Something Corporate

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Something Corporate

Background information
Origin Orange County, California, United States
Genre(s) Alternative rock
Piano rock
Years active 1998–Present
Label(s) Drive-Thru, Geffen
Associated acts Firescape, Jack's Mannequin, William Tell, Streamline
Website SomethingCorporate.com
Members
Andrew McMahon
Josh Partington
Kevin "Clutch" Page
Brian Ireland
Former members
William Tell
Reuben Hernandez

Something Corporate is a piano rock band, hailing from Orange County, California. Although they categorize their music as 'piano rock', they are often associated with 'pop punk' as a result of the subject matter present in their songs. Signing on to Drive-Thru Records, known for their pop-punk bands such as New Found Glory, helped influence their 'pop-punk' image. They are currently signed to Geffen Records.

Contents

[edit] History

In September 1998, vocalist/pianist Andrew McMahon, bassist Kevin "Clutch" Page, and drummer Brian Ireland, former members of the band Left Here, merged with lead guitarist, Josh Partington, and rhythm guitarist, Reuben Hernandez, to form Something Corporate. The band's name is an ironic testament to the members' disdain for "packaged", industry-driven artists. Not only did they believe that music was under corporate control but that the musicians only cared about making money. The band independently released a demo CD titled Ready... Break in September 2000. On March 27, 2001, Something Corporate announced an official change to the band's lineup; Hernandez was permanently replaced by his temporary fill-in, William Tell.

The quintet soon signed with Drive-Thru Records and released the band's official debut effort Audioboxer on October 2, 2001. It was promoted nationwide through tours, in-store performances at Tower Records stores, including an appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn on February 25, 2002. The critically acclaimed EP (featuring the single "If U C Jordan" and its music video starring American Pie's Chris Owen) and a clause in Drive-Thru Records' distribution deal led to a signing with their distributor MCA, which later merged with Geffen Records.

On May 21, 2002, Something Corporate's major label debut album, Leaving Through the Window, was released, containing the singles "I Woke up in a Car" and "Punk Rock Princess". The album hit #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #1 on the Billboard Alternative New Artist chart and #101 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, while "Punk Rock Princess" hit #33 on the UK singles chart. To bridge the gap between Leaving Through the Window and their follow-up album, Something Corporate released a half-hour home video on DVD, titled A Year in the Life on November 5, 2002. Furthermore, the B-sides compilation EP Songs for Silent Movies, only available in Japan, was released on May 21, 2003.

On October 21, 2003, Something Corporate's second full-length record, North, was released and debuted at #24 on the Billboard 200 with 42,000 copies sold. They launched the album with an appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, performing the songs "If U C Jordan" and "Space", which remains the only single from the album. On February 4, 2004, Something Corporate confirmed that William Tell left Something Corporate to pursue a solo career. Bobby "Raw" Anderson, formerly of the band, River City High, replaced Tell as the band's touring guitarist. On May 20, 2004, Something Corporate filmed their concert at the Ventura Theater in Ventura, California. They released the footage as their second home DVD, Live at the Ventura Theater.

In summer 2004, the band grew exhausted from spending years on the road and decided to take a break. The band promised the break would not be a permanent one. During the hiatus, Partington formed the band Firescape and recorded the five song EP Rearden's Conscience in 2005. McMahon went on to release an album entitled Everything in Transit with his side project, Jack's Mannequin on August 23, 2005, a more piano-focused album, featuring Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee on percussion on seven out of the eleven songs. The day he finished recording, McMahon went to the doctor with a sore throat that caused him to lose his voice in the middle of promoting the album. Although he had noticed changes in his health, McMahon did not think the changes were just mere symptoms of exhaustion from relentlessly working to finish Everything In Transit. Soon after the doctor's visit, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The doctor was surprised he was still able to stand, let alone promote the album like he had been. Still, McMahon wanted the debut album to be finished and come out as planned. The very day the album was released, McMahon underwent a stem cell transplant from his older sister, Katie. The transplant was successful and he soon played some small cancer-awareness gigs, including a guest spot on the WB's One Tree Hill, and eventually worked his way up to a summer of 2006 tour with O.A.R. and The Tour for a Cure. On tour, Jack’s Mannequin frequently plays old Something Corporate songs like “21 and Invincible,” “Punk Rock Princess,” “Me and the Moon,” and “The Astronaut.”

On October 14, 2006 the band reunited to perform three songs ("Konstantine", "I Woke Up in a Car" and "Hurricane") as the "special guest" at the Bamboozle Left festival in Pomona, California.

Currently, Something Corporate is in 'suspended animation'. McMahon told the Alternative Press in their January 2008 issue that he is more "nostalgically charged" to make a Something Corporate record than "creatively charged". [1].

In the February 6 interview with Lansing State Journal, Andrew McMahon discusses the future of Something Corporate. The interview states: "As for releasing a full-length with a tour in the classic sense, I don't see that happening. But we're all great friends, and I do see us putting together new material and hitting the road. The fans have been so supportive and such a huge part of our lives that I would feel horrible not to at least give them something."

In an interview with Alternative Press at the 2008 Bamboozle, McMahon said that he would definitely want to play a few shows and potentially record a couple new songs for the band's 10-year anniversary.

[edit] Members

Andrew McMahon at The University of Scranton USPB Spring Concert April 2005, Photo by John Gownley
Andrew McMahon at The University of Scranton USPB Spring Concert April 2005, Photo by John Gownley

[edit] Former members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

[edit] DVDs

[edit] Singles

From Leaving Through the Window:

From North:

  • "Space" (#37 Modern Rock Tracks)

[edit] Non-album tracks

[edit] External links