Wax Mannequin Destroyed Andy Magoffin's Studio

Hamilton, Ont.'s Wax Mannequin is in the midst of what he has dubbed "an extended, six month long CD launch," has already gigged across Canada (and has another tour already lined up) and recently visited Europe in support of his latest effort, this summer's Saxon.

Although he's still developing his fan base overseas, he enjoys the uninhibited nature of the many people he's encountered there.

"This was my second time in Europe for music," he says. "The first was over last Christmas break.

"I was in Rotterdam [Netherlands] for New Year's Eve and the kids poured onto the streets with oodles of insane fireworks. It was like Canada's Wonderland if you went there to die. Or it was like a movie about a UFO revolution.

"Every year, someone loses an eye or gets a finger blown off and nobody makes a fuss. It's different there. It's more dangerous and more fun. It's my kind of scene."

Although some of its cuts date back to 2003, the bulk of Saxon's material was penned over the last three years. The album was recorded with Andy Magoffin at The House Of Miracles studio in 2007 and 2008. Credited as Black Blood on the disc, the input provided by Wax Mannequin's backing duo of bassist Mark Raymond and percussionist Aidan Campbell helped shaped the eccentric, wonderfully dramatic hybrid of art rock, folk and pop presented.

"Mark, Aidan and I grew to a point where we were really speaking to one another with most of these tunes," Wax Mannequin explains. "We all have very unique styles of playing and Mark and Aidan are insanely talented, so their influence naturally rubs off on the songs. This is especially true on the more complex pieces, where I tended to give them more free reign.

"I try to make records that are texturally and stylistically diverse, but consistent in their melodic and lyrical themes. The songs are all very unique, but I think they fit perfectly together in an inexplicable way.

"Andy Magoffin and I work really well together. He works well with everyone, that's part of his charm, but I think I'm special."

Feeling inspired, Wax Mannequin and Magoffin got creative when making different noises for some of the tracks. Wax Mannequin's favourite moment on Saxon likely caused a bit of a headache for Magoffin.

"Andy and I got very drunk and ripped up the floorboards in his studio to get interesting sounds. Then we passed out, I beneath the mixing console, and Andy in the newly exposed crawlspace under his House Of Miracles. I like the part of the record where you can actually hear Andy waking up in the morning and hitting his head on the floor above him. You can hear it in the song 'Pieces Of Bird.'"

Here are Wax Mannequin's Canadian tour dates:

Oct. 16 St. Catharines, ON @ Merchant Ale House w/ Ford Pier
Oct. 17 Hamilton, ON @ Tapestry w/ Ford Pier
Nov. 6 London, ON @ Black Shire Pub w/ Rae Spoon and Mark Bragg
Nov. 7 Waterloo, ON @ Maxwell's Music House
Nov. 11 Toronto, ON @ The Rivoli w/ Rae Spoon and Mark Bragg
Nov. 12 Windsor, ON @ The Phog Lounge w/ Rae Spoon and Mark Bragg
Nov. 13 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox w/ Rae Spoon and Mark Bragg
Nov. 14 Kingston, ON @ The Mansion w/ Rae Spoon and Mark Bragg
Nov. 16 Peterborough, ON @ The Spill Coffehouse w/ Rae Spoon
Nov. 19 Charlottetown, PEI @ Baba's Lounge w/ Rae Spoon and The
Death Avengers
Nov. 20 Sackville, NB @ George's Roadhouse w/ Rae Spoon
Nov. 21 Halifax, NS @ The Paragon Theatre w/ Rae Spoon and Windom Earle
Nov. 22 Moncton, NB @ The Manhattan w/ Rae Spoon
Nov. 25 Corner Brook, NL @ House Show
Nov. 26 Corner Brook, NL @ Backlott
Nov. 27 St. John's, NL @ The Ship w/ Mark Bragg and Rae Spoon
Nov. 28 St. John's, NL @ CBTG's w/ Rae Spoon and Ye-Yeti
Dec. 3 Fredericton, NB @ Capital
Dec. 4 Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo w/ Rae Spoon and Kara Keith
Dec. 20 Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah w/ Mayor McCa