City And Colour

+ Attack In Black

Union Chapel, London - 10 Apr 2008

by Simon T Diplock

Dallas Green does his best impression of an angel live in London

"Even when Green calls for participation running through a version of his other band’s ‘Boiled Frogs’, most of the crowd seem too in awe of him to comply"

This is weird.

This is strange.

Seriously, this is freaking New-Noise out.

Okay, so Dallas Green’s return to the UK was always going to be more of an event than the last time he was here, when he played to maybe 100 people inside the Camden Barfly, but come on, nobody thought it would be a religious affair. That though, is exactly what greets everyone catching up with City And Colour tonight.

The Union Chapel, see, is a grade II listed Victorian church - candles, pews, pulpit and all, and over the course of the next two hours the crowd gathered inside manage only rapturous applause, hushed reverence and hallowed silence. Not even the gnarly folk-punk of Dallas’ friends, support band (and fellow Canadians) Attack In Black breaks the atmosphere. Sure they let their harder, faster punk roots show during their last song but before that ‘Young Leaves’ is transformed into a hymn-like thing and ‘Chimes and Church Bells’ matches the venue perfectly. And later, when the headliner ambles onstage, plugs in his guitar, and starts to sing, he slots in pretty nicely too.

Oh sure, it helps that Green has been blessed with the voice of an angel (seriously, the dude could be a choirboy) but as he chimes into new album opener, ‘Forgive Me’, the venue’s incredible acoustics, the wonderful atmosphere, and the fact that he’s illuminated by only candlelight and camera flash makes it all the more special. This, here, and not in some grimy club, is how City And Colour is meant to be heard.

For the first half of the set at least, Dallas is joined by members of Attack In Black, who man bass and drums. The addition might not feel necessary, not when Green handles his songs so sweetly alone, but the extra manpower actually adds a valuable weight and strength to the mix, almost turning some tunes into rock songs and pouring perfect harmonies over vitally alive songs like ‘Hello, I’m In Delaware’.

If the gap between first and second albums felt too great coming out of your stereo - ‘Sometimes’ an acoustic emo record and newie ‘Bring Me Your Love’ much more folk and country influenced - there is no divide live, the three piece sounding like a cohesive outfit whatever full-length they dip into.

Even though Dallas may have decided to add some extra volume to this project though, the audience tonight certainly doesn’t want to. Initially the chapel falls so silent between songs that the quiet itself gets a nervous laugh from the crowd: even when Green calls for participation running through a version of his other band’s ‘Boiled Frogs’, most of the crowd seem too in awe of him to comply.

Alone again onstage he runs though ‘Body In A Box’, ‘Day Old Hate’, a breathtaking version of ‘What Makes a Man’, and a cover of Madonna’s (or at least the song done her way) ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’. He stops only to softly gripe at people watching the whole show through their cameras, making them squirm uncomfortably under all the attention. And then, when Green departs, leaving London with a gorgeous version of ‘Comin’ Home’ and a promise to return later this year, the noise is as if some divine spirit has promised the resurrection. The man on stage might not like it, but tonight was spiritual stuff indeed.
laila said on April 22nd 2008 [report abuse]

amazing, amazing show as only dallas could do

Scuzz said on May 12th 2008 [report abuse]

Great review and one that really makes me wish I were there. I’ve seen videos of the band live so I’ve gotten some indication what it would be like but I hope to see them live if they ever come to Ireland. -

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