SXSW Itch Pick: City and Colour
I would love to live in Canada. I’d like to think that the cold weather could easily be replaced by the abundance of intrinsic creativity there. Canadians have pleasantries like gorgeous architecture, green hills and green …well, you get the point. But anyone who knows Canadian music can safely say that the songs of Brian Adams and Celiene Dion have been rescued by artists like The Arcade Fire (although the Butler brothers are from The Woodlands, Texas) Feist and another transport, City and Colour.
City and Colour (also known as Dallas Green) comes to SXSW from Ontario and the popular Canadian band, Alexisonfire. While taking a break from touring with the band, Green had help from Dine Alone Records and put out a few songs he had been writing and then released on the internet. The first EP, The Death of Me was released in 2004, followed by another EP, Missing in 2005 and his debut album, Sometimes was released in November of 2005 (which went Platinum in 2006). All of the releases were well received and he won a Juno in 2007. His latest release, Bring Me Your Love was just released this February (Dine Alone/Vagrant Records) and continues to gain him worldwide attention.
His distinct voice, which drowns your ears in innocence, sings of mainly saddness, which he says is easier to identify with. And to be honest, his lyrics don’t reach the level of say Sam Beam or Ben Gibbard (keeping in line with other folk/pop artists). But what he lacks in deep lyricism he makes up with in sound. His detailed guitar-picking and amazing voice carry him throughout his live shows. Tracks like, “Sometimes (I wish)” and “Confessions” lull you in and make you wish that pain was this beautiful all the time.
Whatever your personal tastes may be, if you would like to see an amazing and intimate show, head to this one and you won’t regret it.
City and Colour will be performing only one show on Saturday, March 15th at Momo’s for the NXNE Showcase.
-Sonya
MP3> City and Colour ‘Body In A Box’
