The boys of Something Corporate value their fans, and they like to strike melancholy poses on the beach

Credit: Andrew popik

Straylight Run joins Something Corporate at the House of Blues on Tuesday.

Credit: Andrew popik

“I’d be in law school,” former political science major, and current guitarist/songwriter for Something Corporate, Josh Partington said of what he would be doing if his band didn’t exist.

Luckily for him, he doesn’t have to worry about that possibility right now, as Something Corporate’s future looks bright.

The band is currently in the middle of a month-long tour spanning the United States.

“Part of the reason we’re doing this tour,” Partington said, “(is that) we owed it to our fans.”

Something Corporate last toured the United States in May of last year. After this tour is over, the group is taking some time off so that Partington and lead singer/pianist Andrew McMahon can work on their respective solo albums.

Partington stressed that the group is not breaking up.

“(McMahon) and I both write a lot,” he said. “If I had a real problem with him, I’d be in hell.”

The two have been friends since high school, where Something Corporate formed six years ago.

The band makes its stop in Cleveland on Jan. 25 at the House of Blues. The other bands on the bill are Straylight Run, The Academy Is and Hidden In Plain View.

“There’s nothing better than going to a show and feeling like you’re getting your money’s worth,” Partington said of what should be a stellar line-up.

Before leaving southern California (the band hails from Orange County) they had to get everything ready to go. This included rehearsing every day, getting all of the gear together and making arrangements for transportation and hotels. Partington described the process as “extremely boring.”

Once out on tour, however, things start to pick up.

A typical day on tour consists of “waking up…sound check…doing press…interacting with fans,” all of which is done before the show even starts. Afterwards, the band will sometimes hang out with fans, or even go clubbing, Partington said.

Partington stresses that their fans are important to the band. “We owe everything to the fans. It’s them that is making this possible,” he said. “We try to have as much contact with fans as possible.”

“You’ll never see a band that is huge and doesn’t have any fans,” he added.

While setting up for a show involves a lot of work and a lot of people, Partington admitted that it’s “not so hard for the band.” As Something Corporate gained popularity and became a feature band on the Drive-Thru label, their set up crew also grew.

During the month-long tour, the band will have few days off, but they will make use of what little time they do have.

“We’ll do laundry and catch up on sleep,” Partington said. “It’s a day of rest.”

He also said that the band likes going out on the town, but that the places they spend their off days usually don’t have a lot to do.

“Days off are in the middle of nowhere,” Partington chuckled. “(Like) Podunk, Louisiana.”

Something Corporate’s brand of music comes from its members’ diverse interests in music.

While McMahon draws inspiration and influence from the Counting Crows and Billy Joel, other members listen to the Beatles or Stevie Wonder.

“I’m kind of the odd man out,” Partington said. “I was the hard rock guy.”

Partington’s favorite bands include Metallica and Pantera. He was saddened and disappointed by the death of former Pantera guitarist, “Dimebag” Darrell Abott. But the tragedy doesn’t worry him that the same thing might happen to him.

“The guy was crazy…it’s not likely,” he said. “My mom worried about it, though.”

Something Corporate is currently on the road pleasing its fans with its unique blend of pop-punk and piano ballads. After Partington and McMahon finish with their solo albums, the band will head into the studio to record, and hopefully release, their third full-length album by the end of the year.

Contact Pop Arts writer Seth Roy at [email protected]