When your boss messages you saying "if you can make it to New Jersey you can photograph tonight," of course I jumped at the chance. Then my excitement was shot down with a message that said "nevermind, you're four hours away!" You say four hour car ride, I say for hour adventure to see the one and only Dashboard Confessional!
With literally twenty minutes to pack, I was Jersey bound! After five tolls, numerous bridges and 219 miles later I was finally at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park NJ.
The Stone Pony has been the core of the Asbury Park Music scene since opening their doors in 1974. A few “locals” helped put The Stone Pony on the map. These “locals” were none other than Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt as well as Southside Johnny!
The Stone Pony s nothing short of fabulous, the walls are filled with signed guitars and photos of artists, taking you back in time where the “locals” were just “locals” and starting out. The Stone Pony boasts 5500 sq feet and can hold 1000 fans, once the weather warms up The Stone Pony takes the party outside to their Summer Stage! Be sure to check out the summer events listed here.
I have to say that my trip was an amazing journey, like who wouldn’t jump at the chance to photograph Dashboard, traveling be damned. Seriously, so super stoked to even be in the same room as them, let alone photograph them! Dashboard’s set list was nothing short of perfect. The lights went low and stayed low and dark as Dashboard’s frontman Chris Carrabba took the stage Monday night, playing acoustic guitar and strumming the first chords of “The Best Deceptions” from 2001 album The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. Before Chris could get a note out, concert goers shouted “we love you Chris!” The throwback song prompted an impromptu chorus singalong by the crowd and set the pace for the rest of the show. While 2018's The Fight Tour's goal is to promote Dashboard's latest release, Crooked Shadows, Carrabba and his band didn't forget the hits that have kept the emo group going since debuting in 2000. The eighteen song set included four of the newly released songs off of Crooked Shadows such as"We Fight" and "Belong." In typical Dashboard fashion, Carrabba woo'd the crowd with his guitar and that cheeky smile that's been the forefront of emo heartthrobs for so many years.
Closing out the night, Dashboard saved the bests for last, including "Vindicated" and "Hands Down" for the encore. If you've never been to a Dashboard show, just know the band takes the backseat on those songs, the crowd handles the whole singing thing for them.
Setlist:
1. The Best Deceptions
2. Don't Wait
3. The Good Fight
4. Be Alright
5. Saints and Sailors
6. Remember to Breathe
7. Adore (Amy Shark cover)
8. The Sharp Hint of New Tears
9. Belong
10. The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most
11. The Brilliant Dance
12. Heart Beat Here
13. We Fight
14. Screaming Infidelities
15. Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover)
16. Stolen
17. Vindicated
18. Hands Down