Dashboard Confessional Swiss Army Romance Tour

People who know me find it kind of surprising when I tell them one of my favorite live performances is the soft, mellow, "emo" sound of Dashboard Confessional. January 10, 2011 marked my third time seeing the Dashboard show and as with the previous performances, it did not fail to impress.

Long-time Dashboard Confessional guitarist John Lefler opened the show with an energetic five song set that alternated between the guitar Dashboard fans are familiar with and the piano, which he joked he had never played before but would figure out "in the next five minutes."

After Lefler, California-based Lady Danville took the stage. Made up of Michael Garner (keys, vocals), Matt Frankel (percussion, vocals) and Dan Chang (guitar, vocals), Lady Danville got their start at UCLA in 2007. The three piece alternates between vocalists, with at least two singing almost all the time, all three a lot of the time. It was a fun set and, having never heard them before, I'd definitely listen to them again.

A surprise for this concert goer was Chris Conley of Saves the Day performing an all acoustic set. I've never been a fan of Saves the Day, not because I didn't like the music, it was just nothing I had ever really listened to. I was completely unfamiliar with the songs, but a fair portion of the crowd was not in the same predicament; in fact some were there specifically for that set. Even with not knowing the songs (I didn't know any of John Lefler's or Lady Danville's either) I still enjoyed the set. Might even have to look into getting a few of the tracks.

It was 10:00 when Chris Carrabba and his guitar took the stage. This is the 10th anniversary of the release of Chris' first album as Dashboard Confessional, Swiss Army Romance, and as a celebration, the beginning of the show was comprised of the Swiss Army Romance album in its entirety. Old tracks but not tracks Dashboard Confessional fans are unfamiliar with.

One of the most amazing aspects of a Dashboard Confessional show is Carrabba can stop singing for entire verses and the fans never miss a beat. New tracks, old tracks, it doesn't seem to matter. They know every word, every note, and sing right along with the songs. The energy that goes along with a show where the fans are so completely familiar with the artist's entire catalog is almost tangible.

Every fan has their favorite tracks and there are tracks that are everyone's favorites. Standards that never fail to get everyone singing - Stolen, Vindicated, Again I Go Unnoticed, Hands Down - were all included in the nearly two-hour long set, after the completion of the Swiss Army Romance album.

Dashboard Confessional is easily one of this rocker chick's favorite live performances and this January 10, 2011 show was not one that will be changing my mind in that respect. I absolutely will be returning to the Dashboard crowd as many times in the future as is at all possible. If you haven't seen a Dashboard Confessional performance; if you among those who think "it's nothing I can't hear sitting at home in the comfort of my living room," take my word for it. I was one of those people once. I am no longer. Carrabba's high energy level and amazing stage presence coupled with the energy and enthusiasm of the fans makes for a night you will not soon forget.