Woove staff writer Eva Luton reviews the  October 14 show for Virginia Tech's homecoming.

"I mean, the fact that y'all are still there is amazing!  College shows are usually hard to do, but y'all were great!" shared Jack’s Mannequin front man, Andrew McMahon, when I asked what keeps his highly energetic performances going, after twelve years of playing with Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin.

Jack’s Mannequin played on October 14^th for Virginia Tech’s homecoming event, and I positively loved it.

On that Thursday, Tech students wearing Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin shirts flooded Burruss Hall; each fan anxiously waiting for their chance to finally meet the talented Andrew McMahon. When the doors finally opened, eager alt rock enthusiasts crowded the auditorium, yearning to belt out the tunes they've worshipped for years.

The show kicked off with a bumpy start when Jack's Mannequin’s former bassist "Dr. J" and his side project, Kid Is Qual, took the stage.  With autotune vocals and instrumentals that screamed "generic," Kid Is Qual could not amuse the crowd with their antics.

If you're looking to read a good review from me about Kid Qual, you will not find it. Kid Qual did a number of distasteful things during their performance, including:

. Repping their own band in their own clothing (AKA "QUAL" shirt)

. Bringing an amateur rapper onto the stage just so he could shout an annoyingly

  offbeat "Go! Go! Go!" into the microphone

. Dropping their own band's name in their lyrics

. Talking to the crowd while the microphone was still is in autotune

. Having a rapper with insulting "swagger."  He danced like a flailing kite-man that one

  would find on a car lot

. Telling the audience to fist pump

. Writing their song "Victory" to the tune of "Hickory Dickory Dock"

Kid Is Qual attempted to get the crowd moving with a cover of David Guetta's "Sexy Bitch" but completely messed up by trying to add their own flair at the chorus, "Damn girl!"  The band's distracting cameraman rolled around on stage, making it obvious that Kid is Qual had never played to a crowd this big. I have no doubt that the band will gather a temporary fan base of drunken single women in their 40s at a "Rock Bar."

Indie duo, I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, cleared up any bad feelings about the first act with singer/songwriter Ace Enders' meaningful and emotionally packed lyrics accompanied by epic, building drum beats.  Warm vocals and articulate guitar riffs romantically redolent of Blink-182's "Down" appealed to the nostalgic shoegazers.  Ender's soft, charming voice and ironic humor wooed the ladies in the crowd, and upon announcing the last song, the crowd groaned.  I Can Make a Mess proved to be the perfect opener to get the crowd pumped for Jack's Mannequin.

Singer/pianist Andrew McMahon ran onto the stage with energy that sent a defining roar echoing through Burruss.  Jack's Mannequin, together for six years, kicked off the set with their hit "Holiday From Real" so passionately that anyone could have been fooled into thinking it had been the band’s first performance.   "I'm Ready," Jack’s Mannequin’s inspirational poppy masterpiece, sent the crowd into animated dance frenzy.  Many fanatics lost their voice after heatedly accompanying McMahon in the drawn out chorus. 

Halfway through the sixteen song set, McMahon announced that he'd be playing a slow song that he wrote out of love for his dear and well-played piano, "Hammers and Strings."  His technical accuracy proved McMahon is truly a composing genius; "melodious beauty" describes McMahon’s talent and skill, who survived acute lymphoblastic leukemia several years ago. 

The sweet ode turned into a kinetic party when McMahon suddenly stood on top of his piano and yelled, "Let's get wild!"  after which "Bloodshot" blasted into hungry ears with its hard, heavy beat.  To the crowd’s amusement, McMahon ended the song by stomping on his piano keys.

"MEFO," parts one and two, ended their regular set, but the fans demanded more; and the blaring encouragement of claps and screams brought Jack's Mannequin back onstage for two more songs:  "Swim" and "La La Lie."  It was a perfect ending to a fantastic show.  Every Jack's Mannequin zealot left the concert with a smile on their face and intentions of someday meeting the prodigy behind the music, Andrew McMahon.

If you can ever attend a Jack's Mannequin show, seize the opportunity.  The experience is one that will stick with you because the showmanship and illustrious originality is that which cannot be matched.