Why You Should Know The Dear Jack Foundation If You Don't
Andrew McMahon welcoming a SOLD OUT crowd to the 10th Annual Dear Jack Benefit Show,
The 10th annual Dear Jack Benefit Show took place on the same date as in previous years: November 11th. This year it happened at the place that started it all: El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles.
The Dear Jack Foundation was started in July 2006 by Andrew McMahon, lead singer of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, who now performs solo under Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness. After he battled Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and was cured, he decided to initiate change and help provide a voice for young adults and adolescents who have been diagnosed with Cancer. The Dear Jack Foundation focuses on patient outreach and wellness programs that allows them to empower patients and survivors.
In the past few years, the Dear Jack Foundation has done the Dear Jack Challenge that kicks off in the summer and ends on 11/11, the same night of the annual Dear Jack Benefit show. The Dear Jack Challenge started in 2015, when Andrew celebrated 10 years of being cancer free. In the first year, the challenge was to raise $72k and as the years have gone by, the goal has increased and this year’s goal was $300k. It was surpassed on November 11th.
As expected, this year’s show sold out quickly and as expected, I ran into several friends and even met friends in person that I have been talking to online for years. One of the greatest things about being a fan of Andrew’s music is the community. It seems like anyone who I’ve met and have become friends have all been affected by Cancer whether they have lost someone or have been diagnosed with it. This connection is what keeps this community strong and brings the crowd out every year.
The night started off with Andrew and his wife, Kelly, welcoming everyone at the show and thanking everyone for attending and for being part of this year’s fundraiser. The first performer to take the stage was Zac Clark who also has been performing with Andrew for the last few years. It so happened that this night would also be the last time he would perform with him. While it was bittersweet, Zac delivered a performance that was loved by everyone. It was a great way kick off a special evening.
Butch Walker took the stage next and also shared stories and experiences of how Cancer has affected him. He talked about how Andrew’s performance at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles last year influenced him to write new music, which he performed that night. Anyone that doesn’t know Butch Walker…please do yourself a favor and check out his music. Personally, I feel he’s underrated. As Butch delivered tunes and also some comedy, the crowd anticipated Andrew’s performance.
What’s different about the Dear Jack Benefit show when comparing it to Andrew’s normal shows is that there’s time made for Dear Jack recipients, whether they’re talked about or they’re invited to the stage to talk about their experience. This year, Jose and Steven were invited to come to the event and were given the opportunity to talk about their experience with Cancer. As a young couple dealing with Cancer, they spoke about how the Dear Jack Foundation has helped them out. Hearing them share their story had people in tears. That’s what this community is. We have all been affected by Cancer. As they got off the stage, you can tell that it was going to be a super special performance by Andrew and company for everyone.
Andrew performed the first two songs alone. Early on, Butch Walker was invited to the stage and join Andrew for “Paper Rain”. Immediately following that song, the band played a fan favorite, “Konstantine”. This song is a staple in the Drive-Thru Records and early 2000s pop punk days and is an absolute treat for anyone who gets to hear it live as it’s a song that only gets played once a year and that’s the annual benefit show. With more than one musical project under his belt, it seems like it gets hard for Andrew and his band to create a setlist as the discographies grow. Hearing a combination of Something Corporate, Jack’s Mannequin, and Andrew McMahon songs is an experience and it’s a unique one because it brings people together from different backgrounds. That could be the case because the sound has slightly changed over the years and AMITW has gone off to play festivals and open up for different types of artists. Throughout the night we got to hear songs from different eras of Andrew’s career. Songs included “Fire Escape”, “The Mixed Tape”, “Swim”, “I Woke Up In A Car”, and more. Andrew even threw a Cyndi Lauper cover and played “Time After Time”. As the night came to an end, the crowd was reminded of the great job everyone did, from the Dear Jack team to the teams that raised money for this year’s Dear Jack Challenge to the team registering bone marrow donors at the show.
With the benefit show happening in different parts of the country over the years, it was truly awesome to have the 10th annual show where it first happened. Here’s to ten more years of the Dear Jack Foundation and ten more Dear Jack Benefit Shows. -JL
To learn more about the Dear Jack Foundation and how you can help, you can head over to dearjackfoundation.org.
