Andrew McMahon Brings Bright Energy and a Forest of Enchantment to Los Angeles

Andrew McMahon stopped at The Wiltern (LA) with the New Friends Tour. (Photo: Nikki Phillips)

Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness‘ New Friends Tour made a magical stop at The Wiltern last week, transforming the venue into a whimsical, wooded campground. The stage was adorned with camping props, twinkling, ambient lights and forest-inspired decor — including a tent which each member entered through upon the show’s opening. The production resembled a cozy forest nestled amongst a campsite accompanied by late-night critter sounds, creating a truly immersive experience for the fans.

The night kicked off with engaging performances by opening acts Wildermiss and Michigander — both highly recommended if you enjoy light, happy indie rock. As the Wilderness band crawled onto stage through the camping tent, the crowd lit up immediately. Andrew is notorious for his charismatic stage presence — and he wasted no time in engaging with the audience. Kicking off with “Nobody Tells You When You’re Young,” he started off the show on the venue floor walking through the audience as he sang. Stopping in each section, he gave fans an experience to remember as he performed up close and personal with everyone before hopping onstage to his beloved piano. Andrew later crowd surfed in an inflatable camouflage boat, singing along as he was carried by a sea of fans throughout the crowd and back to the stage. One of the most remarkable things we love about Andrew is his dedication and inclusivity with his fans at every show — no matter where you stand, it still feels like front row at some point during the performance.

The setlist gave us tons of gems from the newest album, Tilt at the Wind No More. For many in the crowd, these coveted tracks served as personal live debuts and surely did not disappoint. Fans of his earlier projects, Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, were in for real treat. Andrew played a larger-than-expected set of throwback songs that had us all melting in nostalgia. Some of the tracks included: “I Woke Up In a Car,” “Me and the Moon,” and “Hurricane” (Something Corporate) along with “La La Lie,” “I’m Ready,” “The Mixed Tape” and a phenomenal encore featuring “Dark Blue” (Jack’s Mannequin) mashed up with “New Friends” (from Tilt at the Wind No More). As the show concluded, members of Wildermiss and Michigander joined Andrew on stage for a campfire-style curtain call.

The fans’ passion for In The Wilderness and all of Andrew McMahon’s musical projects is something that will always make any show of his feel special no matter how many times you’ve seen him before. From the minute the show started until the last note, The Wiltern was transformed into a sea of smiles, cheers and hands reaching out to touch the magic that unfolded onstage. We highly recommend catching Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness’ New Friends Tour if you get the chance. Check out tour dates here and let us know if you’re planning on attending this tour — we’d love to hear about your experience! Until then, take a peek at our photo gallery featuring some of our favorite moments!