CITY AND COLOUR LETS MUSIC LEAD THE WAY.
Green’s singular voice soars
Last time City and Colour played live in Saskatoon, Dallas Green’s haunting voice rang out through the warm summer air in the Bessborough gardens.
It was the hottest ticket of last year’s Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. The show was memorable for its mix of Green’s gorgeous delivery of compelling lyrics, the picturesque setting and a captivated audience.
Moving Green and company to more utilitarian setting of Credit Union Centre did not break the spell the group cast on local audiences.
Green is not one to try to be something he is not. He let the music and his singular voice lead the way through the show. The Lonely Life, Save Your Scissors, Silver and Gold, Comin’ Home, I Thirst and Beautiful Girl (the encore) were highlights.
This is music, and a performer, that has people put down their smartphones and live in the moment. Not everyone, of course, can resist the urge to tape footage to taunt their friends with later. But Sunday night’s show had far fewer blue screens glowing than the norm and it was refreshing.
Green knows about playing a big room from his days as frontman for Alexisonfire. The lights and staging were adequate for an arena — nobody who bought a ticket for this show would have done so for the special effects anyway.
Whether backed by his accomplished band or when Green and his guitar were left alone, the songwriting and vocal talent were the focus.
The upper levels were curtained off, meaning a smaller turnout, but also a more intimate feeling than when CUC is packed to the rafters.
Sound issues were a distraction through the night. It’s a shame. The last thing you want is anything messing with the clarity of lead vocals at a City and Colour show.
Montreal’s Half Moon Run opened up the night, their sensitive-but-big sound pairing well with the headliner.
The stage show could use some work but watching drummer Devon Portielje provide beats while playing synth and singing backups at the same time was engrossing. Talk about multitasking.
Their CBC hit, Full Circle, evokes murmurs of pleased recognition.