What are you up to?
Sitting in a press room on Warped Tour in Pennsylvania.
What are your current fixations?
Im really into buying these three-dollar shoes from Wal-Mart every three days. Its weird. We stop at Wal-Mart every few days on the Warped Tour, and they have these girls shoes that look like authentic little Vans, and theyre only three dollars. I buy them every time we go to Wal-Mart and throw out my old ones.
Why do you live where you do?
Because I love my family and I dont think I could live far away from my family. If I could move my family then Id move somewhere else.
Name something you consider a mind-altering work of art:
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
What has been your most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
We played this show at Arrow Hall in Mississauga [Ontario] last September. I saw Quicksand play there when I was 15 years old and I remember thinking how much I really wanted to play there, on the stage, in the same place that they did. Then we got to play there, and it was big moment for me looking out on the crowd and remembering being there.
What have been your career highs and lows?
Career highs are pretty much every day I get to keep playing and being in a band. Career lows would be every day I have to be in a band. No, Im joking. Thereve been some times on tour where Ive completely lost my voice and been really sick and that really bums me out. I really like singing and when I cant it really, really gets me depressed.
Whats the meanest thing ever said to you before, during or after a gig?
Probably when people yell out, "You guys fucking suck. Thats pretty mean.
What should everyone shut up about?
I think people should stop preaching their beliefs to everyone and just believe what they want to believe. Whether its straight edge, or vegetarianism, or politics or anything, if you want to believe it, believe it. Im going to do what I want to do. Thats the way I am.
What traits do you most like and most dislike about yourself?
I dont really like that Im such a neat freak and I get mad about small messes. When there are crumbs around or one sock lying in the bus I get pissed off about it, and I wish I didnt get pissed off about it. The thing I most like about myself is how devilishly handsome I am.
What advice should you have taken, but did not?
Take singing lessons. That probably would help me not lose my voice. I still havent taken that advice, as many times as Ive heard it.
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
The band thing probably just not caring. Not caring as much about this as I do. I put everything I have into it, and Id take it as an insult if you were to just not care. As far as bed, I dont know. Probably if you made a mess.
What do you think of when you think of Canada?
Home. My wonderful home.
What is your vital daily ritual?
Absolutely nothing. I wish I had one. That sucks, doesnt it? I do get out of my bunk and lay on the floor and think, "God, I wish I didnt have to get up right now. That basically goes on every day.
What are your feelings on piracy, internet or otherwise?
I think its going to happen no matter what so Im totally cool with it. It helps people get your music, anyway, so Im stoked.
What was your most memorable day job?
I worked at a movie theatre for four years with a lot of my friends, and I didnt really do much but watch the movies and eat the snacks. That was a really good job to have.
How do you spoil yourself?
I buy lots of shoes. Thats my one thing that I buy lots of.
If I wasnt playing music I would be...
Trying to play music.
What do you fear most?
Failure.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Jeff Buckley. Hes my biggest inspiration.
What has been your strangest celebrity encounter?
Its really strange when people come up to you in the mall, when youre just kind of walking around or something in the Gap, and a kid will be like, "Hey! Are you Dallas Green? and Ill be like, "Yeah, and theyre just like, " hows it going? And they wait for you to talk to them, and it gets really awkward because I have to start talking to them but I dont know who they are, so I find it hard to just strike up a conversation, but I feel weird just walking away. And one time I was standing outside of a club called the Roxy in Los Angeles, and Penelope Cruz walked by me and I was like, "Hi, Penelope Cruz! and she just looked at me and didnt say anything. And thats probably my favourite celebrity encounter.
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
Probably Jeff Buckley again, because I want to ask about his singing. And I would feed him hamburgers. I just like hamburgers a lot.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Nothing. She loves what Im doing.
Given the opportunity to choose, how would you like to die?
Id like to be walking down the street past a construction site and have a cinder block fall from the 20th floor that theyre about to build, and have it hit me in the head. But not just straight on the head like, spinning, so that the point of the cinder block hits me on the top of the head and drills directly through my body. And makes everyone that sees it throw up.
As the sweet, crooning voice of St. Catherines screamo kings Alexisonfire, guitarist Dallas Green is easily the most recognisable face amongst the tattooed quintet. Catapulted to an impressive and unexpected level of national fame following their self-titled full-length debut in 2002, the band quickly found themselves darlings of the MuchMusic set, despite the aggressive and largely un-melodic approach of much of their music at the time. Watch Out!, their 2004 follow-up, found the band exploring further melodic territory, with Greens distinctive, soaring vocals moving from background colouring to lead on several songs. With the late-August release of Crisis, the bands latest full-length effort, a more even balance is struck between the screaming of George Pettit, Greens trademark croon, and the more rough-hewn vocals of guitarist Wade MacNiel. Rounded out by bassist Chris Steele and new drummer Jordan Hastings, the bands sound now lies in even more accessible waters than the reasonably poppy Watch Out!
Outside of his work with Alexisonfire, Green is now well known by moms everywhere for his solo project, City and Colour, and the hit "Save Your Scissors. Culled from the record Sometimes, Green stays unbelievably busy when not touring with his full band, frequently performing solo across the country.
Sam Sutherland
Sitting in a press room on Warped Tour in Pennsylvania.
What are your current fixations?
Im really into buying these three-dollar shoes from Wal-Mart every three days. Its weird. We stop at Wal-Mart every few days on the Warped Tour, and they have these girls shoes that look like authentic little Vans, and theyre only three dollars. I buy them every time we go to Wal-Mart and throw out my old ones.
Why do you live where you do?
Because I love my family and I dont think I could live far away from my family. If I could move my family then Id move somewhere else.
Name something you consider a mind-altering work of art:
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
What has been your most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
We played this show at Arrow Hall in Mississauga [Ontario] last September. I saw Quicksand play there when I was 15 years old and I remember thinking how much I really wanted to play there, on the stage, in the same place that they did. Then we got to play there, and it was big moment for me looking out on the crowd and remembering being there.
What have been your career highs and lows?
Career highs are pretty much every day I get to keep playing and being in a band. Career lows would be every day I have to be in a band. No, Im joking. Thereve been some times on tour where Ive completely lost my voice and been really sick and that really bums me out. I really like singing and when I cant it really, really gets me depressed.
Whats the meanest thing ever said to you before, during or after a gig?
Probably when people yell out, "You guys fucking suck. Thats pretty mean.
What should everyone shut up about?
I think people should stop preaching their beliefs to everyone and just believe what they want to believe. Whether its straight edge, or vegetarianism, or politics or anything, if you want to believe it, believe it. Im going to do what I want to do. Thats the way I am.
What traits do you most like and most dislike about yourself?
I dont really like that Im such a neat freak and I get mad about small messes. When there are crumbs around or one sock lying in the bus I get pissed off about it, and I wish I didnt get pissed off about it. The thing I most like about myself is how devilishly handsome I am.
What advice should you have taken, but did not?
Take singing lessons. That probably would help me not lose my voice. I still havent taken that advice, as many times as Ive heard it.
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
The band thing probably just not caring. Not caring as much about this as I do. I put everything I have into it, and Id take it as an insult if you were to just not care. As far as bed, I dont know. Probably if you made a mess.
What do you think of when you think of Canada?
Home. My wonderful home.
What is your vital daily ritual?
Absolutely nothing. I wish I had one. That sucks, doesnt it? I do get out of my bunk and lay on the floor and think, "God, I wish I didnt have to get up right now. That basically goes on every day.
What are your feelings on piracy, internet or otherwise?
I think its going to happen no matter what so Im totally cool with it. It helps people get your music, anyway, so Im stoked.
What was your most memorable day job?
I worked at a movie theatre for four years with a lot of my friends, and I didnt really do much but watch the movies and eat the snacks. That was a really good job to have.
How do you spoil yourself?
I buy lots of shoes. Thats my one thing that I buy lots of.
If I wasnt playing music I would be...
Trying to play music.
What do you fear most?
Failure.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Jeff Buckley. Hes my biggest inspiration.
What has been your strangest celebrity encounter?
Its really strange when people come up to you in the mall, when youre just kind of walking around or something in the Gap, and a kid will be like, "Hey! Are you Dallas Green? and Ill be like, "Yeah, and theyre just like, " hows it going? And they wait for you to talk to them, and it gets really awkward because I have to start talking to them but I dont know who they are, so I find it hard to just strike up a conversation, but I feel weird just walking away. And one time I was standing outside of a club called the Roxy in Los Angeles, and Penelope Cruz walked by me and I was like, "Hi, Penelope Cruz! and she just looked at me and didnt say anything. And thats probably my favourite celebrity encounter.
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
Probably Jeff Buckley again, because I want to ask about his singing. And I would feed him hamburgers. I just like hamburgers a lot.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Nothing. She loves what Im doing.
Given the opportunity to choose, how would you like to die?
Id like to be walking down the street past a construction site and have a cinder block fall from the 20th floor that theyre about to build, and have it hit me in the head. But not just straight on the head like, spinning, so that the point of the cinder block hits me on the top of the head and drills directly through my body. And makes everyone that sees it throw up.
As the sweet, crooning voice of St. Catherines screamo kings Alexisonfire, guitarist Dallas Green is easily the most recognisable face amongst the tattooed quintet. Catapulted to an impressive and unexpected level of national fame following their self-titled full-length debut in 2002, the band quickly found themselves darlings of the MuchMusic set, despite the aggressive and largely un-melodic approach of much of their music at the time. Watch Out!, their 2004 follow-up, found the band exploring further melodic territory, with Greens distinctive, soaring vocals moving from background colouring to lead on several songs. With the late-August release of Crisis, the bands latest full-length effort, a more even balance is struck between the screaming of George Pettit, Greens trademark croon, and the more rough-hewn vocals of guitarist Wade MacNiel. Rounded out by bassist Chris Steele and new drummer Jordan Hastings, the bands sound now lies in even more accessible waters than the reasonably poppy Watch Out!
Outside of his work with Alexisonfire, Green is now well known by moms everywhere for his solo project, City and Colour, and the hit "Save Your Scissors. Culled from the record Sometimes, Green stays unbelievably busy when not touring with his full band, frequently performing solo across the country.
Sam Sutherland