City and Colour - Massey Hall, February 10, 2012

I was never really a fan of Alexisonfire.... but I liked Dallas Green.  I appreciate that as an alternative band, adding a second vocalist in addition to Dallas provided a really interesting sound layering.   I get that...but I didn't care for it.  You had Dallas, who had a great voice that could belt it out, and then you had "the screamer".  Without all that hair ball expelling sounding yelliness, Alexisonfire had a great deal of potential to be a favorite of mine, but even though they weren't, I always felt that Dallas Green was the real deal.  So when he embarked on a solo project along the singer songwriter folksy type vibe, I was intrigued, and ultimately enamored.  It just seemed like such a complete turn-around.  (I love musicians who take a risk...and I truly feel, that going from hard core alternative rock band to acoustic songwriter type artist where the fan base is usually miles apart and generally fickle could have been a wee bit risky).  But evidently, the risk paid off and took hold - City and Colour booked two sold out shows at Massey Hall and we snagged tickets to the Friday night show (marking our first concert outing, and visit to Massey Hall, of 2012!  Yay!)

Opening the show was The Low Anthem, a band from Rhode Island.  Jakki and I have seen them (and liked them) before actually - they opened for Ray LaMontagne way back in 2009.  They were enjoyable.... uniquely so.  Rootsy, folksy, quirky.  Lots of different types of instruments....the lead singer played a saw at one point.   (that's right!  A saw!)

City and Colour took the stage starting out with an almost country version of "We Found Each Other in the Dark".  I love this song...but I could have done without the "twang".  I wasn't sure what to expect for this show (was half expecting Dallas Green with a guitar, solo on stage, all acoustic like), but there was a full band in tow.  And it seems it took them a few songs to get themselves warmed up and in sync.  For the 4th tune in "The Grand Optimist", and one of my favorites off the new album, I noticed in particular that the guitarist seemed to be completely "off" and out of pace with Dallas (who you would think they would ALL look to to set the pace...but apparently not).  It almost hurt to listen to.  In addition to that, the flashy (and oh so unnecessary) light show was at the point of sending me into a full on seizure.  (Dudes.... my retinas are still burning!)  I know, I know...complainy right?  But I really wasn't having a good time up to that point.  Even checked my watch.  Admittedly, could have been just some residual crankiness with a "you better impress me" attitude - I'd had a long week, I went in with a headache and we had to wait in line for about 20 minutes just to get a bottle of water...but I'd like to think that my impression of what was happening on stage with an artist I admire wasn't swayed by my personal mood - after all, I was really looking forward to this show.  I stand by my opinion that the band just hadn't found their gel to that point.  (and the sound was shite - could barely hear the vocals and Dallas' guitar was drowned out by the rest of the band).

However, the songs that followed seemed to tighten up a bit.  "Weightless" with full band was the turning point I think...Dallas found his full voice and unleashed it, the band seemed to pull it together, and they all sort of seemed to relax into it and I in turn relaxed into my happy place.  And when the band left the stage and left Dallas solo to play a few tunes for us, I was completely and totally drawn back in.  This was what I paid to see.

My favorite parts were definitely those where he was on stage solo.  The thing is, Dallas Green has one of the purest voices in the business, in my humble opinion.  And when you have a voice that is, without a doubt, the most hauntingly beautiful instrument in the room... you kind of want to hear it without a lot of background noise, you know?  Stripped down, without encumbrance.  He is truly awesome to listen to.  As Jakki said to me post show "sometimes you see a singer gearing up and "going for it" (to hit a vocal range)...but with him, he's already there.  It's effortless".  Indeed.  This solo piece dropped into the show gave us a chance to appreciate his true talent, and to connect with him as he interacted with us.

Prior to "Body in a Box", he made a request to the audience.  He asked us if we could please, just for this one song, stop taking pictures, or tweeting, or videotaping, just for this one, so we could not be working so hard trying to document it to remember it that we miss out on experiencing it. (Nice Dallas Green!).  Was easily my favourite song of the night.  (and there's something about the harmonica/man with a guitar combination that makes me a little weak in the knees.  If that's wrong, I don't wanna be right.)

Thoroughly enjoyed (with full band) "Sorrowing Man" to close out the show.  The band seemed to work out their issues, and there was some cool harmony and was a great exit tune with all laying it on the line.  Was initially thinking the presence of a band would up my chances of getting "Hope for Now" as it kind of needs at least a set of drums to launch into the build halfway through. But no go.

Ultimately, it wasn't a bad show but I'd have preferred it had he ditched the band altogether.

To summarize:

Dallas Green = awesome.
His band - not so much.
MH sound - abysmal.  What's up with that?

Check out the encore performance of "Comin' Home" below - amazing display of what Dallas Green can do with his voice and a guitar..




Set List:

We Found Each Other In the Dark
Sleeping Sickness
The Death of Me
The Grand Optimist
As Much As I Ever Could
Weightless
Day Old Hate
Body In a Box
What Makes A Man?
The Girl
Little Hell
Waiting...
Fragile Bird
Sorrowing Man

Encore

Comin' Home
Sometimes (I Wish)