Dashboard Confessional

Josh Nacho: How do you feel about playing shows where there's four or five other bands that are kind of, melodic pop punk bands- and electric- and then it's just you on stage with your acoustic guitar? Is it weird for you?

Chris: It's weird sometimes, but I'm pretty comfortable with it. That's more about what the kids want. They seem OK with it. They are OK with it. So, I'm OK with it. I love those bands and that's why I go on tour with them. And I love those kids- that audience- so that's why I play to them.

J.N.: I'm trying to turn this into a question, but you have more... I don't want to use the word emotion... You have more passion into your songs and in your live performances than a lot of people really out there today, and even those in the electric kind of bands. How can I turn that into a question? What is your song writing process like?

Chris: Essentially what Dashboard Confessional started out as for me was a diary. I don't really keep a diary, I write songs. That's where- had I something to get out of my system- that's what I'd do. I'd write a song about it. So, if there's some passion in there, it's because those are things that I have dealt with, or are dealing with, and I have strong feelings about. I'm glad people are noticing it's honest, 'cause it is.

J.N.: What was it like for you doing "the Places You Have Come To Fear the Most", after doing "the Swiss Army Romance"?

Chris: I don't think it's much different. I think I was still in the same place; I think I am still in the same place. It was a different time, so I was feeling a little differently about things, and that came out in my writing. I was feeling a little more introspective, self critical... Yeah, that's about the only difference. I like to think my writing matures as it goes along. There was about a year between recording those two, so if it's different, I think that it's naturally different. They came out relatively close together, but they were actually recorded- one was recorded in January of 2000, one was recorded in February or late January of 2001, so that's a lot of time. That's a lot of life.

J.N.: Last time I saw you, you had a band with you, but tonight you didn't, so are you going to do that on and off?

Chris: I guess I felt like doing some shows the old way. I just did it for a week. I just wanted to do it. I wanted to remember how good that felt. You know, I miss the band. But I love doing it alone too. I love doing it with the band, but when they're here I miss doing it alone. It's versatile, and it's fun to be that way.

J.N.: Do you ever get scared up there by yourself?

Chris: Crowds aren't ever really mean. (laughs) They're pretty awesome. But, yeah, I hear what you're saying. No, because I have such bad stage fright any way, it doesn't matter if I have twenty-five people on stage with me- it's terrible.

J.N.: How did you get into music, and performing with bands if you have stage fright?

Chris: You have talents and they send you on your way. You have drive. And my drive overshadows my stage fright.

J.N.: You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but do you think you'll ever go back to being in a band?

Chris: Probably, one day. Life is a long road.

J.N.: It's one of those "you can't predict the future" questions, so it's stupid though, right?

Chris: Not stupid, but I don't know right now. Right now, I know I would not rule that out-- I love that. I love distortion and driving guitars... Writing polyrhythmic music and stuff like that. But this is where I am right now.

J.N.: I want to know how you came up with the name Dashboard Confessional, and moreso, how did you choose to have a band name as a solo artist? When people hear Dashboard Confessional, they think band.

Chris: One- I knew that the kids were going to be a big part of it, I just didn't think there would be so many kids. And two- it felt vain or limiting to just do it under my own name. And it just kind of came out during the writing of the song "the Sharp Hint of These New Tears".

J.N.: Do you ever get ideas for songs in your head while driving?

Chris: Yeah, all the time.

J.N.: I think it's really great driving music too. The irony of the name, I guess.

Chris: Well, that's good.

J.N.: I listen to it in all different types of situations though. Since "the Swiss Army Romance" hit until now, a lot of kids have really taken to you. What do you think of all that?

Chris: I would like to think that would happen if you tour your ass off for years. (laughing)

J.N.: (laughing)

Chris: I would like to think that if you tour as much as I have for a year straight, somebody will pay attention to you. It's extremely gratifying that somebody has.

[enter random guy]

Random Guy: Hi.

Chris: Hi.

Random Guy: I just wanted to shake your hand. What do you read?

Chris: I read John Irving a lot. I like writing that really paints a picture. Have you ever read any John Irving?

Random Guy: No. I'm reading James Joyce right now.

Chris: My brother's a really big fan of Joyce. You should give it a shot though. You should read the Cider House Rules.

Random Guy: What else do you do besides music?

Chris: I skateboard a lot.

Random Guy: I mean like, artistic-wise...

Chris: I write. It doesn't really get any where. Narratives. I like narrative writing a lot. Good, bad or indifferent, just to do it.

Random Guy: Did you go to college?

Chris: Florida Atlantic University.

Random Guy: What was your major?

Chris: Education.

Random Guy: I don't mean to pick your brain, I'm just curious.

Chris: Oh no, please do.

(Random Guy starts talking about photography, he leaves, Chris wishes him luck and tells him to take care.)

J.N.: He just did about one quarter of the interview for me... I've never actually talked to anyone who's been associated with Vagrant Records before, and everyone has their standpoint on them, I want to know what you think of Vagrant as a label.

Chris: Its the best label there is. They treat their bands with such respect, and they're so behind us, I can never imagine wanting to be off it. I hope that never changes.

J.N.: Do you think that even though Vagrant has Rocket From the Crypt, Automatic 7 and No Motiv, they still try to push the pop punk bands more because that's more of the trend right now? And as the trend waynes, do you think Vagrant will suffer for that?

Chris: No. That's a forward thinking group of people. They know what they like, and they like a very eclectic group of things. I mean, they signed me, and I'm not very pop punk. I know some other bands that they're signing that go against the grain. I think it's a very eclectic place to be.

J.N.: Do you think that because that's what the style is right now, that's why they're pushing those bands, but if the style changes, they may push other bands more instead?

Chris: No. I think that they wanted bands that they liked, and they were able to get them. Everyone's got a lot to say about Vagrant right now, but you know, Vagrant's being successful, so there's going to be a lot of negative talk about them. The next label that's being successful is going to have a lot of that too. I don't think they'd get any of these bands if they didn't offer them such a great home.

J.N.: It's hard to be on top.

Chris: It's true. And it's a shame. 'Cause they got to the top the way that they should. And I don't know that they're at the top, but...

J.N.: Are you Christian?

Chris: I am.

J.N.: Do you think that will ever reflect in your music?

Chris: I think it does. I'm not a minister- my music's not a ministry, because that's not my calling. I can't really say.

J.N.: You played a new song tonight, and that's going to be on a split or a 7"?

Chris: A split.

J.N.: Is that going to be on Vagrant?

Chris: Yeah.

J.N.: Who's the split with?

Chris: The New Amsterdams.

J.N.: That's right, you said that. I forgot, sorry. When is that coming out?

Chris: In the fall.

J.N.: Is it going to be something like, five songs each?

Chris: I think it's four.

J.N.: What are you listening to for music right now?

Chris: I've been listening to Burning Airlines a lot. Tom Petty. Elvis Costello.

J.N.: As far as being the solo performer, do you think that soon there will come the time when other people start doing what you do too?

Chris: Yeah. I didn't invent this.

J.N.: Do you think it's gonna catch on more soon?

(Some girls stop to ask us if the show is over yet. It had been for about a half an hour or more.)

Chris: I don't know. I'm catching on to a lot of singer song writers that are relatively new. I don't in any way credit myself for that. I think it's just time for that right now.

J.N.: It's time for something different too.

Chris: Music is cyclical too, and it got real loud for a while there- really loud and noisy and it didn't say much. And it's just time to bring it down and say something. Then it will be time for it to be loud again, it's just the way it goes. But there's got to be an answer to Limp Bizkit. Kids don't all want that. And those kids that want it, aren't all 12 any more.

J.N.: Do you ever watch Mtv or listen to the radio?

Chris: I watch Mtv. I listen to the radio. I like Incubus.

J.N.: Where do you go from the Vagrant tour?

Chris: Home. I've been on tour a long time.

J.N.: You have.

Chris: I have two weeks off, then I do CMJ- this is in September, after the tour's over. This is a two month tour. Then I go out on a headlining tour.

J.N.: Do you know who you're taking with you?

Chris: It's not nailed down completely, but I know some of the bands I'd like to do it with.

J.N.: Are you at liberty to say?

Chris: I'd like to take out Further Seems Forever. Legends of Rodeo. The Movielife. But I don't know who's available or what's what. There's a singer song writer I'd really like to take out with me- his name is Rocky Votolato, he's awesome. This is November.

J.N.: So, what do you think of the new Further Seems Forever CD?

Chris: Well, I sang on it. So I probably have a checkered opinion on it. (laughing)

J.N.: (laughing)

Chris: No, it's really good, I'm happy with it. I like it.

J.N.: Do you still encourage people to listen to it?

Chris: Oh yeah. I love the guys.

(Some guy tells Chris he's going to the bar, and Chris says he needs food, so we go our ways.)