After over a decade of music, B.C. band still knows how to rock
Marianas Trench proved that they are not just a band of the past on Sat, Jan. 28, as they played to a nearly sold-out Sleeman Centre full of screaming fans. The Guelph show was the first show of the second leg of their Last Crusade tour.
The concert opened with Kitchener-born band Courage My Love. Lead singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Mercedes Arn-Horn commanded the stage as the pop-punk trio got the crowd energized with songs like “Stereo” and “Kerosene.”
Next up on stage was pop-soul singer Shawn Hook from Nelson, B.C. Hook bounced around the stage, changing back and forth from piano to guitar seamlessly. He convinced the crowd to stand up as he played fan favourites “Relapse,” “Million Ways,” and “Sound of Your Heart.”
Hook repeatedly told the audience that this was going to be the best concert anyone had attended so far in 2017.A show of hands revealed that this was most people’s first show of 2017, so it wasn’t a highly contested accomplishment.
Hook loved every second up on stage; “It’s amazing, this has honestly been the biggest show of the tour and it’s exceeding my expectations. It’s a lot of fun,” he said in an interview with The Ontarion.
As the lights dimmed, Marianas Trench arrived in a cloud of smoke, opening with their newest album’s title song “Astoria.” Lead singer Josh Ramsay held nothing back as he hit every high note while showing off his falsetto.
Ramsay, wearing tight black leather pants and nothing but a little black vest on top, immediately began to fly around the stage in a diva-like fashion. Ramsay’s energy remained intense throughout the show as he managed to pose for selfies, banter with the crowd, and sing almost simultaneously.
The band belted out some old classics early in the show, playing “Celebrity Status” and “All to Myself.”
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At one point, Ramsay addressed the crowd claiming that there are four types of people who attend their shows: “There’s the excited-to-be-here, having-a-great-time people. You get the guy-sitting-down-because-he’s-obviously-just-here-because-his-girlfriend-wanted-to-come. Don’t worry, I see that you’re not having fun,” he said laughing. “You get the people who are really into it, like really into it. And then there’s always one or two people who look at you like they want to wear your skin as a suit. I haven’t found you yet—today—and here’s hoping you don’t find me.”
Later in the show, Ramsay called out lead guitarist Matt Webb as being the fan who wanted to wear his skin as a suit.
Although his falsetto never faltered, one could tell that Ramsay was struggling with his voice throughout the show. Before playing an acoustic version of “One Love” at a piano in the sound booth at the back of the venue, Ramsay admitted to fighting a cold and needing the help of the audience and his band mates to sing some of the stronger vocals.
In the second half of the show, Webb helped his friend out by singing the choruses for most of the songs. The change-up in the vocals showed professionalism and didn’t affect the tone of the show at all.
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The band’s harmonies remained on point with bass player Mike Ayley and drummer Ian Casselman joining in as well.
Marianas Trench played a good mixture of their old hits, mixed with songs from their new album. Ramsay showed his cheeky side as he danced to “This Means War” and “Shut Up and Kiss Me” from Astoria.
“Pop 101” was another crowd favourite where Ramsay improvised at the end of the song, yelling out “It’s Britney, bitch!” The band then transitioned nicely into a touching performance of “Who Do You Love,” a song centered around lead-singer Ramsay’s struggles with anorexia and bulimia. He commented before the song saying, “That’s what makes me a professional—segues right?”
The band disappeared briefly from the stage after an epic guitar solo performed by Webb and his guitar tech. The break didn’t last long as Ramsay reappeared in a solo spotlight, singing a beautiful rendition of “Good to You.”
In an array of lights and a cloud of smoke, they closed the night with their song “End of an Era.”
Marianas Trench celebrated their tenth year as a band in 2016 and proved at this show that a decade together has made them stronger.
Please note, the set was finished with their album closer “End of an Era” and NOT the opener “Astoria.” Although they sound similar at times, they are in fact differently. Please edit this article to include the proper information. Thanks