City And Colour
This is the second and final part of our interview with Dallas Green. For the first part of this feature, click here.
Earlier this year, City And Colour released Little Hell, the project's third record, and it's seen great success, particularly in Canada and the States.
Dallas admits that he doesn't concern himself too much with everyone liking the record. "Whenever I'm happy enough to put it out there, I'm pleased. For me, I don't ever expect that everyone is going to like what I do."
It was recorded at Catherine North Studios, which are housed in an old, dissused church, where City And Colour recorded their second record, lending a bit of familiarity to the sessions.
"That's kinda why I wanted to go back there. It was a really interesting vibe, the whole concept," Dallas says.
The album was recorded in a one-track, live setting on tapes, something Dallas was keen to do at least once during his career.
"I don't expect Britney Spears to make a record live off the floor, or on tape, or not use auto-tune, that's just the style of music it is," Dallas comments, adding: "I wanted to record it on tape one time, before you can't anymore."
The setting gave the songs a very natural sound, in part due to human nature causing mistakes.
Dallas adds that artists using autotune to create a "perfect record" are doing themselves, and fans, a disservice: "They can't play like that, cos it's not them playing on the record. It's not - it's a computer," he says, continuing "I wanted to make it as natural as possible".
City And Colour has steadily developed a bigger sound, with added instrumentation on each record, although he points out that it's not part of a contrived plan for the band.
"I didn't go and write that record, I just had all these songs that I put together and made a record. I recorded them in two days, and it was just supposed to be that," he reveals.
On Little Hell, he adds: "There were some songs I wrote that felt strongly about having them with a full band. That's just why I did it."
Due to the acoustic-driven nature of his sound, and his past in Alexisonfire, Dallas draws a lot of comparisons to the likes of Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music) and Frank Turner (Million Dead), who moved away from their rock roots to a folk-based style.
As to whether he fits into that scene, Dallas doesn't think he does, in part because he hasn't carried over the aggression or tenacity from his Alexisonfire days.
"You listen to Alexisonfire and City And Colour...it's miles apart from one another," he says, adding that he doesn't feel the folk influence is as prominent as it is in Ragan or Turner's work.
On Dallas' Wikipedia page, it's noted that he's a "lifelong" fan of former WWE wrestler Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall, although he says this has been blown out of proportion.
He admits he was a fan, but that he wouldn't be topping his list as his favourite wrestler of all time.
Although touring has made it more difficult for him to watch WWE, Dallas admits that he still likes to when he has the chance. "Once in a while when I'm home, I'll turn it on and watch it, cos I still think it's pretty fun."
The Razor Ramon story isn't the strangest rumour to be throw around - Dallas remembers being asked in an interview what it's like to be a gay rock star.
"I was like...I'm not gay. Sorry, I'm not," he recalls, although took it in good humour. "I thought that was pretty funny."
Years before Alexisonfire actually split, rumours began circulating while they were in the studio recording Old Crows and Cardinals. Dallas admits that he tries to distance hiimself from what's written online.
Labelling what can be seen on YouTube comments as "distusting", "horrible s***", he adds: "I would love to see two of those people meet each other in real life, and see what happens. They wouldn't say anything."
He continues: "That's my thing," he continues. "If you have a problem with me, tell me to my face. Somebody writing on the internet that they don't like me or I suck, it has no bearing on my life."
From talking to Dallas, it's clear that music - in this exciting live setting - is something he truly lives and breathes.
Still very much grounded and grateful, he's already looking ahead to touring the US and Canada now that his European run is rounding off. What then?
Ever the hard-worker, Dallas ponders: "Maybe take a break," pausing and smiling: "Probably not though."
Our live review of City And Colour can be found here.
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