I first saw Dashboard Confessional in 2001 with a handful of Mass Art kids in a sweltering, soulless gymnasium. We had just suffered through some awful hardcore punk bands, which made Chris Carrabba’s earnest, emotional songs of heartbreak that much sweeter. Like every Dashboard Confessional concert from 2001 to 2010, Carrabba’s presence was somewhat unnecessary. The choir of kids decked in hoodies and converse simply required his guitar to accompany their heartfelt recitation of Carrabba’s wordy lyrics. Catharsis at its purest.
Elated from that glorious sing-along, I hopped on the green line with some of my fellow show-goers. One kid turned to the silent car and asked, “What’s the line about ‘picture frames facing down’?” Collectively we pieced together the lyrics from “The Brilliant Dance,” a subway car of strangers discussing another stranger’s strained relationship.
A decade later, watching Carrabba walk onto the House of Blues stage in front of a few thousand fans, grab his guitar and launch into, “So this is odd/the painful realization that all has gone wrong,” I was sweetly reminded of what it meant to be a Dashboard Confessional fan back then. At the same time, it felt a little bizarre. A lot has changed in ten years. For starters, we’re all, uh, older. Personally, I haven’t had relationship drama since 2001, so catharsis, other than its general purpose of enabling one to feel something, brings little joy to my life. Second, we can all drink alcohol. While that sounds stupid and petty, going to shows when you’re underage is simply a different experience (yes, I once was one of those self-righteous pit kids scoffing at the “fake” fans hovering by the bar).
All this to say, after a decade of writing and touring, Dashboard Confessional’s performances - perhaps simply from the passing of time - are dripping with self-awareness. Dutifully singing old favorites like “The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most” and “Screaming Infidelities,” Carrabba’s pained expression seemed to stem from (self?-)loathing rather than sincerity. And if my interpretation is correct, who can blame him? Ten years ago, I barely could sing with a straight face “As for me, I wish that I was anywhere with anyone, making out,” let alone today, happily married for seven years. That being said, he sang his heart out of “Best Deceptions,” the most passionate sing-along of the night.
Also over time, these shows reveal a touch of weariness. Between songs, Carrabba told two stories - one describing a kleptomaniac girlfriend who inspired “Thick as Thieves” and another about kissing a girl from Massachusetts under the Williamsburg Bridge - which were the same two stories I heard him tell three years ago. The night also brought some painfully off vocals - “As Lovers Go” and the new single “Belle of the Boulevard” particularly suffered.
But enough whining. Chris Carrabba is hands down (ha ha, get it?) the most charming, sweet, gracious performer I’ve ever seen. He can do no wrong (well… I could’ve done without the psychedelic jam-session version of “Remember to Breathe"). He never fails to give his fans that catharsis they want. Case in point, when the band had to cancel their Fall 2009 tour due to a family emergency, Carrabba and John Lefler performed a 13-city acoustic tour to make up for it (download the entire tour here). Further to the band’s graciousness, they continued their tradition of covering a band that’s helped them over the years, inserting a verse from Counting Crows’ “Angels of the Silences” into a song.
Though we’ve lost the original joy of those early Dashboard days, we’ve gained a mature, happier, self-aware musical experience. That’s why “Hands Down,” Dashboard’s biggest hit, is the perfect show closer. With jubilant expressions, the crowd was able to sing about “the happiest day of my life,” as Carrabba put it - no longer lamenting love lost, but celebrating young love at its sweetest.
DOWNLOAD: Dashboard Confessional - The Brilliant Dance (live at Middle East, Cambridge) (MP3) or Follow us for more Dashboard Confessional MP3s (Twitter)
Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Columbus Short Would be an excellent match for Sam Cooke (especially if this movie was to include Sam’s Soul Stirrer years). Just as long as in the movie Sam does the singing of course lol. But as far as physical resemblance my boy Columbus Short all the way. View this clip of Cadillac Records were he played lil walter… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmxTbcnW6bY
by Akin Z on Wed Feb 1, 2012 at 12.37 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
Oops meant Aloe Blacc not Black. Sorry about the typo. If you doubt that he should play Sam check him out here on you tube singing Loving you is Killing me. The likeness is uncanny - but the voice is quite different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJuyaVcL2I&feature=artist
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.30 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
I have read the Peter Guralnick book and it is thoroughly researched down to the minutest detail. Amazing.
I would go for Aloe Black because he looks so much like Sam, but for heaven’s sake why are we talking about the quality of the actor’s singing? Sam’s singing has got to be dubbed in. We want the real thing not an impersonator. There is only one Sam Cooke. The actor can act, let Sam do the songs.
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.24 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
Thanks for the mention, we do appreciate your time and attention. Please check us out@DirtyDurdie.com.
once again thanks for noticing us.
by Dirty Ice on Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 11.04 pm from the entry: Yasiin Bey - Fete (Providence, RI; Dec.10, 2011)
John Boutte should play Sam Cooke. Except the point someone made about him dying young, this is true. Boutte may be a bit too old.
by Brendan on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
La cara de kurt de: NO ME DIJERON NADA :| ajajjajajaja
by asdsad on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 04.29 am from the entry: Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic Weigh In On Kurt Avatar
Blacks say the word 50+ times a day. Fuck the double standard, stop trying to create controversy.
by Steve C on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 02.00 pm from the entry: John Mayer is about to get swallowed up in public outrage
so ian, judging by that last photo, you were the only guy there?
sweet gig :)
if you look to the far, far, right there’s a full-sleeve tattooed arm lifted in air (whose owner is also wearing a Dashboard circa 2010 hat), which obscured the other front row male holding a souvenir photo from HOB at dinner with his girlfriend.
Yes, it was mostly women folk in the front, but still lots of room for us sensitive males.
Ian! OMG so you are the annoying guy who wont shut up at any of the shows,, You and your crew are terribly annoying - Im suprised Chris and his crew haven’t taken a restraining order out on you creepy people yet..