While Dallas Smith was once known as frontman for ’90s alt rockers Default, he has come into his own as a country star.
“ It is creeping up on us,” said Smith, getting ready to open a most sold out Canadian tour with Florida Georgia Line, 
which stops by the Enmax Centre, April 17.
“ It’s gravy. Folks are starving for these guys (The Florida Georgia Line) to come up here. They’re hungry for it,” said Smith doing press for the tour in Vancouver.
He toured with the Florida Georgia Line last year for 20 dates all over the United States. They begin the Canadian tour in Abbotsford, April 9.
“They are really great guys. I knew them before the tour. We did 20 dates all over the U.S. in New York and Texas. That tour was great. They have such young, energetic crowds. They love to have a lot of fun,” Smith enthused adding he knows them from sharing the same management team and producer.
“They heard what I was doing and liked it and were nice enough to ask me to join them on tour,” he said.
“ So I’m looking forward to being in the same building with them, and being part of it all,” he said.
He said the transition from rock to country music was a natural progression.
“ Not at first. But I grew up on both of them— country music and classic rock. So as I grew older, I started thinking about doing this seven or eight years ago and listening to the radio and hearing more rock. I liked hearing guys like Keith Urban on the radio,” he continued.
He noted there are no plans for reunite with Default.
“ There are no plans to do it. I’m doing my thing and the guys are doing their thing. But never say never,” he continued.
He is excited about the tour and his 45 minute set.
“I’m playing eight shows in Canada with them. I have seven hits off the first album and two off of ‘Tipping Point,’ And I’ll play a couple of covers too, ” he said adding they have also countrified a few Default hits.
“We’ve been doing ‘Wasting My Time.’ It’s actually one of the more traditional sounding songs we do,” he said.
He decided to release a new five song Ep in March instead of another full length album to follow up his 2012 country debut “Jumped Right In,” because he wanted to have something out in time to tour the Summer festival circuit.
The title track “ Tippin’ Point” is already a hit and they have just started servicing “Slow Rollin” to radio.
“I felt really happy with the five songs on the Ep, but didn’t feel as comfortable with the others I had recorded,” he said adding in between festival dates, he will be working on the other songs for a new full length CD.
“ I’m just starting to put it all together,” he continued.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m., April 17. Tickets are $49 or $59+Fees
