Something Corporate at The Stone Pony Summer Stage [photos/review]

The sun was shining in the New Jersey beachside town of Asbury Park, which happens to be the home of some of New Jersey’s best venues. The Stone Pony, its most legendary, boasts an outdoor summer venue fitting up to 4,500 people.

Something Corporate, composed of members Andrew McMahon, Josh Partington, Clutch, William Tell, and Brian Ireland, finally reunited after 20 years. On their Out of the Office tour, the band has been packing venues everywhere they go. The demand for this tour has been monumentally high, with many fans unable to score tickets. For those who did, this night promised to be a special one.

Around 5pm, an hour before doors opened, a large group of fans meandered outside the Asbury Hotel. On this tour, Something Corporate launched band-themed happy hours for fans to meet and mingle prior to the show. On occasion, the band themselves have made appearances, such as that of the happy hour taking place before New York City’s sold-out show at Pier 17’s rooftop. However, this time, there was one key difference: fans were hoping to spot an ice cream truck. Gathering close together, like sleuths frantically seeking clues to close a case, fans debated what might be occurring. Some saw an Instagram story denoting ice cream, while others, who hadn’t seen the story, were convinced it wasn’t true.

But all of the fans agreed on one thing: Something Corporate’s lead singer, Andrew McMahon, on this very day, is 19 years cancer-free, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the band did something special in celebration.

A little later, it was clear the ice cream truck-leaning fans proved correct. One of the band’s most popular songs, “Punk Rock Princess,” off 2002’s debut LP, Leaving Through the Window, began playing down the street, repackaged as an ice cream truck jingle (as would many others throughout the length of its stay).

As it pulled up, William Tell, Brian Ireland, and Andrew McMahon leaned out the truck’s windows, waving the fans over. A bit hesitant at first, the group then descended on the truck with the band’s encouragement, cell phones at the ready. There were brief instructions: streaming the band’s excellent new track, “Happy,” would get you free ice cream. However, it was obvious that everyone there, long-time devotees of the band, had already done so.

The three Something Corporate men began handing out ice cream, and for the fans in the back, throwing ice pops into their eagerly awaiting hands. They also took selfies with all the fans who asked, conversing and spending time with everyone before pulling away to the venue down the block, leaving the crowd immensely “Happy.”

Beginning the show was Zac Clark, who also plays in Something Corporate. With a set from Hidden in Plain View following, the crowd was treated to another act in the ‘00s who are also reuniting. By the time Something Corporate took the stage, the sky had dimmed along with the stage lights. Opening with “I Woke Up in a Car” another hit off Leaving, the wait was finally over and the crowd erupted into wild joy.

One of the best parts of a Something Corporate concert is McMahon’s showmanship. An animated performer, he often steps out from behind the piano for the more driving songs, walking, and at times running, the length of the stage and holding out the mic for the crowd to sing along. During “Only Ashes,” off 2003’s North, McMahon plunged into the audience. Sitting on the shoulders of one who looked to be a security guard or crew member, he belted it out as he was walked through the middle of the crowd, delighting the fans assembled.

There were two poignant moments of the night. The first was the round of applause McMahon was given by the band and crowd for beating cancer and keeping up that fight for the last 19 years. McMahon explained how happy he was to be alive, and how momentous and emotional this day was. This provided a sobering reminder in-between all the fun, an instructive lesson to cherish every moment in life as best as one can. McMahon also gives back with his Dear Jack foundation, raising money and seeking bone marrow donors, matching them with those suffering and in need.

The other, though paling in comparison, was an acoustic version of “Wait,” off 2001’s unreleased Galaxy Sessions, later appearing as a reworked bonus track on North. Partington, guitarist and songwriter alongside McMahon, Tell, and McMahon himself took positions at the front of the stage, singing the slow ballad amidst a hush. In addition, the crowd was also treated to a surprise as the band covered Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

Ending the set was Something Corporate’s first hit track, “If You C Jordan,” off their 2001 EP, Audioboxer, and later, on Leaving. An exhilarating, head-thrashing performance of sheer power, McMahon jumped on the keys, leading the audience through the song. After jumping off the piano as high as possible, Something Corporate left it all on the stage. The wait begins for another reunion.

Find more photos from the Happy Hour and show, along with the setlist, posted below.

Happy Hour: