty sure I heard and I need someone to confirm this. Whether this is a misheard moment or a hilarious true story, Something Corporate exited the stage following the last note of “I Woke Up In A Car,” building the anticipation for their obvious two-song encore.
Not a word was spoken before the opening piano of the fan-favorite, “Konstantine.” I did lie a bit earlier as this was a moment where smiles faded into tears. It was the perfect rendition of one of their most beautiful songs. We hung on every lyric as if hearing it for the first time, yet sang along the loudest we had all night. The only thing that could break the spell this song put us in was “Punk Rock Princess,” complete with mid-song confetti and balloons, concluding the historic night.
Yes, we were celebrating a new year, and yes, we were celebrating the reunion of a great pop punk band. But it felt like more — a celebration of the music that guided us through the 2000s and beyond. This was a night of gratitude and pure emotion, bidding farewell to 2023 with a pop punk bang. We may all be forgetting December in the coming weeks, but I will not be forgetting this night for years to come. And yes, I’m ending this with a song pun.
Relive your own Something Corporate nostalgia with this playlist!
The Indy Review 