Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida, formed in 1999 and led by singer Chris Carrabba.[1] The name of the band is derived from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears" off their debut album, The Swiss Army Romance.
Dashboard Confessional
Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
- 1999–2011
- 2015–present
- Chris Carrabba
- Scott Schoenbeck
- Armon Jay
- Chris Kamrada
- Kenny Bridges
- Abigail Kelly
- Dan Bonebrake
- John Lefler
- Mike Marsh
- Dane Poppin
History[edit]
Early history (1999–2002)[edit]
Dashboard Confessional's first recording was the 2000 album The Swiss Army Romance, initially a solo side project of Chris Carrabba while he was in the band Further Seems Forever. The following year, Further Seems Forever, with Chris Carrabba, recorded its debut album, The Moon Is Down. Carrabba left the band before the album was released[2] to record and release his second solo album, The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most, and a follow-up EP, So Impossible; both were released under the name Dashboard Confessional.
By 2002, three other musicians had joined Dashboard Confessional. After the success of his second album, Carrabba was asked to perform on MTV Unplugged, and the subsequent live release marked the first time many of the songs were recorded with a full band. Also in 2002, the music video for "Screaming Infidelities" won the MTV2 award at the MTV Video Music Awards, beating out Norah Jones, The Strokes, The Hives, Nappy Roots, and Musiq.[3][4] This video starred Carrabba in both the performance and the storyline. The video was directed by Maureen Egan and Matthew Barry.[5][6]
A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar (2003–2005)[edit]
In 2003, Dashboard Confessional released its third album, A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar. Peaking at No. 2 on the United States Billboard charts, the album proved to be the band's most commercially viable album yet. In the fall of 2003, Dashboard Confessional toured with Brand New.[7][8][9]
In the summer of 2004, Dashboard Confessional recorded the song "Vindicated" for the film Spider-Man 2. It was featured on the soundtrack and played over the film's end credits.[10][11][12][13] Due to such usage, the band gained a sizable audience for their next release the following summer, Dusk and Summer. "Vindicated" was not, however, released on A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar but was included on most versions and deluxe edition versions of Dusk and Summer.[14]
Dusk and Summer (2005–2006)[edit]
In May 2005, Dashboard Confessional entered the studio to record their fourth album with producer Daniel Lanois. The album, Dusk and Summer, was released on June 27, 2006; its first single was "Don't Wait". Following the release of Dusk and Summer, Dashboard Confessional went on a summer tour of the U.S. with special guests Say Anything and Ben Lee,[15] followed by co-headlining an arena tour with Brand New.[8]
The Shade of Poison Trees (2007–2009)[edit]
In 2007, Dashboard Confessional released its follow-up to Dusk and Summer, The Shade of Poison Trees. Unlike its predecessor, this album reflects back on the earlier influence of Carrabba's acoustic harmonies from The Swiss Army Romance and The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most.
Alter the Ending, The Swiss Army Romance re-release (2009–2010)[edit]
Dashboard Confessional began recording their sixth studio album, Alter the Ending, in 2008. Carrabba stated that the album could have turned into a concept album:
Musical style and influences[edit]
Dashboard Confessional's style is emo[39][40][41][42] that takes the sound of alternative rock,[43] indie rock[40] and acoustic rock.[42] Dashboard Confessional's influences include Fugazi, Minor Threat, Descendents, Guy Clark, the Beach Boys,[44] Bruce Springsteen, Superchunk,[45] the Cure, Jawbreaker, R.E.M., Operation Ivy, the Smiths, Counting Crows, Morrissey, Paul Simon, Steve Earle, Green Day, Elvis Costello, the Promise Ring, Sunny Day Real Estate, Mineral,[46] Sick of It All, and Weezer.
Studio albums