86. Kill The Messenger w/ Author Hazel Jacks

Author Hazel Jacks returns to the podcast to kick off our celebration of 20 Years in Transit. We’re trying to manifest an official tour announcement! Hopefully, soon?  Here on the podcast, we’re going to talk about several Jack’s Mannequin songs in the coming months. Hazel chose to start us off with an emotional one. Join us as we make our own meanings of the heavy lyrics, talk about Andrew’s 2005 blog, and touch on other songs of the era as well! We also touch on how this song and others inspire her as she writes and how she incorporates music into her stories. Song Audio: https://youtu.be/vNMAV5uXCLc?si=BxsqEkuJe2nmZWc3 Hazel Jacks’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhazeljacks/ Order “Surf Road” by Hazel Jacks: https://a.co/d/gs5kff9 Piano-only live, 2008: https://youtu.be/7FmGqLkevaM?si=gY5CsqWBpYmrFjdv Live in Columbus, Ohio, 2023: https://youtu.be/icJ6-xzA4LU?si=g41XjLVY0kyGdXuk Andrew’s 2005 blog: https://jacksmannequin.blogs.com/jacksmannequin/2005/03/finally_doing_s.html

Since it's the holiday season, why not a holiday-themed song? Andrew was featured on a holiday track that you may not have heard before with some other familiar names. Learn about how this project came together and why and about Andrew·s involvement with it. Song Audio: https://youtu.be/jDXholWipCM?si=uMz0S1U2J6tdsoBS Must Be Christmas Music Video: https://youtu.be/NIIEmQ0aYjk?si=doEnyd1nhVHBwXOr

This is Part 2 in a 2-part episode: Madelyn, Mike, and I continue our discussion about our Holiday From Real cruise experience. We answer fan-submitted questions about the experience, talk about favorite sets, songs, and moments, and we even give our suggestions about what could make this cruise even better! Plus, our predictions for 2026! Holiday From Real shared fan playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4WZOFaYjXmB0zDrRsVjrKb0zIVUg0U2h&jct=9HVR9eVIxTG3RZH2TRhmZA Steve’s HFR videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_KsnmAMJngRR1jq_rPAy-fGij49-psX

Mike and Madelyn join the show to tell us about their Holiday From Real cruise experience! Three people who had three different experiences on the boat discuss some favorite moments, unique experiences, and of course the live music! This is part 1 of a 2-part episode. Holiday From Real shared fan playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4WZOFaYjXmB0zDrRsVjrKb0zIVUg0U2h&jct=9HVR9eVIxTG3RZH2TRhmZA Steve’s HFR videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_KsnmAMJngRR1jq_rPAy-fGij49-psX

Former guests Kristin, Kyle, and Rachel join Sam from the Pub Trivia Podcast for a night of Andrew-themed trivia! We are raising money for the Dear Jack Foundation in this episode. Please feel free to hit the link in the show notes if you'd like to make your own donation before 11/15 and help us raise money to help support young adults and adolescents with a cancer diagnosis. Play along with our contestants and find out who the Most Knowledgeable Andrew McFan is this year! Thank you once again to Sam from the Pub Trivia Podcast for putting together this game for us to raise money for DJF! Donate to Team October's Dear Jack Foundation fundraiser: https://give.dearjackfoundation.org/fundraiser/5672150 Trivia Visual to play along: https://shorturl.at/FJppP Pub Trivia Podcast: https://pubtriviagroup.weebly.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabQ6-5_hrMLR9Y6o-CBMaEwGtTcpbdjvs9E_tndwEz3Up5luDonEWLJxJ8_aem_zT9ZSJ7k1yLt9vnRb3f0qg

Ben, Tommy, and Jesse from Jukebox the Ghost join the podcast to talk about their history as a band, some tour stories, what to expect in their live show, and what they’re looking forward to on the Holiday From Real cruise! You don’t want to miss this one: they’re a fun hang and they’ll give you some pro tips for the cruise. Who was Ben texting with during this recording? And what were they texting about? Listen to find out! YouTube Jukebox The Ghost Starter Pack: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_KsnmAMJngNtcfMNsKjccQQDPX_OYw-&si=4yzcRwCA2gDiBasK or  Spotify Jukebox the Ghost starter pack: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/77NQgybLJtYiEkEskHuZfm?si=fb488b2b8fbd4233 Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxtheghost Listen to their new EP: https://open.spotify.com/album/7qRmvLcvNArr2OV7nBdqIv?si=Uf5CH_jETy6R4HhdYZqhrQ

We’re discussing the second track that brought the Wilderness project together with Something Corporate in preparation for the Out of Office tour. Cindy, who recently arranged and performed a cover of this song with her friend, is our brand new guest to help break down this brand new song! Official Music Video: https://youtu.be/vBM1-SOI_PE?si=k3L918jBt-cj8Ed4 Watch Cindy’s cover of “Happy” on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindycarrierviolin/ Andrew’s piano-only version of “Happy”: https://youtu.be/HlTPl9lwNEo?si=A0Juli5aPnZmNTHt Live in Seattle, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-UdTJ0X5nM Digital Journal article: https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/andrew-mcmahon-of-something-corporate-talks-about-their-new-music/article Hashtag Magazine article: https://hashtagmagazine.net/home/2024/7/26/something-corporate-and-andrew-mcmahon-in-the-wilderness-release-new-single-happy

Who’s ready for a Holiday From Real? We have Sixthman Heather on the show to give us a sneak preview on what to expect on the ship! Get a behind-the-scenes point of view on what it takes to put a party on this scale together and why this may be the vacation of your life. Find out how this event was put together and what to expect when you walk on board. SO MUCH information for you is packed into one episode. Even if you’re not sailing with us, there’s something in this one for everyone! Join the Holiday From Real facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881842096385318 Learn more about the cruise: https://www.holidayfromrealcruise.com/ Andrew on the pool deck, Rock Boat 2021: https://youtu.be/16gAhXQbc60?si=edVjZ22czC5j2Bx6

Hear about my experience at the midwest Out of Office Something Corporate shows! *Warning* Setlist spoilers ahead! Relive the most memorable moments with us and other memories made along the way. “Wait” acoustic in Detroit: https://youtu.be/CWA12UaP_bA?si=u7qAGPuNcd5FIQNf Order the upcoming SoCo livestream livestream on veeps: https://veeps.com/somethingcorporate Donate to the Dear Jack Foundation: https://give.dearjackfoundation.org/fundraiser/5672150

Author and music journalist Mike Damante joins us this episode to talk about his time in the pop punk scene and his perspective of what things looked like from the inside. We talk about a favorite track from the early years, a fun song that we still love to shout out the words to today! Official Music Video: https://youtu.be/DPPX6dZT0Vw?si=0zBvEePqlEa7GMSF Mike’s links: https://linktr.ee/mikedamante (order his books here!) Hey Suburbia! Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xyHjw0fV6hy4Wt1gOB9T7?si=86d2dd29942f4cf3 Alternative Press interview, 2010: https://www.altpress.com/if_you_c_jordan_10_years_later_with_something_corporates_andrew_mcmaho/ From the Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/11/05/andrew-mcmahon-talks-recovery-his-legacy-and-why-he-doesnt-play-konstantine-in-concert/ Live on the Late Late Show by Something Corporate, 2002: https://youtu.be/p7SYWV1LWGo?si=dlALSnf06Vcp_F2P Live by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, 2023: https://youtu.be/2qi36oWXM1Q?si=XOSxKxUv31ApmGxJ