The group, formed in 1999 in Boca Raton, Florida, by Chris Carrabba, has undergone numerous lineup changes. Local favorite John Lefler, currently of Captain and Camille, did a 13-year stint with the band, which is often categorized as emo. Carrabba has said in past interviews that he doesn't have an issue with the label, but he felt like in the days of his band's inception, the emo fans seemed to project who fit into the genre, having more in common with one another than the bands sounding similar.
Emo's original meaning was "emotional hardcore," and although Dashboard didn't invent the genre, they are widely credited for bringing it into the mainstream. Typically there is a deeply revealing, emotional element to emo, just as there is in Dashboard, where the singer finds the joy inside the darkness, going alongside the peaks and valleys of mellow guitar to soaring power chords and top-of-the-lung screams.
These soul-searching and quite-naked lyrics are the "confessions." The name came from a lyric in the song "The Sharp Hit of New Tears," off their debut LP The Swiss Army Romance. Rising star Taylor Acorn was slated to open the show but canceled citing illness. Armon Jay, Dashboard Confessional's lead guitarist, stepped in and performed a raw and emotional acoustic set that set the tone for the evening. He even had a harmony assist from Dashboard's Abigail Kelly. Next up was Boys Like Girls, which was formed in Boston in 2005 by Martin Johnson. Of that original lineup, only drummer John Keefe has remained a constant with Johnson. Boys Like Girls are known for their nostalgic anthems, and this show was full of them.
All three front mic stands were lined three-quarters of the way up with guitar picks. Two large black boxes placed between the mic stands turned the show into a pose-fest and a pick-throwing bonanza.
Seemingly every other verse featured a pick flick and a bunch of screaming fans clamoring for one. The emotions ran high and the crowd went crazy, screaming along to every word.
Johnson has a timeless cool look, combining many eras into one solidified outfit. Guitarist Jamel Hawke truly got a workout running all over the stage the entire show. "The Great Escape," was unequivocally the highlight of their set.
Finally, Dashboard Confessional hit the stage. More specifically, Carrabba came out alone with an acoustic guitar and started the show in one of the most low-key ways possible. This was a treat for the fans, as he is the heart and soul of this band. The full band joined him in what was essentially the soundtrack of the life of many people who identify as emo.
Dashboard ran through all the fan favorites, including "Saints and Sailors" and "Screaming Infidelities." Carrabba no doubt has an amazing singing voice, but his speaking voice is so soothing, he always has the option to become an ASMR artist if he ever decided to retire from music. (Although that would be sad and difficult, as he also sings in folk band Twin Forks and sings lead for Further Seems Forever.) It's probably a safe bet to say "The King of Emo," as he is fondly referred to, won't be retiring anytime soon. On the last song of the night, "Hands Down," Boys Like Girls joined Dashboard onstage for a last-night-of-tour emo hootnanny. It was a night of music that met expectations filled with nostalgia and all the feels.
For a band that is referred to as the "Sultans of Sadness," Chris Carrabba was all smiles last night.
Andrew Sherman
