Vancouver based pop band Marianas Trench took their time to record their latest CD “Astoria.”
It was a good thing too.
Frontman Josh Ramsay was going through some serious personal issues including a deteriorating relationship with his fiancé and his mother being diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia, a debilitating, fast acting cross between Parkinsons’ and Alzheimer’s.
Ramsay’s band mates Mike Ayley, Matt Webb and Ian Casselman took some time to do other projects and focus on themselves.
“We gave him his space and tried to give him as much support as we could and didn’t think too much about the business ” said bassist Mike Ayley, who had a few situations of his own to settle during that time.
“I think Matt released a solo project. And I just moved (during the break) and tried to progress further as a musician. To be honest, we did a tour of Australia and New Zealand and I really screwed up my back, so it took six months before I could do anything. I was in rehabilitation mode. Now I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. But even if we released an album then, I don’t think I could have done it. I’m still not jumping off the drum riser, but I put a lot of energy into my performance,” he said, adding the two-year-long recording process was very informal.
“We turned Josh’s living room into a recording studio. So we could just come in and hang out and work,” he said.
The CD, which was released in October, featured several special guests including David Genn who plays with 54-40 and used to play with the Matthew Good Band. Plus the Odds’ Craig Northey and Roger Joseph Manning of one of Ramsay’s favourite bands Jellyfish.
“Jellyfish were a big influence on Josh and us. But we had tons of people on the CD. It was very cool to have him there. He added a lot of creative flair,” he said.
“Some of the busier people, we set up a time with them and said we‘d have their parts ready. Other people just stopped by,” he said.
“It was definitely the most enjoyable album recording process I’ve ever done.
He said it is way too early to think about new music.
He said he can’t remember the details of the band’s last show at the Enmax.
“It all blurs together. We get off the bus and check into the hotel, then there’s meet and greets and interviews and we play the show and go back to the hotel and get back on the bus in the morning,” he related.
“Astoria” has a strong ’80s influence. Not only is it inspired by ’80s coming of age movies like the Goonies.
“We love the ’80s. We wanted to do something other people aren’t doing now. There’s the Top Gun soundtrack and the Eurythmics and Tears For Fears,” he said adding Toto was also a big influence on some of the songs.
“Absolutely. There’s lots of big vocals and drums,” he said adding to enhance the ’80s feel of the album, they used vintage equipment that would have been used in that era.
“We used computers, which we record with now, but we used a lot of vintage ’80s equipment like drums and mixing console and all of the things that had that classic ’80s sound.
“We surrounded ourselves with ’80s equipment. I used a ’68 Fender Telecaster bass I borrowed from a friend. I ended up buying my own which was exactly the same but in better shape, though it is pretty beaten up now,” he said.
“I can’t wait to do this tour and play these new songs. It’s been too long,” he said, noting their last Lethbridge visit was in 2012 in support of “Ever After.”
The band will be playing 18 shows in five weeks all over Canada as well as a few in the United States.
“This is going to be our biggest Canadian tour. There’s more production, more people and more shows,” he said, adding he doesn’t want to spoil the surprise by revealing the details of the show.
“ I’ll be wearing a lot of cool pants,” he said adding the other band members will also be wearing cool pants.
“I sure hope so, otherwise I’ll be pretty embarrassed,” he laughed.
Marianas Trench, Walk Off The Earth and Kieran Mercer play the Enmax Centre,Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $47.50-$79.50.
A version of this story appears in the March 16, 2016 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
