Something Corporate
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Laguna Niguel, California, United States |
| Headquarters | Laguna Niguel , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Something Corporate—often abbreviated as SoCo—is a rock band originating from Laguna Niguel, California, formed in 1998. The group currently consists of lead vocalist and pianist Andrew McMahon, guitarists Josh Partington and William Tell, bassist Kevin Page, and drummer Brian Ireland.
Following their formation, Something Corporate independently produced demo recordings compiled into the album Ready... Break. They later signed with MCA Records but released their debut EP, Audioboxer, via Drive-Thru Records. Their most notable single, "If You C Jordan," reached number 29 on the Alternative Songs chart. Their first major-label album, Leaving Through the Window (2002), entered the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart at number one and peaked at 101 on the Billboard 200.
In 2004, the band went on hiatus and ended their recording agreements. During this break, McMahon found success with his side project Jack's Mannequin. Something Corporate briefly reunited in October 2006 for a short performance during a Jack's Mannequin show. They officially announced a reunion tour in December 2009 for 2010 and released a greatest hits compilation. By August 2010, McMahon revealed that the band had sold over one million records across a decade. On September 9, 2022, Something Corporate performed an unexpected show at House of Blues in Anaheim, California to celebrate McMahon’s 40th birthday.
The band reassembled its core members to play at the When We Were Young Festival in 2023 and headlined a concert at House of Blues Las Vegas. They also hosted New Year's Eve performances in Anaheim on December 30 and 31, 2023, with plans for a summer 2024 tour that includes appearances on Andrew McMahon's Holiday from Real Cruise scheduled for November 2024.
Formation and early releases (1998–2002)
Andrew McMahon met Brian Ireland during high school, and after Ireland acquired a drum kit, they formed a band named Left Here alongside bassist Kevin "Clutch" Page to compete in a Battle of the Bands event. Although they won the contest, the group disbanded shortly after. In September 1998, McMahon, Page, and Ireland joined forces with lead guitarist Josh Partington and rhythm guitarist Reuben Hernandez to establish Something Corporate. McMahon committed to pursuing music professionally, supported by his parents who encouraged him to apply to college if the band did not succeed within a year. Due to being underage, the band faced challenges booking shows and primarily performed at parties and competitions while sharing an apartment where much of their early songwriting took place.
Their goal was to perform at the local venue Coach House, owned by Gary Folgner, who initially declined but eventually financed their debut album after witnessing their live performance. The band recorded and independently released Ready... Break in November 2000. In March 2001, Hernandez left to attend college and was replaced by William Tell. Something Corporate signed deals with MCA Records and Drive-Thru Records before releasing their official debut EP Audioboxer (2001). To promote the EP, they embarked on national tours, performed in-store at Tower Records locations, and appeared on television’s The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn in February 2002. The EP included the single "iF yoU C Jordan," whose music video featured Chris Owen from American Pie.
Debut album and follow-up (2002–2004)
In May 2002, Something Corporate launched their first major label album, Leaving Through the Window, which included singles such as "I Woke Up in a Car" and "Punk Rock Princess". The record reached the top position on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and climbed to number 101 on the Billboard 200. Later that year, in November, they released a 30-minute DVD titled A Year in the Life alongside a Japan-exclusive B-sides EP called Songs for Silent Movies.
Their sophomore album, North, was released in October 2003 and debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200. To promote the album, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing "If You C Jordan" along with the single "Space". In February 2004, guitarist William Tell departed to focus on his solo career and was succeeded by Bobby "Raw" Anderson from River City High. Lead vocalist Andrew McMahon contributed drums, programming, and backing vocals to Tell’s debut solo project, You Can Hold Me Down, and also joined him on tour. On May 20, 2004, Something Corporate recorded a live show at Ventura Theater in California; this performance was later issued as their second DVD, Live at the Ventura Theater, released in November and supported by a short college tour.
Hiatus (2004–2009)
After an intense touring schedule by mid-2004, Something Corporate decided to pause activities to concentrate on individual endeavors, clarifying that this was not a disbandment. Early in 2005, they toured across the U.S. alongside Straylight Run, Hidden in Plain View, The Academy Is..., and Armor for Sleep. During this break, McMahon initiated his side project Jack's Mannequin, releasing Everything in Transit in August 2005; shortly after recording this album, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia but has since achieved remission. Jack's Mannequin’s subsequent release, The Glass Passenger (2008), debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, surpassing the chart performance of Something Corporate.
Other band members explored new paths: Partington formed Firescape and produced both an EP and a full-length album; Ireland became drummer and songwriter for Louisiana-based Streamline before establishing Live Oak Revue in 2011.
In December 2005, Something Corporate announced intentions to regroup for rehearsals and to begin work on a third studio album. By mid-2006, McMahon suggested that touring might recommence in early to mid-2007 following completion of Jack's Mannequin’s second album. The band briefly reunited in October 2006 for a three-song set at the Bamboozle Left festival. By late 2007, McMahon described Something Corporate as being in "suspended animation," expressing more sentimentality than motivation to create new music.
In February 2009, McMahon indicated that although a conventional full-length album and tour seemed improbable, the band planned to produce fresh material and perform live occasionally to support their loyal fanbase.
Reunions (2010, 2016, 2022–current)
On December 3, 2009, Something Corporate announced shows at Bamboozle Left Festival in Anaheim, California (March 28, 2010), Bamboozle Right in East Rutherford, New Jersey (May 1), and Bamboozle Chicago (May 15). In February 2010, Andrew McMahon revealed plans for a greatest hits compilation featuring re-recorded tracks from their unreleased "Galaxy Sessions" album. Produced by Adam Young of Owl City, this included a remix of "I Woke Up in a Car". The collection titled Played in Space: The Best of Something Corporate was released on April 27, 2010. The band also announced an August 2010 Reunion Tour but entered another hiatus by August 2011.
On November 11, 2016, Something Corporate reunited for a special performance at the Seventh Annual Dear Jack Benefit held in Santa Ana, California.
In September 2022, during the final show of Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness' Hello Gone Days tour in Anaheim, the core lineup of Something Corporate surprised fans with a five-song reunion set.
In 2023, Something Corporate appeared at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas and headlined a House of Blues concert—their first headlining show featuring the original lineup in nearly two decades. This reunion commemorated the twentieth anniversary of their album North, which was reissued alongside additional reunion performances scheduled for December 30 and 31 in Anaheim. The band also played at Austin City Limits Music Festival on October 5, 2024. Additional appearances are planned for November 2024 as part of the inaugural Andrew McMahon's Holiday from Real Cruise, showcasing all three of McMahon’s projects: Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin, and Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness.
Musical style
Jason Birchmeier, a biographer from AllMusic, characterized the group's music as "refined, articulate, and crafted for mainstream alternative rock radio." The albums Leaving Through the Window and North are frequently identified within the pop punk genre.
Band members
- Current lineup
- Andrew McMahon – lead vocals, piano (1998–2006, 2010, 2023–present)
- Josh Partington – lead guitar, backing vocals (1998–2006, 2010, 2023–present)
- Kevin "Clutch" Page – bass guitar (1998–2006, 2010, 2023–present)
- Brian Ireland – drums, percussion (1998–2006, 2010, 2023–present)
- William Tell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2001–2004, 2023–present)
- Past members
- Reuben Hernandez – rhythm guitar (1998–2001)
- Bobby "Raw" Anderson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2004–2006, 2010)
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Highest chart rankings | Sales figures | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | FRA | UK | UK Rock | |||||||||
| Ready... Break |
|
— | — | — | — | |||||||
| Leaving Through the Window |
|
101 | 138 | — | 38 |
| ||||||
| North |
|
24 | — | 152 | 14 |
| ||||||
| "—" indicates the album did not chart. | ||||||||||||
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart position | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Heatseekers | ||||||||||||
| Audioboxer |
|
27 | ||||||||||
| Songs for Silent Movies |
|
— | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not enter the charts. | ||||||||||||
Compilations
| Compilation Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | ||||||||||||
| Played in Space: The Best of Something Corporate | 155 | |||||||||||
| Icon |
|
— | ||||||||||
| A dash ("—") indicates the release did not enter the charts. | ||||||||||||
Live and video albums
| Album Title | Details |
|---|---|
| A Year in the Life | |
| Live at the Ventura Theater |
|
| Fillmore Theatre – November 5, 2003 |
|
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Rankings | Associated Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Alternative |
SCO |
UK |
UK Rock | |||
| "If You C Jordan" | 2002 | 29 | 94 | 68 | 12 | Leaving Through the Window |
| "Hurricane" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I Woke Up in a Car" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Forget December" | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Punk Rock Princess" | 2003 | — | 37 | 33 | 3 | Leaving Through the Window |
| "Space" | 37 | — | — | — | North | |
| "Ruthless" | 2004 | — | — | — | — | |
Non-album tracks and unreleased material
- Galaxy Sessions (2001)
- "Just Like a Woman", a cover of Bob Dylan – featured on Listen to Bob Dylan: A Tribute (2005)
References
Citations
Sources
External links
- Articles with short description
- Indie rock musical groups from California
- Geffen Records artists
- Drive-Thru Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1998
- Musical groups disestablished in 2006
- Musical groups reestablished in 2010
- Musical groups disestablished in 2010
- Musical groups from Orange County, California
- American musical quartets
- American punk rock groups