Thrice, Jack’s Mannequin make big plans for fall

Jul 19, 2011 Music Avenue

Its hardly as though Thrice and Jacks Mannequin have been inactive lately a year doesnt go by that one or the other (or usually both) are found playing live in their home county. Yet both groups, among the most successful to emerge from O.C. in the past decade, have big plans for fall.

Last month, Thrice announced a Sept. 20 release date for its next album, Major/Minor, the bands seventh work, assuming you count the separately released halves of The Alchemy Index as a complete exploration into new atmospheres. Assisting with this new production is Dave Schiffman, who mixed the artistic breakthrough Beggars (2009), the bands most fully realized music so far, and engineered Vheissu (2005).

Its definitely the most natural progression from record to record that weve had in a while, explains lead singer Dustin Kensrue (second from right). We did The Alchemy Index, which was totally different (from Vheissu). Then Beggars was kind of the reaction against that. This kind of makes sense coming out of Beggars, but its definitely a different record. (You can see videos about the making of the disc on Thrices official site.)

We already know the guys are slated to help relaunch the renovated Yost Theater in downtown Santa Ana on Aug. 13. But now comes word that they will return to House of Blues Anaheim for two shows later in the year, Nov. 9-10. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1. Prices: $20.50 in advance, $23.50 day of show, $15.30 if purchased in four packs. Balcony stools will go for $32.50 a pop, while pew seats will sell for $47.50.

Meanwhile, Jacks Mannequin, the domain of former Something Corporate singer-songwriter Andrew McMahon (left, at Coachella in April), announced details today about its third album, People and Things, slated for an Oct. 4 release from Sire Records.

First single My Racing Thoughts is currently streaming on the bands website. The album becomes available for pre-order starting Aug. 2, the same day the song goes on sale via iTunes. The new track will be provided as an instant download for anyone who purchases the album in advance.

Says McMahon about his latest collection: I consider People and Things a relationship record. My goal with many of the songs was to strip away the flowery language and sentiment attached to newer love and replace it with starker, less blinded language about more binding love.

In the time following the last Jacks album (The Glass Passenger, 2008), the people in my world were moving in together, getting married, trying to find quote unquote real jobs and reconciling new lives that looked a lot less like youth than some of us cared for. Marriage is a bit of a beast to tackle in a pop record, but when I wrote My Racing Thoughts, it became clear how powerful and loaded a subject this kind of love is, and somewhere in that moment I began to lock into the broad concept for the writing sessions to come.

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