Fresh off a wild When We Were Young weekend, Dashboard Confessional and Boys Like Girls made a stop in Arizona on their late summer tour. Both bands were tired but ready to keep the momentum going, playing all the hits to a roomful of fans spanning generations and eager to sing along.
Taylor Acorn kicked off the night, powering through three songs before her voice failed. She managed only a few more moments onstage before sadly having to cut her set short, but the fans were still delighted that she was able to make an energetic appearance and gave her plenty of love and applause as she exited the stage.
“This was your MySpace top song”, shouted Boys Like Girls frontman Martin Johnson before the band played exactly one chorus of “The Great Escape”- for the video capture of course. Before we reached that point, the band packed their setlist with classics like “Love Drunk” and “Thunder”, along with songs from their latest album. The reception was just as enthusiastic but there’s something about screaming along to “Hero/Heroine” that makes every BLG show feel that much more special. The band closed out with the full version of “The Great Escape”, thanking Dashboard Confessional profusely for bringing them on such an amazing run.
Dashboard Confessional is still the prettiest band in emo and their decades of music back up the longevity of a band whose importance was written on the faces of the people in the room at Arizona Financial Theatre. With so many songs to choose from, this headlining tour setlist still had something for everyone- including “The Best Deceptions” and “Remember to Breathe”.
Their music has deeply resonated with listeners for so many years and that meaning sticks beyond typical nostalgia. By the time Dashboard reached the height of “Vindicated” and “Screaming Infidelities”, the audience was exhausted from feeling everything so loudly for so long. The band’s impact cannot be overstated and they ended another stellar stop with “Hands Down” and a reaffirming of Arizona’s love for the music and community that Dashboard Confessional has inspired.
