A Night With Dashboard Confessional

 

Chris Carrabba has been doing it since 1998. 

Chris Carrabba, lead singer of Dashboard Confessional, rocking out at Ramapo College last night.

Belting out heart-wrenching ballads of pain, love and joy, that is. Making girls swoon with his boyish good looks. And last but not least, owning the stage. Take your pick, Dashboard Confessional knows how to put on a damn good show and they did just that last night. 

With the release of their latest album, Alter The Ending, the Boca Raton natives are in the midst of a two-month international tour that brought them to the Bradley Center at Ramapo College in New Jersey last night. Dashboard Confessional was greeted by over 1,400 ecstatic fans, according to Ali, an 8^th semester senior at Ramapo. 

Dashboard Confessional. Members Chris Carrabba, John Lefler, Scott Schoenbeck and Mike Marsh.

“Dashboard played a few new songs from their new album, like Belle of the Boulevard, but still played lots of older classics,” said Ali. Like many college-age students, Ali has been a fan of Dashboard Confessional since early albums such as The Swiss Army Romance, The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most and A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. Lead singer, Chris Carrabba, knows that although the band’s new music is great, the majority of Ramapo students came to see him cry the words to Screaming Infidelities. 

“Well As for now I’m gonna hear the saddest songs
And sit alone and wonder
How you’re making out
But as for me, I wish that I was anywhere with anyone
Making out.” Screaming Infidelities. 

   

The Original King of Emo, a.k.a. Chris Carrabba never holds back with expressing his deepest emotions in Dashboard’s song lyrics. Most of them about heartbreak and despair, but Carrabba’s middle name is Ender so he can’t help but love to paint his nails black. Alone. In the dark. 

That last part was kind of a joke, Dashboard actually has a couple uplifting songs among many emo-gems. 

To go along with his image of a wounded but determined soul, Carrabba never fails to dress to impress. Word on the street is that he’s a bit of a diva and demanded Starbucks and dry-cleaning from the Ramapo Concert Series staff. Move over Beyonce! 

Hope his Caramel Macchiato was brewed to perfection!

Donned in a classy collared white button-down and black vest, Chris Carrabba rocked out with a great seat-list and great hair, as usual. 

“Dashboard’s energy was still as high as it always has been at their concerts. Things haven’t changed much, Carrabba’s hair is still goofy,” said Ali. 

Ali and I saw Dashboard for the first time together in 2003 in New Jersey and many times since.  Carrabba’s voice is one of those that must be experienced in person. Despite his petite 5 foot 5 inch frame, Carrabba is capable of producing some dynamic sounds. The band played crowd-favorites such as Thick As Thieves, Vindicated, Screaming Infidelities and closed with Hands Down at Ramapo last night. 

Carrabba is known for being a very interactive performer and talks to the audience a lot in between songs at shows. Last night, he revealed the inspiration behind song Thick As Thieves to fans, according to Ali. 

“The song is about his crazy ex-girlfriend who all of a sudden started stealing stuff,” said Ali. 

According to Carrabba, the klepto stole Snickers bars and then upgraded to MAC make-up and eventually cars. I guess Interscope Records isn’t paying Chris enough to buy his lady a new lipstick. 

Joining Dashboard Confessional on their tour is Anthony Raneri, lead singer of Bayside. Raneri has some new solo work coming out and won the crowd over by playing I’ll Follow You In To The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie  last night. 

Anthony Ranieri of Bayside. Photo Courtesy of MTV.com.

B.E.P. Steal the Show

Let it be stated right now that I do not condone award shows. Music award shows, in particular. Leaving it up to a bunch of old geezers to decide who is the “hottest” in the msic biz right now just does not sit well with me. Airing last night on CBS, the 52nd annual Grammys seemed more like a popularity contest than an award show. Of course talented artists should be recognized and awarded for their accomplishments, but is it really necessary for Beyonce to walk off the stage with at least five Grammys every year? Let some one else bask in the limelight, B!

Despite these negative feelings towards the Grammys, I still am a music-lover at heart and had to tune in for at least the first hour to watch some performances.

Lady GaGa, I have one word for you, SCARY.

Pink, I have one question for you, are you a singer or a body contortionist?

Beyonce, I have one comment for you, do something different!

I was just about to change the channel when Miley Cyrus (who thankfully did not win a Grammy), came onstage to introduce the Black Eyed Pea’s performance. Needless to say, the Peas completely stole the show. Fergie, Will.I.Am, Taboo and Apl.De.Ap created an energy onstage that viewers could feel through their televisions. I’m not kidding, I 100 percent admit to dancing around my room during their performance. The dynamic pop-group performed their new hit, Imma Be and the 2009 summer hit, I Gotta Feeling. Fergie, who is 11 years older than Lady GaGa, totally nailed her choreography and vocals making GaGa look like she was given the night off from her nursing home.

The Black Eyed Peas walked away with three Grammys last night including Best Pop Performance by a Duo or a Group and Best Pop Vocal Album. Alternative rock group, Kings of Leon, who have been making music for over 10 years were finally recognized for their talent and awarded the prestigious Record of The Year award as well as two other Grammys. That being said, the Grammys did not totally discriminate against different genres of music and some fairness was still left in tact.