2009 Dashboard Confessional

Dashboard Confessional is carried almost completely on the shoulders of Chris Carraba. He earned his place in rock stardom not by being the bad boy with a guitar, but by singing emotional songs of love and picking at an acoustic guitar. Dashboard Confessional's brand of alternative rock has been dubbed 'emo' in reference to its emotion-laden lyrics. Dashboard surprised the record companies and critics by making it big on the pop charts and becoming a smash hit with the kids who also loved Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys.

Carraba was born in Boca Raton, Florida. He received his first guitar from an uncle when he was 15 years old. He was the typical skater boy and wasn't too interested in music at the time. But by the time he graduated from high school, Carraba had learned a few chords on the old acoustic guitar and decided to join a band called Vacant Andies.

After that group folded he moved on to join Further Seems Forever. The band soon had one of their songs released on the compilation disc Emo Diaries, Vol. 4: An Ocean of Doubt. After his sounds were heard with Further Seems Forever, Carraba started his solo career under the name Dashboard Confessional.

Carraba released his Dashboard debut in 2000. The Swiss Army Romance included the song 'Screaming Infidelities' which became a rock radio hit in the next two years. The single helped bring Dashboard Confessional from the underground scene into the mass media. As his popularity grew, Carraba decided to release another album to please his fans.

He released The Places You Have Come to Fear The Most, The Drowning, and So Impossible. With the new albums out, Dashboard's popularity soared. Dashboard fans bought tickets en masse and loyally followed Carraba across the country.

At every show across the country, fans sang along to his songs, girls swooned, teenagers swarmed the stage for an autograph. Carraba had become the idol of emotional teenagers everywhere.

Carraba was receiving free publicity left and right. His video for 'Screaming Infidelities' was featured on MTV's Unplugged. Dashboard won a fan's choice MTV Video Music Award. He also gained a new fan base while touring with Weezer. Tickets to the tour sold very well and Dashboard soon decided to go on an international tour. Soon his songs were being sung worldwide. Angsty kids around the world were now taking comfort in the songs of Carraba's own suffering. Like Carraba, they found an outlet in music and it did something that is hard to do for hormonal teens: it made them feel better about themselves. Dashboard Confessional had become an emotional release for thousands of young people in all walks of life.

Dashboard Confessional decided to continue spreading that accepting message. Carraba wrote, compiled, recorded, and released A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. Producer Gil Norton helped Carraba realize the dream of the new album. 'Hands Down' is featured on the album. The track was originally a huge hit in his live shows and was used to pump the album with the energy of his lyrical style and storytelling ability. 'As Lovers Go' and 'Carve Your Heart Out' also captured the hearts of fans. The album was wildly successful and Dashboard's following only continued to grow. Carraba's dedication to his fans has given his popularity staying ability. Dashboard Confessional promises to give a smashing live performance and also to deliver in the recording studio.