Dashboard Confessional - St James Church, Piccadilly, April 3rd 2007
Support: John Ralston

Set List
The Best Deceptions
Where There's Gold
Don't Wait (Original Demo Version)
The Swiss Army Romance
The Places You have Come to Fear the Most
The Brilliant Dance
Screaming Infidelities
Get Me Right
Dusk and Summer (extended - Heaven Here)
So Impossible
Carry this Picture
The Good Fight
Again I Go Unnoticed
New Song (?)
Vindicated

Encore
Stolen
Thick as Thieves
Hands Down


The intimate locale of this acoustic show tonight is special to say the least. The dramatic setting creates an atmosphere that not only uplifts the tone of the performance but give it a unique taste as to how music changes based on where and how you hear it.
Dashboard Confessional are somewhat of kings of the alternative underworld, rising to fame in the States before gathering some attention this side of the pond, the band are lovingly embraced by the lost and loved with great affection and high critical praise to bringing us intelligent music with heart (and more often heart break). The band could be credited with being a blueprint for many of the emo and alternative bands on the music circuit at present, and are a fine example of how to make music emote without crossing over into whining.
Chris Carrabba stills evokes what it’s like to lose out in love years ago as if it was just yesterday. Though they may not be for everyone’s taste buds they still have an audience that craves them just as much as the band needs them in return.

The show opens with a short but sweet set from John Ralston to warm everyone up for the evening’s tone and atmosphere but it’s not until Chris appears that the crowd is ready to completely open up. There are a gather of people on the church floor as the pews and upper levels are full and as Chris comments himself is reminiscent of their MTV Unplugged session from a few years back; and it’s very true. The crowd chats in between songs with Chris and her shares stories and jokes in his bashful manner. Though he endearing when talking and appears shy and sweet when he sings he opens up and showers that room with every emotion he can’t contain.

The audience knows every word and beat from every song, bar a few newly completed tracks from the soon to be released record and the occasionally alteration on old favourites which Chris admits ‘he doesn’t know as well as the new ones’. Chris switches from singing directly through the mic, screaming toward the ceiling to saying nothing at all and letting the chorus of fans do the vocal work and he playing his guitar enjoying the show he’s getting in return. Every song is as wonderful as the last and it’s not until ‘Hands Down’ that I’m completely blown away at his skill as a performer, I can’t do it justice here apart from to say ‘Wow’. Though the whole show was amazing, this song could have been a show in itself.


Review by Laura Heath


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