City and Colour’s Masterful Performance at the Aztec Theatre

Photo by Alejandra Sol Casas

Canadian singer-songwriter Dallas Green, better known as City and Colour, brought his soul-baring folk-rock sound to the Aztec Theatre on Friday night. While the turnout was lower than expected, the modest crowd didn’t lessen the impact of Green’s evocative set. Opening for City and Colour was rising Texas musician Vincent Neil Emerson.

Emerson, a native of Van Zandt County, Texas, has been gaining traction with his soulful Americana sound. His self-titled 2021 album, produced by Grammy-winning country legend Rodney Crowell, has solidified him as a rising talent in the genre. Known for songs that explore themes of loss, resilience, and working-class life, Emerson connected with the audience through personal anecdotes, including a story about his years living in San Antonio, where he met his wife, Felina. His sincere stage banter and lyricism, coupled with the grit in his blues-infused sound, were warmly received by those hearing him for the first time.

Green, meanwhile, has built a dedicated following from his early days with the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire. Beginning in the mid-2000s, however, City and Colour became his full-time focus, reaching listeners well beyond his hardcore roots. Following the release of Sometimes in 2005, City and Colour established itself as a mainstay in indie and folk-rock circles. Green’s latest album, The Love Still Held Me Near, explores themes of grief, resilience, and personal growth. Tracks like the opener, “After Disaster,” and “Meant to Be” confronted despair while hinting at hope, deeply resonating with the audience who listened in rapt silence.

While some audience members were overheard calling the set “boring,” such comments seemed to miss the essence of his appeal. City and Colour’s strength lies in lyrical depth and the raw beauty of voice and guitar, while its charm lies in its minimalism. It begs the question: were they expecting pyrotechnics and backup dancers?

One notable omission from the setlist was “The Girl,” a fan favorite but one I’ve admittedly grown weary of over the years. Its absence left a few fans disappointed, though it was a bold choice that underscored Green’s focus on newer, more reflective material. Green surprised fans with a cover of Alice In Chains’ “Nutshell,” a haunting rendition that blended seamlessly with his own emotional repertoire.

Despite the more intimate crowd, Green and Emerson managed to cast a lingering spell, a quiet reminder that sometimes all it takes to hold an audience is a guitar, a voice, and the audacity to keep it simple, even if not everyone gets it.