ARTIST: City And Colour.
VENUE: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds.
REVIEW BY: Tom Bailey.
WHEN touring with Alexisonfire, Dallas Green was used to much bigger venues, having recently headlined Leeds Met back in November.
However, the Brudenell Social Club is the perfect setting for his acoustic solo project City And Colour.
Like the band, the venue radiates character despite its quirks and peculiarities. The relaxed mix of standing and seating is certainly unique, helping to create a much more friendly and intimate atmosphere.
On support duty tonight, Attack In Black offer up a tasty half-hour or so of their folk tainted rock. An impressive outing with much promise for the future.
Opening with Forgive Me, City And Colour’s set is very much a game of two halves; the first seeing Green backed by Attack In Black.
Concentrating on latest release Bring Me Your Love, it’s nice to see tracks such as The Death of Me and Waiting delivered with the extra oomph that they perhaps lack on record.
On to the second half and with the departure of his backing band ,this is where Green really comes into his own. Body In A Box shines, with Green showing off his Dylan-esque harmonica skills, as do covers of Neil Diamond’s Love Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and a superb acoustic version of Alexisonfire’s Boiled Frogs.
Even in-between songs, he has the audience captivated, with whimsical ramblings concerning everything from Every Time I Die ringtones to the pointlessness of encores, subtly passing time whilst he meticulously tunes his guitar.
For me, the line “You don’t have to be quiet while I’m tuning, it shows up on my pedal” wins comedy moment of the night.
Throw in a few past glories such as Sam Malone, Sometimes (I Wish) and an encore of Coming Home and what you’re left with is what I can only describe as the closest you can get to a perfect gig; wonderfully personal and honest, while still managing to entertain all in attendance.
Although my new-found love for Brudenell Social Club does earn partial credit, there’s no denying the talent of Dallas Green, as a singer, as a songwriter and as a guitarist.
If wasn’t for the fact that Alexisonfire happen to be one of the most exciting rock acts out there, you’d begrudge them for keeping Green to themselves.
With the news that Green is “almost certain” Alexisonfire will be playing Reading and Leeds this year – and if not will at least be returning with City and Colour – the night ends triumphantly. Exceptional.
