DALLAS GREENE

Alexisonfire / City & Colour

Interview by Cameron Edney

 

Releasing four mind-blowing studio albums and as well as several E.P.'s, Canadian hardcore rockers Alexisonfire have grown from strength to strength. The bands most recent album 'Old Crows / Young Cardinals' charted well around the world, breaking the Billboard Top 200 in the United States, reaching #2 in Canada and making its way into the Australian top 20. Both critics and fans have praised the bands recent efforts and with killer tunes like 'Born and Raised', 'No Rest' and 'Heading for the Sun' it's easy to see why both are raving about the band's latest album! Since forming Alexisonfire's popularity in Australia has grown to incredible lengths and in 2007 the band hit Australia to play on the Soundwave Festival Bill alongside Incubus, The Offspring and many more! Australian fans were thrilled to recently learn that the band would be heading back to Australia in February to once again partake in the Soundwave Festivals! We recently caught up with Alexisonfire vocalist Dallas Green to chat about the band's latest album, 'Old Crows/Young Cardinals', returning to Australia to once again for Soundwave, what he would be doing if he gave up music and much more!

 

Hey Dallas, great to speak with you today… Congratulations on the latest album 'Old Crows / Young Cardinals', it's been three years between Alexisonfire albums…how did you push each other musically and creatively to get the best results possible on this one?

 

We took more time off in between records this time around and i think that really enabled us to clear our heads and come up with brand new ideas. As well as finding new records, new inspirations and new influences, we don't really need to push each other. I think there is a common ground between all of us that always wants to get the best result out of an album.

 

Tracks like 'Heading For The Sun', 'Burial' and 'Born And Raised' are amongst the favorites for me from the new album, are you guys finding it more challenging with every album now to come up with fresh sounding material without falling into the trap of repeating yourselves?

 

If it's one thing that we are full of, its ways not to repeat ourselves! I don't think we are capable of it. If we write something remotely similar to an earlier song it's immediately scrapped!

 

'Old Crows' was recorded in Vancouver and produced by Julius Butty who has done some amazing work with you in the past! How much time did you spend in the studio for the new album and did you approach the recording process in a different way to previous releases?

 

We spent about two weeks in Vancouver and another two weeks at Julius' farm in Hamilton, Ontario. For this record we were trying to capture the live aspect of the band more, so we tracked bass, drums and rhythm guitars all at the same time. We would play the song 8, 9 or 10 times and then pick the one that had the most "feel" to it. Then we would go back and fix any little mistakes. We recorded vocals after that. It was an amazing way to make a record.

 

 

Looking back over the whole process now, is there anything you wish you had done differently, added or left off the various tracks?

 

Oh no, not at all! I am 100% pleased with the finished product.

 

Dallas, as we're all aware now, you guys will be hitting Australia once again in February as part of the Soundwave Festival bill! When you travel half way across the globe for a tour like this, what is the one thing you most look forward to about coming to Australia?

 

The sun! You have to understand that we are coming over at possibly one of the worst months as far as weather is concerned in Ontario. The snow in Toronto in February is insane! Also…The Australian fans are the best we always look forward to seeing them!  

 

Mate, the last time you were in Australia was for the very first Soundwave Festivals, what fond memories come to mind when you look back on that tour?

 

Being a part of the first Soundwave festival was great. I'm glad to see it's still going and it has seemed to have gotten bigger. But I did get to see Feist play in Melbourne on one of the days off. She's unbelievable.

 

Besides yourselves there are some fantastic bands billed for Soundwave 2010 like Anvil, Baroness, Jane's Addiction and Anthrax to name a few, will you be putting time aside to check out any of the other bands throughout the festival and who are you looking forward to seeing the most?

 

Oh yeah, definitely Baroness and Isis. The new Baroness record is fantastic! Paramore as well, I love Paramore. Honestly… No joke! ? There's no doubt that when you're playing on the large festival bills such as Soundwave, it can be a fantastic way to expose the band to a lot of people who may have never heard you before…

 

For those punters attending Soundwave that plan on checking out Alexisonfire… in a few words how would you describe the band live and what can the Australian audiences expect when you take to the Soundwave stage?

 

Two words… Christopher Steele. He is by far the world's best Canadian Bass player. He's like James Brown on bass. Watch out for him Australia! He's coming for ya!!!

 

 

Dallas, personally are you a fan of playing on the larger festival bills or would you much prefer the smaller more intimate venues, no doubt both have their advantages!

 

Oh smaller venues by far. It feels more like a show. But big festivals can be lots of fun!

 

While we're on the subject of touring… take us back to the very first shows you guys did, what amazing / horrifying memories come to mind?

 

The first tour we ever went on was pretty funny. We were very pleased with ourselves that we had bought our own van and trailer and were about to leave our small town and go touring. Except four hours into the first drive our van broke down and we had to be towed back to home. It was pretty embarrassing [laughs].  

 

[Laughs] That's certainly not the greatest way to kick off a tour! Over the years you have been fortunate to share the stage with many amazing artists. Who has given you the best advice whilst on the road and what was it?

 

I don't think anyone has ever given us advice… maybe just some nice comments. I remember Chuck Ragan from Hot Water Music told me I had a lovely voice. That was a good one.

 

What's the craziest thing that has ever happened onstage while you were performing?

 

I hit George in the face with my guitar one time and it deviated his septum. So now he can't breathe correctly while he sleeps. There was lots of blood. I felt bad.

 

 

Oh dude all I can say to that is OUCH! Besides downing a few beers, do you do anything specific to warm up and prepare for a show?

 

I do vocal warm ups. It's very boring but I feel as if it helps. Steele does pushups. That's about it.

 

Mate, as a freelance writer / photographer, I often find myself down in the pit snapping away and capturing some amazing and yet sometimes scary moments! Once the shows are over and you get to kick back and view a lot of the press and fan photographs that come through via Myspace, emails etc. Do you come across those shots often where you just put your head in your hands and you say "what the F**k was I thinking / doing right there" And of those moments what one stands out most for you?

 

Just about every photo I've ever seen of myself makes me say that [laughs]. I tend to make the stupidest faces whilst singing.

 

[Laughs] Talk us through a typical photo shoot for you, are you a fan of doing that sort of stuff as we all know it is a necessary evil in this business!

 

We just try to get them done as quickly as possible. Playing my guitar is the fun part about being a musician. Having my photo taken and talking about myself are the strange parts.

 

Dallas, we have hit the part of the interview where our readers get to find out more about the real you… What was the first concert you ever attended and how much of an impact did that have on you musically?

 

I went to see Neil Young, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden when I was twelve years old. It changed my life forever.

 

If you woke up tomorrow and decided that you were sick of the touring, the recording etc and wanted to give it all up what do you think you would be doing?

 

I would probably be a construction worker… I like working with my hands.

 

What have your parents thought about the music you played?

 

My parents are absolutely my biggest fans. They are the reason i am who i am today.

 

Mate, if you had the opportunity to choose the way a photo shoot was going to be conducted what would you do… What kind of backgrounds would you want to use etc?

 

I have no idea. Something simple I guess? We aren't a very flashy band so simple works better I think.

 

Growing up did you always envision yourself as someone who would be doing music as a full-time job, or were your goals different?

 

I always hoped that it would be my full time job. I wasn't really good at anything else. I've never had any other goals.

 

Dallas, I have to be honest… I loved reading the band's bio and one thing that stuck out for me was the quote "Most of our success was a product of our own dumb luck", when was the first moment you realized that this was it, this was the big league and how much do you think you have changed since then?

 

I guess when we signed our first record deal. It seemed like we had actually taken a step in the right direction. I don't think I've changed much, aside from a whole lot of tattoos and a few wacky haircuts.

 

?

 

Earlier this year after an interview on Australian radio Alexisonfire fans were upset after comments were jokingly made about the band breaking up! It didn't take too long for the comments to be taken out of context and soon news around the world stated that the band was breaking up! Do you get annoyed with all the media hype and rumours that present themselves involving yourself and the band?

 

That was our plan! We wanted to see how long it would take for people to think we had broken up. I remember getting an email about it while i was at band practice writing the new record and thinking "if they only knew" we just wanted to play a joke on the media. Sorry.

 

[Laughs] So… what has been the craziest rumour you've ever heard about yourself and or the band?

 

I was once asked in an interview how I dealt with being gay in a touring rock band. I replied with "I have no idea".

 

It seems outside of Alexisonfire most of the guys are involved with various side projects including yourself and with your Folk style band City & Colour … What else would you like to achieve musically in your career?

 

One day I will make an R & B record. Get ready.

 

Lastly a question I ask of everyone that I speak with… who is the one band you never want to hear again and why?

 

Shaggy! I want to shoot him into space.

 

 

[Laughs] No objections from me [laughs]. Mate, thanks again for your time today, I look forward to seeing you guys at the Soundwave festivals… do you have any last words for our readers?

 

No!

 

 

© Cameron Edney Nov 2009

 

Don't miss Alexisonfire touring across Australia in February as part of Soundwave 2010