Catchy hooks and beats that you can chew gum to might tempt a hasty conclusion about Vancouver-based band Marianas Trench. Mix that in with the swarms of female teenage fans and an admirable number of all-age shows, and the phrase boy band might inch its way into your psyche. Look closer and you’ll find a group of dedicated and fun-loving musicians who draw inspiration from a variety of epic aural figures.
With a variety of large cities and small towns on the tour schedule, no venue is too far removed or obscure for these Canadians.
“We went to the Yukon and everyone was so excited, because they don’t get a lot of shows up there,” says guitarist Matt Webb.
Marianas Trench have had very little time to relax since the release of their 2006 album, Fix Me. While the close quarters of a touring band could prove to be the ultimate frustration, Marianas Trench seem to leave their frustrations backstage, finding unconventional ways to de-stress.
“Being in a van together all the time gets kind of hard, so we like to do things like play paint ball, throw daggers and sumo wrestle,” Webb laughs.
Their love for danger and excitement translates to a stage act chock full of high-octane kicks and wiley dance moves, and has lead to a few mishaps and injuries along the way.
“We hurt ourselves all the time,” says Webb. “Josh [Ramsay] is walking with a limp right now and Mike [Ayley] has a plate in his back.
With their second album release, Masterpiece Theatre, Marianas Trench show just how much they bring to the musical table. A variety of legendary producers lent their talents in recording the album, who previously worked with such chart toppers as Marilyn Manson, Sum 41, Our Lady Peace, and Iggy Pop.
“Raine Maida was interesting to work with because he’s all about the energy and the vibe,” Webb says. “With him, it’s not about going in the studio and recording over and over again until it’s perfect.”
Blending pop, rock and harmonic melodies, Masterpiece Theatre is the result of numerous contributors and months of hard work. While the journey may have been long, the end result makes the album appear seamless and effortless, With run times of up to seven minutes, tracks like “Masterpiece Theater I, II, and III” demonstrate the innate musical talent of the band .
“When we were in the studio, we were like, ‘How the hell are we going to do this live?,” Webb says. “But it took a lot of hard work and talent, and if you come to our shows you’ll see that.”