City and Colour

Mon 8th Aug, 2011 in Features

City and Colour is now officially a full time gig for Dallas Green following the confirmation that Alexisonfire have split. Green’s co-vocalist in Alexisonfire George Pettit made the announcement on the weekend admitting that the split wasn’t “amicable” but that it was “probably necessary”.

Pettit wrote that “Almost a year ago, Dallas informed us he would be leaving after we finished our Old Crows/Young Cardinals tour cycle. Trying to balance his life between touring with us and at the same time quelling the success of City and Colour was a task too difficult to continue managing. He informed us he wanted to focus his efforts on City and Colour.
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FL caught up with Dallas Green just after the release of his new City and Colour record – Little Hell – to chat about his bands and trying to keep both of them running side by side.

What exactly is the ‘Little Hell’ referred to in the album title?
The title refers to my outlook on life in a way. I feel that it is all about the “little hells” that we go through. It’s how we deal with those trials and tribulations that build our character and make us who we are.

The video for Fragile Bird is so dark and sexy. Is this an indication of a new musical direction for City and Colour?
I think I’ve just always wanted to do a video that was a little different than what people would expect from me. Why should the hip hop guys be the only ones with babes in their videos! I don’t think it means I’m going to start only writing dark and sexy songs though. Just something I was feeling.

In the past you’ve said that you don’t want to make people dance with your music, but to cry (in a good way), which has been characteristically City and Colour on the last two albums. However, you’ve then gone on to recant that statement, and songs like Fragile Bird resulted. Have people been dancing as you debut the new songs onstage?
Some people have been dancing, which is great! I guess I was in a mood when I said that about people crying. Haha.

How was your recent Australian tour?
It was one of the most gratifying experiences I have ever had as a musician. It’s no secret that I love Australia, for some reason I just seem to have an intense connection with the people who are listening.

Have you been to Australia enough now that you’ve found some favourite haunts to visit while here?
I usually just like to go on walks around the hotel and venue and see what new things I can find. I’ve recently been getting into 2 great Australian clothing companies, Vanishing Elephant and Whillas and Gunn.

Both Alexisonfire and City and Colour have built a strong and loyal fanbase here in Australia over the years. When you first picked up a guitar at age 15, is this where you saw yourself 15 years later?
When I was young and was beginning to write songs, I always hoped that people would listen. I never dreamed that people from all over the world would one day fall in love with songs I was writing in my parents basement.

City and Colour is on full force in terms of touring and festival appearances in the next few months. Does this usually mean that Alexisonfire is put on the backburner when you’re away busy with this?
Due to prior obligations, I’ve never had the chance to really extensively tour a City and Colour record. But this time I am. I feel very strongly about these songs and I feel like I owe it to the people who have been supporting me to come and play for them. So that’s where I’m at right now.

City and Colour draw a very different crowd to an Alexis show. Does it concern you that the ‘sideproject’ has grown so much in its own right as a major act that it may possibly cause you to be too busy for both?
I guess its just a matter of “cross that bridge when I get there”. For the past 6 years I’ve been doing both and yes, it is getting more and more difficult to continue that way. But at the risk of my sanity and physical well being, I’m trying my best!

Personally, is it more enjoyable to do a City and Colour or an Alexisonfire show?
It’s completely different. It’s like asking a parent if they like their son better than their daughter.

Sometimes features songs you wrote when you were a teenager. Some artists find it hard or even embarrassing to revisit songs from when they were younger. Does this apply to your relationship with your music?
Yes and no. Sometimes you fall out of love with songs and there are definitely ones that I don’t enjoy playing any longer. But, I like to take old songs and spruce them up a bit and breathe new life into them.

People fall in love with City and Colour usually because of your voice and the delivery of your songs. Lyrically, how do you feel your songwriting has developed as you’ve gotten older and wiser?
When I first started, I was focused on writing about the sort of “woe is me” heartbreak material that I was listening to a lot as well as experiencing. But, as I’ve grown I’ve began to approach it differently. Whether it’s a song about my sister, or how I feel about the idea of a funeral, I feel I’ve learned how to analyze and express it more concisely.

What particular issues do you feel are most important to sing about today, being such a revered singer-songwriter as yourself?
I’ve always just written from firsthand experience. Whether it be about something that has happened to me or something I’m writing about from an observatory angle, it always comes from an emotional perspective. But, I feel as if i write these personal songs in a relatable enough fashion that people can draw from their own lives and identify with them.