43-644: Christopher Andrew Carrabba (born April 10, 1975) is an American musician who is the lead singer and guitarist of the band Dashboard Confessional , lead singer of the band Further Seems Forever , and lead vocalist for the folk band Twin Forks . Born in West Hartford , Connecticut , United States, Carrabba's parents divorced when he was three. At age 16, he moved with his mother Anne, brother Nick, stepbrother and stepfather to Boca Raton , Florida . Carrabba remains close to some relatives on his paternal side, but
86-607: A 13-date acoustic tour with New Found Glory (who played acoustic sets as well) on November 30, 2009. Dashboard Confessional performed as the opening act for the Bon Jovi Circle Tour in 2010. On July 31, 2010, Carrabba performed at the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado for the second annual Love Hope Strength Foundation and Health ONE Pikes Peak Rocks benefit, honoring cancer survivors and raising money and awareness for research and treatment. On October 4, 2010, it
129-521: 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 . 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. Due to such usage,
172-640: A cover of " Maybe Baby " on the 2011 tribute album Rave on Buddy Holly , and played Newport Folk Festival and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival . Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now was listed at album number 37 on Rolling Stone 's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, with the annotation as follows: "The son of country-rock renegade Steve Earle has grown into a songwriter to rival his dad." On January 4, 2021, Steve Earle &
215-420: A little label talked me into recording." The name Dashboard Confessional comes from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears." The lyric "On the way home, this car hears my confessions" brought to mind the phrase "Dashboard Confessional." Carrabba was a special education teacher prior to his success with Dashboard Confessional, often keeping a guitar in his office to write songs during downtime. In 2008, just as he
258-778: A major motorcycle accident in 2020, Dashboard Confessional released a pre-recorded stream show titled Lonely Hearts & Lovers on February 14, 2021. They played a 19-song set, shot in Riverside Revival Church in Nashville, Tennessee, in 4K ultra HD. In February 2022, another Valentine's stream was announced. This show was shot in gardens in Southern California, and they played 12 songs. In February 2022 Dashboard Confessional released their ninth studio album, All The Truth That I Can Tell . Dashboard Confessional and Jimmy Eat World began their 'Surviving
301-459: A special Valentine's Day gift to fans, Carrabba released a free download on his MySpace page entitled "Even Now (Acoustic Version)" from their forthcoming studio album. In June 2009, the band began "sequencing the album," suggesting that the upcoming album was close to completion. In August 2009, Dashboard Confessional contributed a song to the motion picture soundtrack for the dark comedy film Jennifer's Body , titled "Finishing School." It
344-467: Is from Sugar Land, Texas . He attended Dulles High School and graduated high school in 1993. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 1997 with a degree in fine art. Lefler started playing guitar in 1989 and piano shortly thereafter. His first instrument was a PVT-60 which his father had purchased from a pawn shop. He started writing songs when he about 18 years old, after seeing
387-665: Is not close to his father Andrew. As a teenager, Carrabba was interested in skateboarding and passionate about music. In high school, he started singing in his choir. At 15, his two cousins found a guitar in their basement, presumably belonging to their father but the true owner is unknown. Carrabba ended up with the guitar when one of them figured he would be the only one who could play it. After graduating from Boca Raton Community High School , Carrabba became more serious about music and joined his first band, The Vacant Andys, and matriculated to Florida Atlantic University to study education. At college, alongside studies, Carrabba played with
430-1073: The Grand Ole Opry in 2008, WSM Radio , South By Southwest (2008–2010, 2012), the Beacon Theatre (May 2009), the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion (September 2009), Bonnaroo (2009) Bumbershoot (2010), the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival (Australia, 2012), the Bowery Ballroom (March 2010), the Winnipeg Folk Festival (July 2008), and the Nelsonville Music Festival (2008 and 2011). In 2009, Earle co-billed The Big Surprise Tour with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings , Old Crow Medicine Show , and The Felice Brothers . In 2012, he appeared in an episode of
473-671: The HBO television series Treme with his father. In September 2009, Earle received an Americana Music Award for New and Emerging Artist of the Year. In 2011, Earle received the Americana Music Award in the Song of the Year category for "Harlem River Blues". His album of the same name has been described as having a "gently flowing, urban Americana sound, with horns, organ and tangy electric guitar". That year he also contributed
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#1732790350310516-486: The John Lennon bio-pic, Imagine . Lefler had piano lessons for a few months while in high school. "My recital piece was Bruce Hornsby 's "The Way It Is". It was terrible. I've never had another lesson (or recital) of any kind since." When describing his piano technique, he stated, "I tend to play the piano with my fists more than anything." Lefler joined Dashboard Confessional in 2002 after having flown out to meet
559-870: The Dukes released the album J.T. , a tribute to Justin Townes Earle. On January 4, 2023, a tribute concert was held at the Ryman Auditorium in memory of Justin. Performers included Steve Earle & The Dukes and special guests: Shooter Jennings, Bonnie Whitmore, Amanda Shires, Willy and Cody Braun, Buddy Miller, Ben Nichols (Lucero), Dustin Welch, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Jason Isbell, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Joe Pug, Jon Langford, Lilly Hiatt, Scotty Melton, Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart. Earle began using drugs at age 12 and continued for many years. In his words, "I discovered very fast that my way of doing things
602-536: The Smiths , Counting Crows , Morrissey , Paul Simon , Steve Earle , Green Day , Elvis Costello , the Promise Ring , Sunny Day Real Estate , Mineral , Sick of It All , and Weezer . John C. Lefler (born March 18, 1975) is an American songwriter, singer, guitarist, and pianist. He is a former member of Dashboard Confessional. Lefler has a been an freelance graphic designer since 2012. Lefler
645-534: The Swindlers. He spent some time as guitarist and keyboardist for his father's touring band the Dukes. He developed a hybrid style of music mixing folk, blues, and country. In 2007, Earle released a six-song EP called Yuma . He signed a contract with Chicago's Bloodshot Records and released an album called The Good Life in 2008. In 2009, he released the album Midnight at the Movies . In 2010, he released
688-597: The Truth Tour' on February 27, 2022. In early April 2022, Dashboard Confessional announced the Hello Gone Days co-headlining tour with Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness , to kick off on July 31 and last through September 7. Opening acts included Cartel , The Juliana Theory , and Armor for Sleep . Former member John Lefler filled in for Armon Jay for the Dallas show of the tour. Dashboard Confessional toured
731-735: The United States with the Counting Crows on the Banshee Season Tour in the summer of 2023. Dashboard Confessional's style is emo that takes the sound of alternative rock , indie rock and acoustic rock . Dashboard Confessional's influences include Fugazi , Minor Threat , Descendents , Guy Clark , the Beach Boys , Bruce Springsteen , Superchunk , the Cure , Jawbreaker , R.E.M. , Operation Ivy ,
774-577: The Vacant Andys and, later, with the Agency, which featured Chris Carrabba on their second LP, ENGINES . This was the first recording to feature both Mike Marsh and Chris Carrabba before Mike Marsh became Dashboard Confessional's full-time drummer. For several years, Chris taught at an elementary school in South Florida and played with the group Further Seems Forever . Dashboard Confessional
817-537: The Vacant Andys. In 1998, while playing with the Vacant Andys, he filled in on guitar in New Found Glory , when regular guitarist Chad Gilbert was on tour with his other band, Shai Hulud . In 2001, he joined the band Further Seems Forever for their debut album The Moon is Down , before moving on to found Dashboard Confessional. In 2002, Dashboard Confessional won the MTV2 Award at MTV Music Awards for
860-548: The album Harlem River Blues , followed by the album Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now in 2012. From 2014 to 2017, Earle released a "family trilogy" of albums, comprising Single Mothers (2014), Absent Fathers (2015), and Kids in the Street (2017). His last album, The Saint of Lost Causes , was released in May 2019. Earle produced Wanda Jackson 's album Unfinished Business in 2012. Earle played
903-477: The band before the album was released 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
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#1732790350310946-414: 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 . In May 2005, Dashboard Confessional entered the studio to record their fourth album with producer Daniel Lanois . The album, Dusk and Summer ,
989-432: The band is derived from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears" off their debut album, The Swiss Army Romance . 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
1032-525: The band's beginning. The band in the anniversary tour played selected songs from the albums The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most and A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar . On January 31, 2020, a greatest hits album was released as part of the 20th anniversary titled The Best Ones of the Best Ones . The anniversary tour was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Following Carrabba's recovery from
1075-459: The brothers, the band completed The Wimbledons EP on Lefler's own label, Goodhang Records. Being influenced by bands like Jellyfish , Ben Folds , Crowded House , The Police , The Beatles , and U2 , Lefler released Better By Design in June 2009. Better By Design was co-produced by Lefler, along with friends Salim Nourallah and Rip Rowan. In 2012, he released his second EP, Shoutfire . It
1118-546: The earlier influence of Carrabba's acoustic harmonies from The Swiss Army Romance and The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most . 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: "...only with the last three has it become, like, 'All right, these have a continuity, and there's something going on,' so I'm excited to see where that leads." On February 14, 2009, as
1161-590: 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 . This video starred Carrabba in both the performance and the storyline. The video was directed by Maureen Egan and Matthew Barry. In 2003, Dashboard Confessional released its third album, A Mark,
1204-563: The near future. On October 30, 2009, however, Carrabba announced via Twitter and Facebook that, due to a last-minute family emergency, the band would be cancelling their Alter the Ending tour with New Found Glory and Never Shout Never with the exception of a November 7 concert with the Louisville Orchestra . Although the longer tour with New Found Glory and Never Shout Never was cancelled, Carrabba announced on his website on November 10, 2009, that he and John Lefler would begin
1247-530: The next few years pursuing many different avenues. In 2011, Chris released Covered in the Flood , a solo album containing covers of other artists. Chris spent the subsequent years touring, working on some of his side musical projects, collaborating with other bands and exploring other creative pursuits such as painting and designing clothes. In an interview with MTV News on October 6, 2017, Chris Carrabba announced that Dashboard Confessional's seventh studio album
1290-512: The release, Carrabba embarked on a solo tour playing The Swiss Army Romance in its entirety for the tenth anniversary of the release of the album. On December 1, it was announced that Chris Conley of Saves the Day was added to the tour as main support for the West Coast dates. Three-piece band Lady Danville joined them as well. After the release of Alter the Ending , Chris Carrabba spent
1333-578: The rest of the band in Florida. In less than two weeks, Lefler made his first official appearance as a Dashboard Confessional member on the MTV Unplugged recording. He left on his own accord after the band's hiatus began in 2010. In 2005, Lefler and his brothers Bill and Kevin formed an alternative-country band called The Wimbledons in Los Angeles, California. After much infighting between
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1376-539: The song "The Moon Is Down." In November 2011, Carrabba released Covered in the Flood , an album of covers exclusively on his solo US tour. The album contains 10 tracks originally performed by artists that include R.E.M. , Big Star , Guy Clark , Justin Townes Earle and the Replacements . Dashboard Confessional Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida , formed in 1999 and led by singer Chris Carrabba . The name of
1419-443: The video for "Screaming Infidelities." The video was considered the "dark horse" nominee at the time, as it was up against The Strokes , The Hives , Norah Jones , Nappy Roots , and Musiq . The video was directed by Maureen Egan and Matthew Barry. It was announced on August 24, 2010, that Further Seems Forever would be reuniting with original vocalist Chris Carrabba with the release of a teaser video featuring rehearsal footage of
1462-433: Was announced that Dashboard Confessional's first album, The Swiss Army Romance , would be re-released as a deluxe vinyl album on November 16. The limited edition box set (only 1,000 copies available) included remastered versions of the album's track listing, extended artwork, handwritten lyrics, unreleased photos, guitar picks, and a commemorative tour laminate, all encased in an intricate Swiss army knife case. The day after
1505-482: Was born when Chris recorded the Drowning EP with Fiddler Records. "I started (Dashboard) as a side project from the band I was in," says Carrabba. "I was going through something really tough at the time and since I don't write in a journal, this is what I did with it. It was a good way to get it out of my system. I never thought anyone would hear these songs, but I played some for my friends and one of them who owned
1548-500: Was going to get me in trouble, and I kept going with it, because I believed the myth for a long time, and I believed I had to destroy myself to make great art." He went to rehabilitation clinics nine times followed by periods of sobriety . He relapsed in September 2010 and again in 2017. Earle moved to New York City in 2009, but returned to Nashville in 2014. He married Jenn Marie Maynard in 2013 and he and his wife lived on
1591-431: Was in the works. On November 15, it was announced that the group's next album, Crooked Shadows , would be released on February 9, 2018, through Fueled by Ramen . In 2019 Dashboard Confessional released re-recordings of Dusk and Summer , Alter the Ending , and A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar under a triple LP titled Now Is Then Is Now . In 2020, Carrabba and his band started a 20th anniversary tour celebrating
1634-479: Was not featured on Alter the Ending . On September 10, 2009, Chris Carrabba confirmed on his Twitter page that the 12-song album would be released on November 10, 2009. It was found out that the album would be released on two discs, the first of which consisted of the full-band version of the album and the second consisted of the acoustic version. In addition, Carrabba stated that Dashboard Confessional would be touring with New Found Glory and Never Shout Never in
1677-586: Was produced by his brother Bill. Lefler began playing in a yacht rock tribute group Captain and Camille after a 70's night at Opening Bell Coffee. He formed the cover group with his friend Camille Cortinas as well as seven local Dallas musicians. Studio albums Justin Townes Earle Justin Townes Earle (January 4, 1982 – August 20, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. After his debut EP, Yuma (2007), he released eight full-length albums. He
1720-481: Was recognized with an Americana Music Award for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2009 and for Song of the Year in 2011 for " Harlem River Blues ". His father is alternative country artist Steve Earle . Earle grew up in South Nashville , Tennessee , with his mother, Carol Ann Hunter Earle. His father, Steve Earle , named him in honor of his own mentor, singer and songwriter Townes Van Zandt . When Justin
1763-440: 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 , followed by co-headlining an arena tour with Brand New . 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
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1806-481: Was two, his father left the family, but after Steve Earle got sober in 1994 he returned. Earle dropped out of school, occasionally touring with and working for his father, eventually moving to eastern Tennessee with other songwriters. Like his father, he battled addiction beginning in his early teens. Earle played in two Nashville bands: the rock band the Distributors and the ragtime and bluegrass combo
1849-456: Was wrapping up work on the sixth Dashboard Confessional album, Carrabba's sister was in a serious car accident that put her in a coma for several months. "I was torn between being with her through most of her waking hours until we were kicked out of the hospital at the end of their shifts and going home and doing my work," he said. Carrabba required double shoulder surgeries following a motorcycle accident in 2020. Carrabba started his career with
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