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According to his between-song chatter, Dallas Green (aka City and Colour) has trouble convincing American bands that it’s worth the border hassles to play in Canada. But after the warm welcome Canada has given his month-long, cross-country tour with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats, I imagine that at least that one American band will be happy to return. 

With Special Guests

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Ruby Waters

TOUR  KICKS OFF IN VICTORIA, BC ON FEBRUARY 6, 2024

Includes  Performances in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

The Love Still Held Me Near Available Now
Stream/Purchase: HERE

Alexandra Stréliski, Ali Gatie, City and Colour, iskwē, Meghan Patrick and The Dead South announced as performers for The 2020 JUNO Awards Broadcast, live on CBC

Canadian icon Anne Murray to induct Jann Arden into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame

 Tickets to the 49^th annual JUNO Awards on March 15 are available online at ticketmaster.ca

City And Colour brought his A Pill For Loneliness tour to Kingston’s Leon’s Centre and he was welcomed by fans young and old.

The night was started off with a set by Ben Rogers who is signed to Dallas Green’s label, Still Records. Ben’s music is rooted in folk but has elements of country and rock. He looks at his new album as a new beginning so to speak, a re-invention. Jacob Banks came out next with his mixture of soul, R&B and hip hop. Originally from Nigeria and growing up in Alabama, Jacob has been influenced by a little of everything. His music is really not a genre you can put your finger on. One minute you hear hip hop, the next you may be listening something completely different.

Ben Rogers, Leon’s Centre, Kingston. 26-11-19. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jacob Banks. Leon’s Centre, Kingston. 26-11-19. Photo: Ron Pettitt

For City And Colour, I was set to go, not knowing exactly what to expect. Dallas Green is known for his sad, melancholy music so I really had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised! True, many of the songs were about lost love, relationships breaking up and other less than happy events, but at the same time it is music that we can all identify with. I went to the show with an open mind, after all, ten Juno nominations with three wins speaks for itself, right? Dallas explains it saying that he is just more motivated to write when experiencing unhappy events.

City And Colour, Leon’s Centre, Kingston. 26-11-19. Photo: Ron Pettitt

I did find the subjects a little sad and lonely but at the same time very melodic. The writing and presentation of the music keeps you interested. “Northern Blues” in particular had an addictive groove that actually reminded me of Pink Floyd. One thing I did notice is that the crowd was not up dancing for most of the show like so many shows I go to. They sat in their seats and politely listened to the music.

In October, Dallas added a new rhythm section to the family, Anna Ruddick on bass and Leon Power on drums. They fit in nicely with long time guitar player, Dante Schwebel and keyboard player Matt Kelly to make an amazing band! Dallas’ own guitar playing along with some of the smoothest and most relaxing vocals I’ve ever heard made this show a pleasure to experience.

City And Colour, Leon’s Centre, Kingston. 26-11-19. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The overall production was another thing of note. The lighting included five round assemblies of lights over the stage. These units were mobile in that they moved up and down independently of one another and helped to create very different looks for different portions of the show.

Along with some hits like “Fragile Bird” and “Lover Come Back”, they showcased several of the songs from the new album A Pill for Loneliness like “Astronaut”, “Strangers”, “Mountain Of Madness and “Difficult Love”. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was the five song encore that began with a very good cover of The Tragically Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” to pay homage to the hometown band.

I came away from this show such a fan of City and Colour, I went home and downloaded the If I Should Go Before You album (I love “Northern Blues”) and I think I’ve listened to at least a portion of it every day since.

for more information, check out their websites!

Ben Rogers

Jacob Banls

City and Colour

More Photos

Sometimes you need squealing solos, mosh pits and eyebrow scorching pyro. I mean, hey, who doesn’t a bit of that stirred into their Monday night, amiright? But sometimes, yeah sometimes, your chainsaw mangled, steamroller backed over heart just needs the mellow mood vibes provided by Dallas Green’s usual melancholy  City and Colour. Tunes with names like “Difficult Love”, “Lover Come Back” and “We found Each Other in the Dark”…oh yeah, that’s the sentimental sombre saccharine my stung sorrow-filled soul yearned for. (It also, apparently, requires a shitload of alliteration!)

CITY AND COLOUR DEBUTS NEW SONG “ASTRONAUT” FROM FORTHCOMING LP OUT THIS FALL VIA STILL RECORDS

1993,The Lollapalooza tour was in Barrie, Ontario at Molson park.  When it came time for Alice in Chains to hit the stage it was dark and still very hot out. I was 16 years old in the middle of a massive mosh pit, the heat was so intense I could barley breath.

On the 10th stop of their tour promoting their new album, Rainier Fog, Alice In Chains showcased a great cross section of their body of work, playing more from their sophomore album Dirt than from the most recent. Still, some of the highlights of the show were the four selections from recently released Rainier Fog – “Never Fade”, the title track “Rainier Fog”, “Red Giant”, and then “The One You Know” as an encore number.  Ultimately cuts from all six studio albums were included in the set, plus a couple from their MTV Unplugged session and Jar of Flies EP, so long-time followers will be very happy with the deep and broad set list.