Something Corporate

Andrew McMahon isn't mad at Jordan anymore. The lead singer and piano player of Dana Point band Something Corporate has all but forgotten about the incident that prompted him to write the band's first single, “If You C Jordan.”

It took a little prodding to get McMahon to even discuss it. He says the song is based on a true story, but denies the rumor that Jordan is now a student at San Diego State University.

“He doesn't go to SDSU-as far as I know,” McMahon says by cell phone on his way to his new place in Temecula. “I'm pretty sure, although I could be wrong.

“I dated a girl that he ended up dating,” McMahon explains, obviously not for the first time. “He was kind of looking for a reason to get angry with me. We got in a fight that almost looked like it was gonna be a fistfight, and I don't really do the whole fistfight thing. At the end of the night I went home and wrote this song.”

Originally the chorus was simply “Fuck you, Jordan,” and the band played it as a joke one night during the middle of their set. They were floored when the crowd gave the song a standing ovation.

“I feel bad that the song is out there at this capacity. It was never meant to get to that level, but it had such an effect on the audience that we were like, ‘This is a little unfair to him, but the audience can relate to it so we're not gonna not play it.'

“We don't play that song out of some sort of revenge. At the end of the day I just look at it as a big joke. I hope he can do the same. I don't use his last name. I've never told anybody who he is.”

McMahon is in the position to be gracious. He and band mates-Josh Partington (lead guitar), William Tell (rhythm guitar), Clutch (bass) and Brian Ireland (drums)-are celebrating their fourth year together. All between the ages of 20 and 22, the guys are having the time of their lives touring with New Found Glory. Their debut album, Leaving Through the Window, is selling well, with two singles in regular rotation on radio stations all over the country.

The list goes on.

Thanks to the Internet, their brand of melodic pop is catching on with young people across the world. They just got back from their first trip to Japan, where they played four shows to rabid fans.

“None of us really knew what to expect,” said McMahon. “It was so culturally different than America. The fans were amazing-they camped out in the lobby of our hotel. They knew our every move. They were at the train station. They were everywhere.”

All this for a band that claims they never even tried to get signed by a record label. Drive Thru Records contacted them, and the label owners actually went to McMahon's house to see them play.

“It was great. We had built a local fan base without really any intention or pretense to pursue a record contract,” McMahon explains. “We had gotten big enough in one area that we thought maybe this could get big somewhere else, too.

“It wasn't like we were out there banging down people's doors. It was a relatively smooth process.”

At first listen, it's pretty obvious that Something Corporate's piano driven, hook-laden tunes would appeal to the masses. McMahon is the first to cop to his band's commercial pop appeal.

“We're getting radio play, but it's definitely something that we're working at,” he says. “There's no denying we write pop songs, but at the same time we make sure that the songs have meaning and are honest.”