City and Colour, aka former Alexisonfire singer/guitarist Dallas Green, is traveling through the southern United States right now. He’s on the road to Bonnaroo, making stops in a number of cities that his now full-time project has never played before this tour. He’ll conclude the jaunt on Sunday, when he plays the massive, four-day festival in Tennessee with his touring band. We caught up with Green by phone while he was stopped in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
What goes into putting together a band to take on the road?
It’s actually just a band with all of my friends from home who have been listening for quite some time. It wasn’t about trying to find a bunch of professional studio musicians. I had friends who played instruments that I wanted to play in the band. That was it.
Do you have a preference for club gigs or festivals?
Well, I would much rather play inside, in a venue, if I could. It’s definitely fun to play outside at these big festivals and stuff, but, if I had to pick, I would definitely pick inside.
What are the advantages of playing festivals?
I think that’s what the whole advantage is. You get to play in front of more people than your own show, whether it’s people who are waiting around for the band that’s playing after you and happen to check you out and end up digging your music or people walking by and they stop and listen. Also, you get to play with a bunch of bands that you would never play with. Nowadays, like at Bonnaroo, there are five stages and 80 bands playing from all walks of musical life. It’s cool.
Are you looking forward to seeing anyone at Bonnaroo?
I have no idea who is playing on our day. I’m sure when I wake up and see the schedule, there will be somebody I like and will end up seeing. I think on our day, the headlining band is Phish, who I think are scheduled to play for four hours, which I don’t know if I can handle.
Has your approach to City and Colour changed now that it’s your full-time project?
It didn’t change too much. It changed in the way that I could spend more time touring and play a bunch of cities that I never had the chance to do in the past. As far as songwriting goes, I still approach it the same way.
Do you have any plans for after the summer festivals?
Make another record. I’m going to spend the last couple months of the year finishing writing. I don’t have studio time booked or a total plan, but I’m sure either early next year or the end of this year I will have gone into the studio.