City and Colour (Live Review + Gallery)

Doors at 7pm I thought. That means I can get there at 6.45, get ahead of the queue and avoid standing in the growing monsoon now laying waste to Brighton. True to form I arrived bang on 7, precisely 15 minutes late from my own regimented plan. It's hard to convey exactly how large the snaking line of plaid shirts and beanie hats was at this point, but It's fairly safe to say I was resigned to the fact that I would die of old age in this line. Or of pneumonia. Whichever came first. That's when he came. The saintly figure of a security guard shouting, "Collection and guest list tickets head to the other entrance!" That's Me! I realised and quickly began to strut confidently past my previous companions with the pompous strides of a man saved from certain death., to join a queue that was roughly half the size of the one I just left. Small victories though, eh?

Entering the venue and meeting Ian,  our photographer for the night, we quickly forgot about the raging storm and proceeded into the auditorium, beers in hand, giving each other the knowing glances of people about to meet a common hero. A quick chat with security to see what we were and weren't allowed to shoot and we settled in to enjoy tour support, Hannah Georgas.

It's easy to see why Hannah was chosen to support Dallas and his band, both are Canadian and share a similar rock-via-country vibe, one that the growing crowd were visibly content with. Hannah's voice was as delicate as it was beautiful, the people around me comparing her to the likes of Daughter, Regina Spektor, Marina and the Diamonds... Regardless, she has her own sound only vaguely comparable to her peers. Her band were incredibly tight and added a completely new dimension live - listening to Hannah beforehand, her recordings are very synth-y but live her sound is full and more rocky. Departing from the stage after the set, it was safe to assume Hannah had won over the crowd and bagged a swathe of new fans in the process.

During what seemed like an eternity between acts, the ensemble swelled to about double its previous size. Despite feeling slightly like a sardine, it was comforting to see so many people my own age, twenty-somethings who had grown up with Alexisonfire and City & Colour back in the day. These were the old guard. Everybody here had at least one thing in common and it was a very humbling experience to know we all loved the same thing, or should that be, the same man. As the lights blackened and the pre-emptive "I love you Dallas!" screams began, the band made their way to the stage and with minimal fuss. Launching straight into the set, City and Colour were full of energy blasting out new tracks like they were old favourites, but it wasn't until "Grand Optimist" that the crowd really began to give something back, with a good three quarters singing at the top of their lungs, often drowning out Dallas (whose voice by the way, is absolutely flawless live.)

As the set moved on I was extremely happy to hear "Born and Raised", an Alexisonfire song, slipped cunningly in, disguised as a somewhat bluesy cover. It took me a good couple of minutes to realise exactly what was going on, and I still think it escaped some of the less attentive (and by now, fairly drunk) fans stood around me. They were soon to be awoken though, by the acknowledgement that the band had left the stage leaving a lone figure, cutting a silhouette through the single spotlight now shining on stage. After a brief address urging the crowd not to shout their unrequited love for him continuously, "Like Knives" cut through the room rather ironically, like a knife. Stunned and pacified by the sheer beauty of the fan favourite, nobody even sung along allowing Dallas' voice to reverberate around the room. It was a truly beautiful moment and a huge testament to the man and his song writing ability. Following up with "Body In A Box" saw a change in mood from quiet reflection to all out party. There was dancing, there was singing, there was a couple about three feet away sucking face (kinda inappropriate when the song is about being dead but, whatever floats your boat.) Being rejoined by his band to complete an entirely more powerful rendition of "Sorrowing Man", I couldn't help but feel slightly deflated at not being given more of what the crowd had clearly hoped for - Dallas' solo material.

After returning for an encore, as is the norm nowadays, we got our wish in the form of "The Girl", and it was a joyous and well received few minutes, before the band returned to accompany Dallas for two more new songs.

All in all, we left satisfied in the knowledge that we had seen a truly memorable performance by City and Colour. Any disappointment at not being given a full dose of nostalgia can be argued with the fact that this is a tour for The Hurry and the Harm, not Sometimes. Perhaps one day Dallas will do a tour solely concentrating on 2005-2008, but I don't think it'll be any time soon. Rest assured though, if that tour ever does happen, I'll be there at the front singing every last word back at him.

These great pictures below are the work of Ian Coulson

[gallery ids="13132,13133,13131,13130,13129,13124,13125,13126,13127,13128,13123,13122,13121,13120"]