SOMETHING CORPORATE

Soon To Experience The Hoosier Cornfields…

SOMETHING CORPORATE

by  Corine Jurgerson

Last March I pitched a story idea to BEAT editor Tom Lounges about featuring a band called Something Corporate.  I had been following the band for a few months by that time, after having the fortunate experience of seeing their opening set for Good Charlotte at the Aragon Ballroom in September 2003. 

I had never heard or seen anything quite like the show which they put on that night: the music was a rockin’ mix of piano and guitars, fronted by a mop-haired blonde guy with an amazing voice and the ability to play the piano a la Beethoven. 

I ended up leaving that Good Charlotte show early that evening, bored by the headlining band, but intrigued for the first time by an opening act –– five guys from Orange County, California that actually performed for the audience. 

Lounges ended up biting on the story, and I interviewed guitar player/songwriter Josh Partington via telephone for the April 2004 issue.  At that time the band had a strong Chicago fan base of diehards that had been coming out to see the band since their humble beginnings in 2000.  They’d played their own headlining shows at area clubs and word-of-mouth was beginning to spread. 

My instincts told me Something Corporate were going to be something big.

Almost one year later, I find myself coming “full circle”, writing about the band again. 

Sitting next to Josh Partington in the band’s dressing room at the Metro before the second of two recent sold-out Chicago shows, I realized what it was about this band that I found so striking the evening that I first saw them hit the stage: it’s their passion. 

Whether they’re playing an endless string of sold-out shows, working on side projects or simply hanging out with fans, their passion and energy is unstoppable. 

Over the past year, the guys parted ways with longtime guitarist William Tell, performed headlining tours in the United States, filmed and released a live concert DVD, appeared at the much buzzed about Warped Reunion date and jetted off to Australia for two weeks to visit their fans “down under”. 

Then, little was heard from them as they took a little time off to relax and regroup.

“It was the first time that we’ve had a summer off in like four years,” Partington explained. A relentless touring schedule consumed the band since the release of their EP, Audio Boxer in 2001.  But even in their “off time”, at least half of the band was still working on music.  No, they weren’t recording a new Something Corporate album (despite the rumors buzzing around the Internet), but were actually working on side projects. 

Singer Andrew McMahon has been fronting a band called Jack’s Mannequin on the side, while Partington crosses over to leading Firescape.  Both bands are buzz-worthy and generating chatter on the rock scene.  For a taste of their sound, pick up the latest Drive-Thru Records/Pure Volume Compilation Disc, which features both bands. 

But don’t worry; these side projects do not foreshadow a Corporate meltdown. If anything, the guys are more excited than ever to be back on the road.  “When you do something so much that you really like, it becomes like a job.  You just start getting consistently tired, because you just don’t have any time to stop.  I think we all know now that we want to be in this band, we don’t have to be in this band,” Partington mused.

The show at the Metro the night of my interview with Partington was unbelievable in many ways. Fans still packed the venue despite the blizzard that covered Chicagoland, and the band fed off of that energy. 

A certain “feeling” lingered in the air amongst the sea of kids on the floor, and everyone knew something awesome was happening.  Maybe it was the music, it could have just been the presence of the guys.  But the fact that so many people endured treacherous weather just to see this band perform speaks for itself. 

Clearly enjoying the opportunity to perform for such enthusiastic fans, Partington expressed his feelings on touring and the fans:  “It’s great. It’s what we do for a living. We’re a band. We play! It’s the greatest part of getting to do what we do. What else would we do, sit at home?  Touring is the one thing that no one else can mess up for us.  If we suck its because we suck. It’s not because someone else didn’t do their job. That’s how we want to be known. As that band who have great songs, but when people come to see us its an experience.” 

Coming up in the months ahead?  You guessed it, more touring.  The band will do several college dates, including Valparaiso University on April 10th. 

After that, they’ve budgeted time to play a few dates on the 2005 Warped Tour, although as of press time it looks as though they will all be East Coast performances and will not be coming through the Midwest.  After that, Partington alluded to more promotion for he and McMahon’s side projects, but nothing set in stone. 

 Keep your ears open as these talented musicians continue to cause a stir on the scene – they are truly remarkable.

Something Corporate perform April 10 at

Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana  

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