Something Corporate to bring free rock to Covel

By Anthony Bromberg
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The big wheel keeps on turning, and another band gets churned
through the corporate machine. Or in this case, the Something
Corporate machine.

The band Something Corporate will be bringing rock music to UCLA
this week with a free show Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Covel
Commons’ Grand Horizon Ballroom, put on by UCLAradio.com. The band also has further
shows in Los Angeles, as well as a KROQ bowling extravaganza this
Sunday.

Something Corporate is another band from the Orange County scene
that has found some commercial success, including an appearance on
the “Orange County” soundtrack.

However, there is an energy surrounding the band’s career
right now that seems to hold them apart from other run-of-the-mill
pop punk bands.

Part of that distinctness has to do with the use of the piano as
a driving instrument, which creates a different sound.

“A lot of people say it’s a Billy Joel meets Weezer
thing,” said Andrew McMahon, the group’s vocalist and
pianist.

McMahon is joined by Brian Ireland, Clutch, and Josh Harrington
to create Something Corporate. They have been together for three
years, and knew each other through school before that. According to
McMahon, the band quickly turned them into best friends.

Part of what has identified the band with the Southern
California punk scene is its relationship with the Drive Thru
label. Though the label is best known for its punk roots, Something
Corporate saw something indie about it that made it feel like the
right place to be.

“It’s great to be on a record label that
doesn’t say, “˜We don’t like this demo make
another one,'” McMahon said.

This has allowed bandmembers the artistic freedom to make music
that connects to their youthful fan base, which consists largely of
high school and college students. McMahon cites the college crowd
with being largely responsible for promoting them through word of
mouth and online music trading.

Something Corporate has divided its time between the studio and
the road for the last six months. During November and December the
band made the trip cross-country twice, according to McMahon.
Despite the band’s youth they seem to have the rock
‘n’ roll lifestyle well in tow, as McMahon says that
most of their road stories are too X-rated to talk about.

“We’re not Limp Bizkit or anything, but we end up
running ourselves into predicaments,” McMahon said.

Their youth on a whole, McMahon feels, has opened more doors for
the band.

“I’m sure we’re not going to get a Jim Beam
sponsorship or anything, but then it really doesn’t
matter,” McMahon said.

The name Something Corporate originated as a joke McMahon made
when talking to a friend about bands who care more about selling
records than loving the music. The phrase stuck out and when it
came time to name his new band, he used it with little significance
in mind.

Recently, the band has gotten heavy radio airplay with the
single “If You C Jordan” on KROQ. Sales of its E.P.
have since skyrocketed in Los Angeles, and the band is looking
forward to completing its new album.

“Really my goal is to make the best first record we can
make, and sell a lot of records,” McMahon said. “I want
a lot of homes to have our CD.”