Marianas Trench with guests The Sessions, Lotus Child, and 16MM

Croatian Cultural Centre

Nov 4, 2007

 

After touring across Canada in support of their debut album “Fix Me”, Marianas Trench finally returned home, to play the last show of their tour at Vancouver’s Croatian Cultural Centre.  Local bands 16 MM, Lotus Child and The Sessions rounded out the shows lineup.  The Sessions electronic/dance/pop/rock sound got the crowd engaged, and moving along to the beat; however 16MM and Lotus child failed to capture much attention or generate much of a response from the kids who arrived early enough to catch their performance, which was unfortunate because Louts child’s piano infused pop rock and 16MM’s throwback to electronic dance music, were both really good live, the audience was just not the right demographic, and perhaps they were more interested in finding the members of Marianas Trench who were wondering around the venue.

 

Two and a half hours later, at the sight of MT’s shadows walking onstage, the screams erupted, and when the lights shone down lead Singer Josh Ramsay stood atop a speaker box, with his guitar slung around his shoulders before the band kicked into their first single “Say Anything”. Within seconds after recognizing the track the audience joined in and started singing along. Ramsay buttered up the crowd, remarking the bands been away far too long that he’s forgotten how beautiful they are, to which the audience replied with shouts of “Take off your shirt!”  Ramsay piped back “you first”, before taking a look around at the underage teenage female faces smiling back, he remarked “I’d go to jail if you did”.

 

The bands played all eleven tracks off of “Fix Me” and covered the Beach Boys “Good vibrations”, which showcases a small portion of guitarist Matt Webb on vocals, and an a cappella version of  Billy Joel’s “ And So it Goes” where all four members display  their vocal talents.   Ramsay’s commanding stage presence, in between banter, and high energy captured the audience’s attention and carried the show. Frequently, he’d jump off the stage into the hardwood floor, as kids upfront kept their arms outstretched for a desperate attempt just to touch him. The band as a whole perform like a well oiled machine, able to nail all eleven tracks and perform them as they sound on their album.

 

The band took a moment to reflect on their success and career thus far, explaining how they have come full circle, and how this show at the CCC is so fitting because a few years earlier one of the bands first major shows was opening for Canadian band Hot Hot Heat at this very venue, and now the band has come back to the Croatian, only this time they have become the headliners.

 

The track “Alive Again” spawned a call and response from the audience, as they echoed back the oh-ow oh’s.  Ramsay’s personal favorite, “Skin and Bones” slowed the tempo, as arms flung upwards and waved back and forth. However, it was the bands most successful single “Shaketramp” that received the best reaction. With the piercing high intro, the audience started to sing along, and even reenact the silly dance Ramsay sports throughout the bands music video.

 

One thing that has remained constant throughout Marianas Trench shows is their appreciation for their supporters. Before exiting the stage Ramsay, announced he wanted to “meet every single person here”, as a way of showing the bands thanks because “ you invest so much time in us”, the band wanted to return that favor, and invest time into the people who make it possible for them to survive in the music industry.

 

Since the release of “Fix Me” Marianas Trench have toured endlessly across Canada. Performing their last show for a little while, the band will head into the studio to finish writing and recording their sophomore album, which is rumored for release in the spring of 2008.