Marianas Trench impresses more than just the bitches from the Georgia Straight

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      At the Pacific Coliseum on Friday, April 12

      Even if Marianas Trench’s live show hadn’t revolved around a fairy tale full of porcelain princesses, wicked queens, and a toy-soldier brigade, the Vancouver band’s homecoming stand at the Pacific Coliseum on Friday would still have been a dream come true for the band and fans alike.

      The teenage screamers came out in full-force straight away as Vancouver’s Anami Vice opened the night with a bubblegum-snapping collection of pop-rap tracks. The MC happily bared some skin on the tellingly-titled “Take Your Shirt Off.” Blonde-locked, gym-socked hypeman Kevvy Mental, meanwhile, busted out goofy, Fly Girls dance moves throughout the set before singing his own Fake Shark Real Zombie’s mutated-pop single “Paint It Gold”.

      Toronto’s dementedly upbeat rap-rock crew Down With Webster rushed out on stage with bass booms blaring and logo-adorned flags waving full tilt. “We came to turn it up! We came to get the party started!” vocalist Martin "Bucky" Seja shouted as streamer-bombs were launched out in the crowd.

      While Seja and fellow MC Cam Hunter kept things kinetic by playfully dropping soft-core verses and bouncing into elastic-ankled bump-and-grinds, the extended solo section from drummer Marty Martino seemed unnecessary. Even so, his introduction of Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” triggered a Pavlovian freak-out at the Pacific Coliseum once he let the producer’s beat drop. Twice.

      The cinematic video clip which introduced the toy-rebellion storyline of Marianas Trench’s latest LP, Ever After, was over-the-top. Things were ratcheted up even further when singer-guitarist Josh Ramsay was shot out of an oversized jack-in-the-box and then, with the aid of wires, kick-pedaled his way above the crowd like a turquoise-fringed Peter Pan.

      The set-opening album title track was a weirdly bombastic affair, flirting with Disney Princess balladry and Queen-sized arena rock, Ramsay’s R&B-inflected vocal acrobatics soaring above the majestic arrangement. There were plenty of moments that bounced what could have been a pretty standard arena show into much more. Hyper-entertaining touches like a four person drum-off and the use of a local kids choir for "Fallout" most definitely had their charms. On the flipside, when the band played it too straight, like  as on basic radio rocker "Shake Tramp," the magic vanished.

      While the band relied on backing tracks for synth and string flourishes, its multipart harmonies were delivered in the flesh and on-fucking-point. Ramsay’s impressive range was showcased on tracks like “Stutter” and “No Place Like Home”, both of which featured loose-lipped octave runs.

      A midset bro-down had members of the opening acts flooding the stage to goof on Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” but the crowd members were truly whipped into hysteria when Ramsay and the rest of the Trench stripped to their tightie-whities, Risky Business-style, for “Desperate Measures.” Later, the frontman almost started a riot when he paraded around the perimeter of the concert bowl and into the seats to sing “Haven’t Had Enough”; fans almost trampled each other to tug at his Varsity jacket or snap pics on their smart phones.

      Ramsay sprinkled some genuine banter into the evening by detailing the group’s ascent, from his coffee-shop beginnings to band gigs at the Buffalo Club to a “giant amazing show at the Coliseum.” While he sent his love out to the faithful, he broke character briefly to chew out “the bitches from the Georgia Straight,” this due to a review of a Marianas Trench show at the Orpheum a few years back.

      The mood then lightened, obviously, but the good times faded exponentially during an obnoxious harmonica-honking session during the encore.

      Ultimately, it was kind of surreal to plunge that deep into Marianas Trench’s abyss for an evening; eventually, I felt like I had to come back up for air. As Mordecai Richler’s once said (admittedly in regard to free trade and the state of Ontario’s wine at the time): “There is only so much I am prepared to drink for my country.”

      The crowd, on the other hand? Well, every single thrilled fan in the Coliseum was happily lapping it up right until the end. If you've been on board with Marianas Trench since the Buffalo Club days, this hometown hockey-rink-headlining show was most definitely a dream come true.

      Comments

      14 Comments

      Me

      Apr 13, 2013 at 12:24pm

      its about fucking time your shit newspaper gave some credit to this great band

      Steve Newton

      Apr 13, 2013 at 3:23pm

      I agree with the bitches. That band is bloody awful

      AntiNo

      Apr 13, 2013 at 4:37pm

      The only way the Georgia Straight could be good is if Josh Ramsay wrote it

      sherry from Winnipeg

      Apr 13, 2013 at 4:48pm

      The song is called Shake Tramp NOT Tramp Shake!

      -Dramatic Pause- #ItsATrencherThing

      Apr 13, 2013 at 4:52pm

      Marianas Trench deserves what they busted their butts for since 2002. Congratz Josh, Mike, Matt and Ian. I love you guys so much.

      Jessica Schweyer

      Apr 13, 2013 at 6:25pm

      I don't know who it is that said they were bloody awful but, you need to shut it! Not only are each of them talented musician's on the instruments they have chosen to play but, phenomenal vocalists as well. It takes incredible skill to harmonize so beautifully and sing acapella when doing songs like And So It Goes. Marianas Trench NEVER puts on anything less than their heart& souls in a concert!! I have been amazed at the time energy, heart and soul they put out for their fans. I got to meet them in Kitchener on April 2/13 and they are nothing short of humble and kind..it was a fantastic experience I won't forget:):)!!

      Grace

      Apr 13, 2013 at 8:30pm

      Whoever wrote the previous Marianas Trench review was fucking harsh. The show last night was amazing! I had so much fun. From when Anami Vice started, to Down with Webster till the encore- I loved every single minute of that show. I appreciate that this reporter acknowledged their fantastic harmonies. Marianas Trench never fails to put their all into their shows..They are all phenominal vocalists. Marianas Trench, It was nice seeing you again! I hope you play in Vancouver again soon, I will definitely attend.

      Mike Usinger

      Apr 13, 2013 at 8:33pm

      Thank you Sherry from Winnipeg for that catch. Fixed. And, for a whole host of infractions, this is what's going on with Gregory Adams at the moment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFLPn30dvQ

      #imatrencherbecause

      Apr 14, 2013 at 7:28pm

      Finally, someone working for your shit newspaper recognizes what good music is.