Andrew McMahon Delivers Landmark “Three Pianos” Concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre [Photos]

Andrew McMahon is a man of many titles; musician, philanthropist, father, husband, and survivor are just a few of them. His 42 years have seen three iterations of a musical career, a cancer diagnosis and survival, the founding of a nonprofit, and the birth of a daughter. To the public, he’s known as the face of the bands Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, as well as his solo moniker, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Those more keyed into his story know of his fight with leukemia at just 22 years old and the subsequent founding of his nonprofit, the Dear Jack Foundation. And those in it for the long haul know him as the boundlessly generous, kind, and selfless individual whose love of music and devotion to his craft have built a village of fans to lift both himself and each other up.

July 23rd, 2025, saw McMahon make history as the first musician at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, to open, direct support, and headline all in one evening. The concert, titled “Three Pianos,” takes its name from McMahon’s 2021 memoir, in which he bares it all; trauma, family, survival and all, told through the eyes of the three pianos that have shaped his career and life. It also marked the first time all three of McMahon’s projects performed together in one night, with all three of the titular pianos on stage. What resulted was not just a sold-out concert up in the mountains but an unspeakably special and sacred celebration of his life and career shared with over 9,500 of his most devoted fans and friends.

The concert began with a set from Jack’s Mannequin, featuring the original lineup of McMahon alongside guitarist Bobby Anderson, bassist Mikey Wagner, and drummer Jay McMillan. The opening track, “The Resolution,” tells a tale of survival in the rawest sense. The defiant lyrics “I’m alive, and I don’t need a witness to know that I survived,” echoing through the mountains, sung back by thousands of fans, were enough to raise goosebumps and bring tears to fans’ eyes right from the start. The rest of the set included staples from the Jack’s Mannequin era (“Holiday From Real,” “The Mixed Tape”) as well as lesser-played live favourites (“Spinning,” “Amy, I”).

The next portion of the evening celebrated McMahon’s most recent iteration, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, featuring the same lineup with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Zac Clark. Though the Wilderness is the most modern of McMahon’s musical endeavours, the last two years have seen him celebrating milestones of his previous two bands, so fans were thrilled to hear some newer songs for the first time in a while.

From the Billy Joel-esque chant of “Love and Great Buildings” to the painfully vulnerable “Little Disaster,” fans were just as tuned in to the new music as they were to songs from over two decades prior. Bandmate Zac Clark, beloved to McMahon’s fans for his iconic facial hair alongside his enchanting voice and ability to make every last fan feel loved and welcomed, stepped in to sing lead for a verse on “Island Radio.” The set closed with a joyous rendition of “Synesthesia,” with McMahon hopping into the audience to dance beneath a rainbow parachute – a party trick that has become a staple of his live shows.

Something Corporate took the stage next, featuring original band members Brian Ireland on drums, William Tell on guitar, Josh Partington on guitar, and Kevin “Clutch” Page on bass, as well as Zac Clark. The original five friends met in high school, and their live performance still exudes the pure joy of a bunch of teenage boys sharing a stage, doing what they love, but now with an additional 20-plus years of experience and maturity to elevate their performance. The singer joked about the irony of performing “Me and the Moon” beneath a moonless night sky. “Hurricane” once again saw the man unable to contain himself to just the stage, jumping through the audience to sing and dance with fans.

Following a short intermission, William Tell and Brian Ireland returned to the stage for a brief set. By popular demand, the duo reprised their cover of Sisqó’s “Thong Song.” The two had performed the cover previously on McMahon’s “Holiday From Real Cruise” back in November, to an overwhelmingly positive reception. They followed with a rendition of Donna Lewis’ “I Love You Always Forever.” Next, they hopped onto a B-stage for acoustic performances of “The Astronaut” and “Swim.”

Lastly, all the musicians hit the stage together for a final hurrah. The “super jam” set included songs from all iterations of McMahon’s career, including Jack’s Mannequin’s “I’m Ready” and “Dark Blue,” Something Corporate’s “Punk Rock Princess” and “Konstantine,” and The Wilderness’ “Fire Escape.” Fans were treated to a special guest when Jason Singer, better known as Michigander, joined the band for “Stars.”

The final two songs of the night were perhaps the most special of all. McMahon’s daughter, Cecilia, joined him to sing “Cecilia and the Satellite,” the first true radio hit of McMahon’s career and the song that launched him to new heights. Finally, various band members brought out their family and friends for “La La Lie” in a celebration of friendship and the love of music that brought everyone in the venue together. McMahon left the stage following heartfelt thanks to his crew as well as all the devoted fans who have given him the platform he is so grateful for.

After over three hours of music, the venue may have started to empty out, but the magic of such a landmark concert followed fans home, many of them having travelled across state or even country lines to be there.

Andrew McMahon (w/ Super Jam, Something Corporate, & Jack's Mannequin) @ Red Rocks Amphitheater on July 23rd, 2025

60 photos