In the wake of the Toronto Blue Jays' devastating Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, Juno Award-winning musician Dallas Green turned to his first love for solace: songwriting.
Speaking from his Toronto home just days after the heartbreaking defeat, the artist behind both the band Alexisonfire and his solo project, City and Colour, revealed he was channeling his sports disappointment into creativity. "Right now I’m in the basement trying to write a song because I’m so upset about the Jays losing," Green confessed. "It’s going to help me get through it a little bit, and maybe someday somebody will hear what I’m working on."
Alexisonfire's Homage to Canadian Rock
Green, a noted Toronto sports fan who attended the final two games of the World Series, was speaking to promote Alexisonfire's new four-track EP of covers, titled 'Copes of Old Masters Volume 1'. The release, which arrived in November 2025, features the band's interpretations of songs by iconic Canadian acts like The Tragically Hip, Rusty, Shallow North Dakota, and Doughboys.
He explained that the project had been a long-standing idea within the group. "It was one of those things where we thought we could pay homage to a bunch of great bands and put our own flavour on some of their songs," Green said. The focus on Canadian music from the 1990s was decided well before recent political campaigns, aiming to highlight a wealth of material that, apart from The Tragically Hip, often went under-recognized.
Reflecting on The Tragically Hip's influence, Green was effusive. "Whether you liked them or not, they were sort of intrinsic to the country," he recalled. "But as I grew up, the Hip became the blueprint for a bunch of kids from a small town in Ontario, to try to make a dream of being in a band a reality." He also shared a personal connection, stating, "My friendship with (the Hip’s late frontman) Gord (Downie) is something I’ll never let go of."
Two Decades of City and Colour
The conversation also touched on the 20th anniversary of his debut solo album, 'Sometimes,' which launched his acclaimed City and Colour project. When asked if releasing quiet, folk-influenced music while still in the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire felt like a risk at the time, Green offered a different perspective.
"Maybe I’m fooling myself, but I don’t think I looked at it like a risk," he mused. "There’s so many people that are in a band. And there are so many people who are trying to find fame and fortune and stardom. But for me, I was, and continue to be, in love with the idea of writing a song." For him, the project was simply about sharing a different batch of songs with a potential audience.
Looking to the Future
While discussing his various musical endeavours, Green also fielded questions about the status of You+Me, his folk duo with global superstar Pink. The future of that collaboration remains an open question for fans.
Ultimately, for Dallas Green, the thread connecting his sports fandom, his work with Alexisonfire, and his solo career is a profound dedication to the craft of music. Whether processing a major sports letdown or celebrating a 20-year milestone, his primary outlet and passion remains the same: writing the next song.
