REAX: How would you describe your band, and your sound to someone who may have never heard it before? Which tracks would you recommend listening to first to really get a feel for what “City and Colour” is?
Green: I would have to say that it’s very honest. I always tell people that it’s just me. Sometimes bring in some of my friends, but it’s mostly just me and a guitar. I sing songs that make me sad or make me wonder. At the heart of everything, it is just very honest music. I hope that’s what people find appealing.
My favorite song would have to be “What makes a Man” off of Bring Me Your Love.
REAX: I understand that City and Colour began as a sort of side project for you outside of Alexisonfire. But it seems as though it’s really taken off. How do you feel about the success of this and why the need for something else outside of Alexisonfire?
Green: I’ve been playing music forever. I always have a lot of people who ask me how I started out. Even before Alexisonfire was started, I was just playing locally with my guitar and writing my own music. At the time I just went by Dallas Green. I had done some shotty recordings in a basement that ended up on the Internet. Then I’d always have kids at the Alexisonfire shows who asked about a solo record and who would have versions of these songs. So after a couple of years, I decided I owed them good recordings of these songs. Most of the songs I had written when I was younger, both during and before Alexisonfire. From there City and Colour just became its own thing.
REAX: How do you balance recording and touring with both groups City and Colour and Alexisonfire? Which one comes first?
Green: It has become very difficult lately. At first I would just be doing a few shows with City and Colour when I wasn’t on tour with Alexisonfire. I never thought I’d ever come and play in America because there was just never time to do it. Then as the years have gone by, more and more people have found out about City and Colour, and I feel obligated in a way to play for those people, even though I have absolutely no time for myself.
I’ve never really thought about which one comes first. If I liked one project better than the other, I’d only be doing one. I’m just going to try to balance both Alexisonfire and City and Colour until I have a nervous breakdown.
REAX: You’ve chosen the artist Lissie Maurus as your support on this tour. Why? What do we have to look forward to from her?
Green: Well, when you do a tour, you’ll get submissions from your agency and label about other bands and artists, and that’s how I heard about her. Originally my agency wanted to put me on a long American tour but I am more interested in taking it easy. I chose Lissie because our management groups are good friends and we needed someone who could play across the whole tour. She’s on a great label. I really dug her voice and I like that she puts her own little twist on everything she does.
REAX: What’s the major difference in playing a show in the states versus at home in Canada?
Green: Nowadays with City and Colour, I’ll play really be big venues in Canada. A lot of times I’ll play multiple nights in one city too. I think the greatest part of playing in Canada now is that families will come together to a show. For Alexisonfire, parents will drop their kids off at the show, but for City and Colour, parents will park and come in to see the show as well. You see all walks of life at a City and Colour show now, which is kind of cool. Not too long ago a mother stopped me in a mall and thanked me for making the music I do. She told me that City and Colour is the only music she can listen to with her daughter. It’s interesting to see how it’s bringing kids together with their parents, I guess.
In the states, other than through Alexisonfire fans, I feel like no one has really seen me yet.
REAX: I saw on your Web site that you will be playing a show during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Congrats, but sort of a strange place for a show, isn’t it?
Green: I’m playing as a part of something called the Cultural Olympia, which is a segment of the Olympic organization for music and events outside of the Olympic Games. Throughout the Olympic events they’re having tons of outside shows. Both Alexisonfire and City and Colour are playing. We’re playing at The Orphan Theater, which is one of the most beautiful venues to play in Canada. It’s also great because my wife will be out there, and it’s always good to see her. I don’t see her nearly enough.
REAX: So what’s the future look like for City and Colour?
Green: I’m going to Australia very soon and will come home to play some Canada dates with Alexisonfire. During all of this I’m sure I will be writing too. Usually what happens is during one tour I’ll be writing for the other project. I’m happy to be home for the holidays and take some time to write. Then by the time the tour with Alexisonfire is winding down, I should have a new City and Colour album ready for early 2011.
REAX: What’s your favorite part of playing in Orlando? Is this your first time in Florida with City and Colour?
Green: This will be the first time I will officially play as City and Colour in Orlando. I’ve been there before and played for a couple of kids after an Alexisonfire show. I’m excited to play at the Plaza Theater because I prefer seated venues. Most of the time my shows are very quiet. I mean they can get loud at times, but for the most part it’s a quiet show. I feel like if you put people in seats they tend to stay quiet with you as opposed to screaming and running around. There’s always going to be a few yellers, but the seated venues tend to keep the crazy people underwraps.
REAX: What does Dallas Green do for the holidays?
Green: My wife threw a Christmas party for the band this year. The past couple of years Alexisonfire usually does a series of Christmas shows in Hamilton, Ontario. We took this year off because George just had his first child. Aside from that, we just do the usual stuff. Christmas Eve we spent time in my family’s neck of the woods and Christmas day with my wife’s.
interviewed by: Justine Griffin
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