June 8, 2025 – Sunday was a perfect night in Philly for a concert. The Fillmore hosted a sold-out show by Jack’s Mannequin—and it was more than just a concert. It was a celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary.
Photos + Article by Steve Cerf ( @SteveCerf )
When Jack’s Mannequin took the stage, everyone in the crowd knew they were in for a treat. From the start of the set, Andrew McMahon was going 110%. Founder, lead singer, and piano-rocking inspiration, McMahon couldn’t sit still on his piano. He commanded the stage with two microphones hanging above him as he swung between both while his hands raced up and down the set of eighty-eight keys—reminiscent of the one and only Jerry Lee Lewis. His energy was contagious, and that was mirrored by his band’s output.
They smashed their way through 110 minutes of hits, perfectly arranged to keep the momentum going. “Bruised” had the fans in mid-air jumps from the start. The band was spot-on, rocking through newer favorites like “Amy, I” and “My Racing Thoughts,” and nailing it on foundations like “Dark Blue” and “The Mixed Tape.” McMahon’s vocals were amazing, particularly on “Hammers and Strings.” “La La Lie” and “The Resolution” were also standout moments that hit hard and stayed with you.
Whirling through the set with an even mixture of tracks from their trio of albums, McMahon’s energy on stage was on par with any performance out there. He laughed, chatted with the audience, and launched into his iconic jumps from the top of his piano. He is a man full of vitality.
What makes a Jack’s Mannequin concert so appealing is McMahon’s candid celebration of simply being on stage—and his gratitude toward his fans. And his life. At 22, he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia and made a beyond-the-odds recovery after a stem cell transplant from his sister. It was this life-altering “second chance” that makes him grateful, every day, to be alive and to perform. Having overcome his cancer, his emotionally driven songs provide hope for others. Not only is Andrew McMahon incredibly inspirational for his battle with leukemia, but ever since, he’s been a man on a mission—to take back every moment cancer stole from him.
Jack’s Mannequin is known for their sing-along chorus and hard-hitting verses with tongue-in-cheek lyrics that leave you in self-analysis. And on this night, they gave everything their fans could’ve hoped for—and then some. It was a sold-out show, just like the rest of McMahon’s 25-date North American tour.
In 2006, McMahon founded the Dear Jack Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful support to adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer—improving quality of life and creating positive health outcomes for patients and their families throughout treatment.
Any size donation helps support this mission. Learn more or contribute at: www.dearjackfoundation.org
