Dashboard...
Well, the perfect indicator that the Dashboard concert was disappointing? I didn't feel the need to update my LJ about it as soon as I got home. Actually, I pretty much forgot about the concert as soon as I walked out. I've only ever been to one other concert that disappointed me - Dave Matthews at the O'Dome two years ago.
But as a longtime Dashboard fan, I was expecting more. I saw Dashboard for the first time back in August or September of 2003. I missed a Phi Sig rush event (as a rushee) to go to the concert. That show was my first experience at House of Blues, and it remains as one of my top five concert experiences. The fact that Dashboard fans are expected to sing at the top of their lungs along with the songs at the concert was just such a different experience than any show I'd been to. And thanks to HOB, I was only a few feet away from Chris. How cool? I was just starting to really get into the music scene, so it was a pivotal point for me. So now, three years later, I finally had my chance to see Dashboard again. I was expecting a lot, I suppose.
1) Being 21 at a Dashboard show is a completely different experience than when I was 18. Since I usually go to HOB to see Flogging Molly, I'm used to a very diverse crowd. Rowdy/friendly fans drinking Guiness and dancing. Dashboard definitely wasn't that - the bars were practically empty and those with the yellow "over-21" wristbands were few and far between.
2) We got there RIGHT before he started playing. We had just enough time to use the bathroom, get drinks (see: my drink was definitely rum with a splash of coke. Good thing I'm a pirate and like rum. lol) and find a spot before he came on stage. This was because the trip there was ridiculous. First, my printer decided to be a bastard and refused to print our tickets. After I gave up fixing it, we drove back to Mishy's apartment. Mishy's printer also started acting up, but thankfully we fixed it. We left Gainesville at roughly 5:30 although we'd planned on 4:30. Then there was a wreck in Ocala, so that was a good 20-30 minutes of sitting in traffic. On the turnpike, we waited another 20 minutes to pay the toll, only to have the lady wave us through without paying. Ok? Once on I-4 in Orlando, we missed the usual exit we take so took the next, which was actually more convenient after a little confusion. We got to Orlando at 8 p.m. or so. I was exhausted. I'd only had three hours of sleep after a very busy weekend and that drive took it out of me.
3) He started the show without his guitar, singing with the band. We learned very quickly that Chris should never be without his guitar. He kept doing "praise Jesus" hands and squatting and doing these very awkward movements. Mishy and I were actually laughing at him. Even saying that, he's still ridiculously hot and I would still jump him given the chance, but the Jesus hands need to go.
4) The set only lasted about an hour (I paid $40 for this! WTF?), and consisted of only about five older songs. All the rest were from the new CD that came out a month ago. And although I bought the cd, there's only two or three songs I actually like on it. With the new band accompanying him, the songs just don't have the same sing-along/heartfelt quality to them. The audience agreed with me obviously, as they all stood and just watched him during the new songs, then went crazy and screamed and sang as loud as they could on the old songs. Hey! Take a hint Chris! Old songs included: Screaming Infidelities (there would have been a riot otherwise, I think... I called Sarah and left it on her voicemail), The Sharp Hint of New Tears, the Swiss Army Romance, Again I Go Unnoticed (my personal fave, so I was happy!), and the Good Fight. I don't remember hearing anything from the third CD, besides Hands Down, which was part of the two-song encore of Vindicated and Hands Down - their two most "sellout" songs ever. Great.
So my opinion is that this show was for their sellout fans, and he's completely deserted the old crowd. *sigh* I'll definitely think twice about buying tickets the next time he's in Orlando. Honestly, I had a much better time at the Fick show on Saturday and I'm really glad I didn't miss their show because of Dashboard.
The upside of having such a short show was that we were back at the car by 10 p.m., stopped to get gas and food before hitting I-4 again, and amazingly we were back in Gainesville by 12:30. I can't remember a concert I've ever been to where I've made it back before 2 a.m. Craaaazy! It was great for me though since I was so exhausted. It was good times with Mishy, at least. She's the best concert partner ever! =) Next time, Chris, I expect better.
But as a longtime Dashboard fan, I was expecting more. I saw Dashboard for the first time back in August or September of 2003. I missed a Phi Sig rush event (as a rushee) to go to the concert. That show was my first experience at House of Blues, and it remains as one of my top five concert experiences. The fact that Dashboard fans are expected to sing at the top of their lungs along with the songs at the concert was just such a different experience than any show I'd been to. And thanks to HOB, I was only a few feet away from Chris. How cool? I was just starting to really get into the music scene, so it was a pivotal point for me. So now, three years later, I finally had my chance to see Dashboard again. I was expecting a lot, I suppose.
1) Being 21 at a Dashboard show is a completely different experience than when I was 18. Since I usually go to HOB to see Flogging Molly, I'm used to a very diverse crowd. Rowdy/friendly fans drinking Guiness and dancing. Dashboard definitely wasn't that - the bars were practically empty and those with the yellow "over-21" wristbands were few and far between.
2) We got there RIGHT before he started playing. We had just enough time to use the bathroom, get drinks (see: my drink was definitely rum with a splash of coke. Good thing I'm a pirate and like rum. lol) and find a spot before he came on stage. This was because the trip there was ridiculous. First, my printer decided to be a bastard and refused to print our tickets. After I gave up fixing it, we drove back to Mishy's apartment. Mishy's printer also started acting up, but thankfully we fixed it. We left Gainesville at roughly 5:30 although we'd planned on 4:30. Then there was a wreck in Ocala, so that was a good 20-30 minutes of sitting in traffic. On the turnpike, we waited another 20 minutes to pay the toll, only to have the lady wave us through without paying. Ok? Once on I-4 in Orlando, we missed the usual exit we take so took the next, which was actually more convenient after a little confusion. We got to Orlando at 8 p.m. or so. I was exhausted. I'd only had three hours of sleep after a very busy weekend and that drive took it out of me.
3) He started the show without his guitar, singing with the band. We learned very quickly that Chris should never be without his guitar. He kept doing "praise Jesus" hands and squatting and doing these very awkward movements. Mishy and I were actually laughing at him. Even saying that, he's still ridiculously hot and I would still jump him given the chance, but the Jesus hands need to go.
4) The set only lasted about an hour (I paid $40 for this! WTF?), and consisted of only about five older songs. All the rest were from the new CD that came out a month ago. And although I bought the cd, there's only two or three songs I actually like on it. With the new band accompanying him, the songs just don't have the same sing-along/heartfelt quality to them. The audience agreed with me obviously, as they all stood and just watched him during the new songs, then went crazy and screamed and sang as loud as they could on the old songs. Hey! Take a hint Chris! Old songs included: Screaming Infidelities (there would have been a riot otherwise, I think... I called Sarah and left it on her voicemail), The Sharp Hint of New Tears, the Swiss Army Romance, Again I Go Unnoticed (my personal fave, so I was happy!), and the Good Fight. I don't remember hearing anything from the third CD, besides Hands Down, which was part of the two-song encore of Vindicated and Hands Down - their two most "sellout" songs ever. Great.
So my opinion is that this show was for their sellout fans, and he's completely deserted the old crowd. *sigh* I'll definitely think twice about buying tickets the next time he's in Orlando. Honestly, I had a much better time at the Fick show on Saturday and I'm really glad I didn't miss their show because of Dashboard.
The upside of having such a short show was that we were back at the car by 10 p.m., stopped to get gas and food before hitting I-4 again, and amazingly we were back in Gainesville by 12:30. I can't remember a concert I've ever been to where I've made it back before 2 a.m. Craaaazy! It was great for me though since I was so exhausted. It was good times with Mishy, at least. She's the best concert partner ever! =) Next time, Chris, I expect better.