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Printer-Friendly ModeColumnist misunderstands Dashboard Confessional
submitted by Matthew Kiley
April 17, 2006 —
Before I begin, I'd just like to make it clear that I am not affiliated at all with the Program Board. Now that I have made that clear, allow me to begin.
In his commentary, "Program Board deceptively advertising," Paul White claimed that the Program Board made a fatal flaw by advertising the upcoming concert under "Dashboard Confessional." However, he is actually in the wrong.
When Chris Carrabba started the band, it was just him and his acoustic guitar. He didn't call the band "Chris Carrabba." Even when it was just him, he was "Dashboard Confessional." Carrabba is quoted as saying, "What rulebook says it has to be called your name if you're one guy?" According to Wikipedia, Carrabba often brought friends along with him to play live shows. In 2002 he decided to make the current line-up a permanent one. The current lineup includes Carrabba (vocals, guitar), John Lefler (guitar), Scott Shoenbeck (bass), and Mike Marsh (drums).
So he started off as "Dashboard," added some members to make a band, and continued to call it "Dashboard."
So, I call on Paul to do the right thing and write an article in the next issue of the Vanguard, apologizing to the Program Board for calling them liars, and maybe inform the student readers of what "Dashboard Confessional" really is and clear up this confusion. Program Board should not have to amend all of its advertisements and clearly state Chris Carrabba, singer/songwriter of Dashboard Confessional, is coming to campus. It did not deliberately mislead the public. Technically, it didn't even have to include the small addition of "a solo acoustic performance" because Chris Carrabba is Dashboard Confessional. "Chris Carrabba" wasn't written across his first album, "Dashboard Confessional" was. He didn't get famous under his own name. He gained popularity and recognition under the name "Dashboard Confessional." Therefore, it is not wrong for him to still market his solo shows as "Dashboard."
I realize that if somebody is not a Dashboard fan, they might not be aware that he doesn't always bring along the other band members with him on tour. His show at SVSU isn't the only show where he is going solo and his Web site is clearly marketing all of the show's on the tour as "Dashboard" concerts.
But I think that the Program Board was in the right to include "a solo acoustic performance" so that the average person would realize this. Ultimately, Paul's problem is with the fact that the band itself still wishes to call itself "Dashboard" even when the other musicians aren't present. Rather than ripping on the Program Board and acting all big and tough to the student body, why not just write an article about how he thinks that it is nonsense for Carrabba to market himself under the name "Dashboard?"
I don't really care that Paul doesn't like Carrabba's music. I think his popularity, record sales, and the following that he has attracted speaks for itself. But everybody is entitled to their opinion. Some people just like to smear theirs clear across campus in an attempt to look "better than that."
Matthew Kiley Student