Live Review: City & Colour - Enmore Theatre

Opening act Afie Jurvanen aka Bahamas may be from the Great White North, but there's a certain Southern charm to his drawl and musical style. This geographical quandary was further emphasised by the fact that Jurvanen was playing without a band, allowing Bahamas' guitar-driven music to take on a greater rockabilly feel. Behind some blistering guitar solos and Jurvanen's vocal delivery, Bahamas' music gives the impression of a hard man with a sensitive heart. However, between songs Jurvanen was quite jovial and self-effacing, evoking laughter with light-hearted quips and displaying a genuine appreciation for a crowd that vigorously applauded his set.

Jurvanen left the stage but returned shortly afterwards as part of fellow Canadian Dallas Green's band City & Colour. There's little interaction between Green and the sold-out Enmore Theatre audience to begin with, save the dedication of The Grand Optimist to Green's mother for Mother's Day. Only sparingly did the understated frontman acknowledge the many enthusiastic screams as City & Colour opened with songs mostly from 2011's Little Hell.

This reserved manner turned out to be a considered ploy however, as after a few more songs the band left Green alone on the stage and the conversation began to flow. Green asked that anybody recording please hold their phone or camera in the air, then promptly requested people put their devices in their pockets for just one song with an explanation that sometimes when you try to remember something too hard you forget to experience it. What followed was an undeniably moving rendition of Body In A Box.

Before being rejoined by his band, Green threw in a cover, of Kimbra's Settle Down, and split the crowd down the middle in order to provide the backing vocals for What Makes A Man? With the band back on stage City & Colour played a heartfelt version of The Girl, which was given a little extra twang thanks to Jurvanen. Little Hell, Waiting… and Fragile Bird all came in succession, followed shortly after by a two-song encore that included Comin' Home after Green expressed appreciation for the Australian culture that has always made him feel at home.

Overall City & Colour put on a powerful show with the audience fully engaged throughout the entire set. Dallas Green is a subtle performer with a dry sense of humour that only adds to the endearing quality of his music.