MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Dashboard Confessional

One listen and you're hooked.

That's how I'd describe what I like to call a "gateway song." You know the type. It's the tune that you form an immediate attachment to and obsession with after only one encounter. It's the one you feel powerless around. The one you can't get out of your head. You want to know more about it. You NEED to know more about it. You will stop at nothing until you're completely dependent upon it and your life will never be the same again.

OK, deep breath. Gateway songs aren't supposed to be scary or debilitating. They won't lead you to the door of Dr. Drew's "Sober House." What they will do is open your mind to a whole new musical existence, and how can that be a bad thing?

So grab a couple bags of Cheetos, turn on the black light and get comfortable because you're about to drop in on the heightened euphoric perception of Dashboard Confessional, The Clash, Whiskeytown and Phish.

Finally, if you'd like to keep up with all my musings, please visit my website and follow me on Twitter (@redpatterndress).

1.) Dashboard Confessional's "The Best Deceptions": After I graduated college, I took an internship at Alternative Press magazine and it wasn't long before I began my real education -- in music, that is. One fall day, while I was editing pages, I came across a frontman who was compared to one of my all-time favorite singers, Elliott Smith. I was immediately intrigued, and when I noticed his group was playing in Cleveland that very weekend, I was sold. The moment I stepped inside the Beachland Ballroom and heard Chris Carrabba belt out the poignant and heartbreaking words of "The Best Deceptions," I was a smitten kitten. From there, I blazed through all the bands on Vagrant Records -- like The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary, Alkaline Trio, etc. -- and then it was on to other like-minded peeps like Promise Ring and Sunny Day Real Estate. What can I say? You're never to old to RSVP to the emo party.

Listen to "The Best Deceptions"

2.) The Clash's "Train In Vain": I'm not sure exactly when I fell in love with The Clash. It was either the first time I heard "Train In Vain" or the first time I set my eyes on the band's iconic album cover for London Calling. There was just something about the band that was exciting, dangerous and utterly invigorating. While my friends were busy rocking out to Bush and Everclear, I would hole myself in my room and listen to "Train In Vain" over and over and over again. Looking back now, I realize that this is one of the "least" punk Clash songs, but I don't care because it made me want to know more about the music and the movement. Plus, without it, I would've never discovered bands like Rancid, The Distillers, Against Me! and more. So anyone who wants to challenge my cred can piss off! (How punk is that?)

Listen to "Train In Vain"

3.) Whiskeytown's "Don't Be Sad": Before Ryan Adams was milling around "New York, New York," the alt-country crooner called Whiskeytown his home. The band was together for six years and put out three amazing albums, including Pneumonia, which was released after the group had already disbanded. On a whim, I picked this LP up at a used record store in my college town and was immediately intoxicated by Adams' heart-wrenching lyrics and twangy instrumentation. From there, I fell down a rabbit-hole of Americana, which was lined with acts like Wilco, The Old 97s and Lucero. Also, if you can find it, you've got to check out Adams' duet with ex-Whiskeytown bandmate Caitlin Carey. The song's called "The Battle" and it'll break your heart in a million pieces.

Listen to "Don't Be Sad"

4.) Phish's "You Enjoy Myself": I'm not ashamed to say that I lost nearly five years of my life to hemp necklaces, patchwork pants, drum circles and 20-minute guitar solos. Yes, for much of my late teens and early 20s, I was a jam band fan. (Please, try to withhold your laughter -- and judgment.) I blame it on my friend Cristen's older brother, Greg, who took me to my first Phish show when I was a junior in high school. At the time, I couldn't understand why people were still wearing tie dye, how they had the energy to spin in circles for two hours straight, and where that funny cigarette smell was coming from? But then I heard "You Enjoy Myself" and everything started to make sense -- everything except what the hell they're singing about. (I mean YOU try and translate "washa uffize drive me to firenze" and I'll name my first-born child Fishman.) Everything after that is a blur of patchouli, parking lots and Maxell XL II tapes filled with bootleg concerts from The Grateful Dead, The Big Wu and moe. (OK, you can officially stop laughing now.)

Listen to "You Enjoy Myself"

Related Content Follow Buzzworthy On Twitter

Tags Alkaline Trio, Bush, Chris Carrabba, Dashboard Confessional, Everclear, Lucero, Phish, Promise Ring, Ryan Adams, Soundtrack Of My Life, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Anniversary, The Clash, The Old 97s, the-get-up-kids, Whiskeytown, Wilco

I've been going to The Bamboozle ever since the festival started back in 2005, and in the years since, I've witnessed some stellar live performances and total backstage debauchery. I've heard Jared Leto descend from a helicopter and witnessed The Jonas Brothers play an outdoor stage to a near-empty field. I've seen Fall Out Boy cause a stampede and Jeffree Star walk around with a parasol. Ah, the 'Boozle: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

This year's Bamboozle was no different. In addition to Lil Wayne and Mötley Crüe making their first appearances on the bill, alumni like Thrice, Circa Survive and Dashboard Confessional all returned to the stage. Plus, fans were treated to a reunion of Long Island emo legends The Movielife. Oh, and Taking Back Sunday -- with the semi-new addition of original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper -- performing Tell All Your Friends in its entirety. NBD.

So for this week's column, I'd like start a virtual circle pit to celebrate all of my favorite Bamboozle bands. Please remove any spiked wristbands and get ready for music by Taking Back Sunday, New Years Day, Against Me! and Say Anything.

Finally, and if you'd like to keep up with all my musings, please visit my website and follow me on Twitter (@redpatterndress).

1.) Taking Back Sunday's "Liar": In terms of weather, you can usually count on one of two scenarios at Bamboozle: blistering hot or rainy cold. Two years ago, when Taking Back Sunday was headlining, it happened to be fuh-reezing. I watched most of their set on the side of the stage, and while they sounded AMAZING and I didn't want to miss a second, I was worried my bladder might explode. So I quietly excused myself to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately the metal stairs were still slick from the afternoon downpour, which caused my feet to go in two different directions and my bum to bang down hard on the cement. Not my finest moment -- but at least it had a killer soundtrack!

Listen to "Liar"

2.) New Years Day's "Ready, Aim, Misfire": I first learned about New Years Day back when The Bamboozle was held at Asbury Park in New Jersey (and was then known as Skate And Surf Fest). Someone on the boardwalk handed me their CD, and when I got back into my car, I popped it in and instantly fell in love. Fronted by Ashley Costello, a zombie-loving girl singer with a booming voice, the band would often get compared with Paramore, but I always thought they were totally different. I mean, would Hayley Williams ever sing a line like, "Your love is my heart disease"? I think not.

Listen to "Ready, Aim, Misfire"

3.) Against Me!'s "Thrash Unreal": When I went to the 'Boozle last year, I was really stoked to see Against Me! I'd watched them a million times on Warped Tour, but hadn't seen them in ages. When they launched into "Thrash Unreal," these two girls in front of me started losing their s***. Here I am, trying to enjoy my favorite politi-punk band and these two drunks keep bumping into me because they're flailing around like one of those inflatable air dancer balloons, serenading each other with the chorus at the top of their lungs: "No mother ever dreams that her daughter's gonna be a junkie." Their parents would've been proud.

Listen to "Thrash Unreal"

4.) Say Anything's "Admit It!!!": In my not-so-humble opinion, I think Say Anything's debut album ...Is A Real Boy is one of the best albums of the past 10 years, and I will stop at nothing to hear the band play live. At Bamboozle a couple years ago, the band must've played three times on three different stages, and I was stage right for each show, stomping my feet, pumping my fists and singing along to every word. Thankfully, a large guitar cabinet hid me and my embarrassing antics from the audience. Whew!

Listen to "Admit It!!!"

Related Content Soundtrack Of My Life: Dudes In Suits

Tags Against Me!, Circa Survive, Dashboard Confessional, Fall Out Boy, Hayley Williams, Jared Leto, Jeffree Star, Lil Wayne, Motley Crue, New Years Day, Paramore, Say Anything, Soundtrack Of My Life, Taking Back Sunday, The Bamboozle, The Jonas Brothers, The Movielife, Thrice

Credit: Film Magic/Splash News

Time for our Twittersphere roundup! Up first, Rihanna admitted her reality TV guilty pleasure, and it made us feel so much better about our "Jersey Shore" habit. Selena Gomez tweeted some advice that is well beyond her very mature 18 years, and Lady Gaga spread the love on her 25th birthday.

Also this week, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears tweeted at each other (Mickey Mouse Club 4 ever!!!), and Taylor Swift got emo on us for a second. And Joe Jonas summed up what most of the country is currently thinking: "I need a zip line to the beach." Uhh, get in line.

Our favorite tweet this week goes to that pesky little snake who escaped from the Bronx Zoo. He somehow started tweeting, despite his lack of limbs, and it turns out he's great at one-liners: "Anyone know if Rebecca Black lives in NYC? No reason."

Check out all of the celebrity tweets from the week below, and follow us at @MTVBuzzworthy!

+ RIHANNA // @rihanna -- BBall wives/The Real Housewives of pretty much anything is genius! I can't stop watching, and I've seen all these episodes already #guilty

+ SELENA GOMEZ // @selenagomez -- You ARE who you hang with. Be aware of yourself. You may start to believe and become those around you. Positive.. or negative.

+ LADY GAGA // @ladygaga -- I woke up to chicken and waffles in bed, pink tulips, + little monster bday videos. I love you! I was #bornthisday but u were #bornthisway.

+ CHRISTINA AGUILERA // @TheRealXtina -- Hey @BritneySpears Congrats on Femme Fatale release! Can't wait to see what you bring in the next video. xo - Xtina

+ BRITNEY SPEARS // @britneyspears -- Thanks @TheRealXtina. Can't wait to watch you on your new show. Hope we get to hear that voice on The Voice. -Brit

+ TAYLOR SWIFT // @taylorswift13 -- We are SCREAMING the lyrics to Dashboard Confessional songs in the van. A capella. "AND YOU KISSED! ME! LIKE! YOU! MEANT ITTTT" Good times.

+ KATY PERRY // @katyperry -- I just got off stage to AMAZING NEWS. YOU'VE MADE #ET NUMBER 1!!!! THIS IS RECORD BREAKINGLY AMAZING! That's 4 in a row! I am in tearssss!!!

+ JUSTIN BIEBER // @justinbieber -- we are in the middle of nowhere. and its chill

+ JOE JONAS // @joejonas -- I need a zip line to the beach.

+ BRONX ZOO'S COBRA // @BronxZoosCobra -- Anyone know if Rebecca Black lives in NYC? No reason.

Related Content Last Week In Celebrity Tweets

Tags Britney Spears, Celebrity Tweets, Christina Aguilera, Dashboard Confessional, Joe Jonas, justin bieber, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rebecca Black, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift

Christofer Drew probably doesn't see singer/guitarist Cameron Walker and his band Weatherstar as major competition in the battle for heartfelt-folk-rock supremacy. They've both shared a stage, and they share a manager. Plus, there's enough love to go around, right?

Sure, Christofer Drew and Cameron Walker do look remarkably alike, and Walker might not sport the same under-eye paint and coonskin cap as the Never Shout Never frontman. But this doe-eyed songwriter is still pretty cute without the makeup and accessories. And though Weatherstar sounds like some kind of Doppler radar technology, he writes gorgeous acoustic-tinged tearjerkers and pop-rock anthems with the assist of drummer Billy Toti.

Check out standout Weatherstar songs like "Wish You Would Stay," "Postcards," Rainy Day" and "All In Your Head" for stripped-back tracks with traces of early Dashboard Confessional, Panic! At The Disco Ben Kweller, and Something Corporate.

Weatherstar's self-titled EP is out now. Be sure to check out the band's official MySpace page for upcoming tour dates.

Tags Cameron Walker, Christofer Drew, Dashboard Confessional, Never Shout Never, Something Corporate, The Buzz On, Weatherstar

(Credit: Autumn de Wilde)

Breaking up is hard to do -- especially when you're haunted by an iTunes playlist filled with torturous love songs. (Right, Morrissey? Damn you and your gigantic arsenal of ballads about unrequited love!)

As I shake my fist to the heavens and slowly wipe the tears away from my eyes, I can't help but celebrate -- and curse -- the following videos for scoring the soundtrack to the ultimate heartbroken pity party. You're all invited, too. It's B.Y.O.K., which means "Bring Your Own Kleenex."

Check out the five most downer videos that could only serve to make a break-up more depressing:

1.) Death Cab For Cutie's "I Will Follow You Into The Dark": Even the mere title of this song is heartbreaking. Singer Ben Gibbard croons about being so in love with his paramour that he would perish without her. Dramatic, and, at the same time, like here some girl already has a solid suitor waiting for her in the afterlife? That's intense.

2.) Sinead O'Conner's "Nothing Compares 2 U": When you first watch this video, it seems like it's just Sinead's floating head for three minutes. Then you realize it's all one shot, and that she's mouthpiecing Prince who was just so sad, and then that single tear falls down Sinead's porcelain cheek, and OH! You could just totally lose it. This is truly the grandfather of all depressing breakup videos.

3.) Dashboard Confessional's "Screaming Infidelities": Whether you consider yourself emo or not, the message of this clip is universal: It's heartbreaking when someone cheats on you -- and it sucks even more when they shed more than your Golden Retriever.

4.) The Swell Season's "When Your Mind's Made Up": When the movie "Once" first came out, I had to see it twice because during the first screening, my eyes were glazed over with tears the whole time and I couldn't make out what any of the blurry figures were doing, aside from -- spoiler! -- not building a life together. If you haven't seen it, you should totally add it to your Netflix queue. However, watching it while undergoing a fresh heartbreak could send you into a tear-filled sinkhole. But hey, at least you're not alone!

5.) The Honorary Title's "Everything I Once Had": The best part of this video is watching heartbroken singer Jarrod Gorbel cry in the shower. It's oddly satisfying -- and kinda hot? -- to watch a guy writhe in pain while attempting to maintain proper hygiene. There. I said it.

Tags Ben Gibbard, Dashboard Confessional, Death Cab For Cutie, Jarrod Gorbel, Morrissey, Sinead O'Conner, The Honorary Title, The Swell Season

(Credit: Michele Crowe, MTV)

Way back in the bygone age of December, 2009, we begged and pleaded for you to send in your most pressing questions for Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba. Now we have the answers to these queries.

Among the various topics covered in this Dashboard Q&A are Carrabba's overseas touring plans, his time spent in Further Seems Forever, his song "Get Me Right" and its connection (or lack thereof) to New Moon and which Dashboard jams are closest to Carrabba's heart.

Watch Dashboard Confessional's MTV Buzzworthy Blog fan interview below. And check out brand-new Dashboard Confessional photos here.

Tags Chris Carrabba, Dashboard Confessional, New Moon, Videos

Hands up (or, more appropriately, hands down) -- who wants to ask Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba a question? Well, now's your chance.

Friday, December 11th, Chris Carrabba will be answering your queries, right here at MTV, home of the Buzzworthy Blog. Ask him about his critically acclaimed new album, Alter The Ending; about the olden days of classics like "Screaming Infidelities" or "Vindicated." Heck, ask him where to eat in his hometown of Boca Raton, Florida!

Tags Chris Carrabba, Dashboard Confessional, video

Apologies in advance for the bad food analogy I'm about to make. Clearly I'm bitter about the free bag of generic popcorn I just inhaled for lunch (with "insert brand name of prescription drug you can't pronounce" printed on the bag). Anyway, you could kind of liken the Florida music scene to a Cracker Barrel menu. Don't get me wrong: I am ALL for some Hickory Smoked Honey Glazed Ham (Backstreet Boys) and cheese grits (Matchbox Twenty).  And who knows? Maybe I want to wash down my chicken 'n dumplings (2 Live Crew) with some box wine (Dashboard Confessional).  But Miami synth-rock/electro-pop act Awesome New Republic seems to have just the right amount of pop amazingness without sounding trite (think the electronic bits and driving beats of Miike Snow blended with the psychedelic sweetness of Passion Pit).

Earlier this year, Awesome New Republic -- John Hancock, Brian Robertson, and newly-added-for-tour Jorge Rubiera -- had a Perez Hilton pop moment when P'rezzers posted a Leighton Meester cover of their track "Birthday." Side note: Leighton seems to have a knack for hanging with the boys (not that way, pervtown), as evidenced by this summer's smash Cobra Starship collabo "Good Girls Go Bad" to the literally just-released video "Somebody To Love," featuring Robin Thicke.

Now, with their brand-new album Hearts, just released on October 27th, and their song "Magic City" (from the previously released EP Rational Geographic Vol. 1) appropriately featured in tomorrow's Miami-bound episode of The City, Awesome New Republic just might be the best band you've never heard of. You're welcome.

Tags 2 Live Crew, Awesome New Republic, Backstreet-Boys, Buzzworthy Obsession, Cobra Starship, Cracker Barrel, Dashboard Confessional, Leighton Meester, Matchbox Twenty, miike snow, Passion Pit, Robin Thicke, The City

I don't wanna shatter any illusions here, but if you're looking to a professional blogger for advice on anything romantic, you have some serious thinking to do. That's why I'm handing this Valentine's Day post off to a pro. John Vesely, aka Secondhand Serenade has more magnetism in one frosted tip than the whole rest of the Internet combined. Can the Internet play piano and sing with its eyes closed? No. It doesn't even have feelings (or eyes). All it can do is make a heart out of a bracket and a three. Weak. John Vesely was born to tell you he loves you. Stick with him. Here's a special Valentine's Day message and a crazy romantic love-playlist from the man himself:

I've always been a lover, not a fighter which is why I love this time of year. And one of my true loves is obviously music. So to come up with a list of long songs/videos is no problem for a guy like me. It's the time of year where you hear songs you may have heard 100 times before, but you suddenly realize they have a special meaning or remind you of someone close to your heart. So hopefully you can take a look at the videos I decided to go with, and let it remind you of whoever may be that certain someone for you.

+ Jason Mraz, "I'm Yours" - A simple song and a simple video. Both are undeniable.
+ The Fray, "You Found Me" - The video showcases both a great band and a beautiful city.
+ Thriving Ivory, "Angels on the Moon" - These guys are good friends of mine. They went all out on this video.
+ Plain White T’s, "Hey There Deliah" - One of the biggest songs and best videos of a few years back.
+ Katy Perry, "Thinking of You" - I love her retro style, which is overly evident in this video.
+ Kanye West, "Love Lockdown" - Kanye is always evolving and this is a colorful, left-of-center display of his art.
+ Justin Nozuka, "After Tonight" - He's a great new young talent, which is clear as day in this, his first video.
+ R. Kelly, "Real Talk" - Because the video is just as real as the song.
+ We The Kings, "Secret Valentine" - Travis's hair turns me on.
+ Augustana, "Sweet and Low" - I love how the song was written it was written very personally.

Wow ... Thanks, John!!

Want more Valentine's Day playlists? OK. I got those, too. Do you love me yet? Please...?

+ V-Day Playlist: Let Me Count The Ways (Dashboard, Bright Eyes, Beyonce, etc)
+ V-Day Playlist: Love SUCKS (Alanis, Ashanti, Incubus, etc)
+ V-Day Playlist: Celebrity Wedding Songs (Lonestar, Marvin Gaye, Edwin McCain, etc)

<3<3<3

Read more...

Tags Alanis Morissette, Ashanti, Augustana, Beyonce, Bright Eyes, Dashboard Confessional, Edwin McCain, Incubus, Jason Mraz, Justin Nozuka, Katy Perry, Lonestar, Marvin Gaye, Plain White T's, R.-Kelly, Secondhand Serenade, The Fray, Thriving Ivory, We the Kings

Today's third (and final) Plain White T's tour blog is like a smorgasbord of random, roadside memories. After all, what else would you call a jam-packed video yearbook that has everything from Elmo flippin' the bird to underwear lunges to improv lamb chop-inspired acoustics?

Soooos, give it up for the PWT's, spend some quality time with Tom Higgenson, and find out why they (occasionally) like playing without Dashboard Confessional, acting like deranged poolboys and serenading cold meats. Oh, and for the record? That song was finger-lickin' good.

+ Embrace your love for PWT's by checking out their first and second tour diaries, plus watch our fave T's video ("Hey There Delilah," obvs!) after the jump.

Read more...

Tags Dashboard Confessional, Plain White T's, Tom Higgenson