Pictured (L-R): Jordan Minton, Mark Trussell, Niko Moon, Anna Moon, Joshua Murty. Photo: Steve Lowry
Industry members gathered for a night of firsts on Monday night (Feb. 28), when Niko Moon celebrated his first No. 1 as an artist.
While Niko has had success as a songwriter, co-writing such chart-toppers as Zac Brown Band‘s “Beautiful Drug,” “Loving You Easy” and “Homegrown,” and Dierks Bentley’s “Gone,” he’s never been able to commemorate his successes at a No. 1 party. The RCA Nashville rising star was all smiles during the celebration.
The party, hosted by SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, took place at Gibson Garage. JC Curleigh, Gibson’s CEO, said it was the first time the company had seen the swanky space used for an industry gathering since it opened in the summer of 2021, and that Gibson founder Orville Gibson would be proud. He also presented Niko with a brand-new Les Paul Gibson guitar in celebration of his No. 1 smash hit.
Shannan led a room full of joyful publishers, label personnel, and other team members through several presentations to celebrate Niko and his co-writers Anna Moon, Jordan Minton, Mark Trussell, and writer-producer Joshua Murty.
“I’d like to welcome you all to a ‘good time,'” Shannan quipped. She spoke about the reigning SESAC Songwriter of the Year, recalling when she met him. “He’s one of those people that even when you can’t see his face when you’re talking to him [on the phone], that smile comes through. You get his enthusiasm and happy nature. It’s so refreshing.”
BMI’s MaryAnn Keen spoke on behalf of Jordan, who was also celebrating his first No. 1. “You’ve got a lot going on right now,” she said to the songwriter, who currently has the No. 1 song on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “Best Things Since Back Roads” by Jake Owen. “You’ve worked really hard. I know this one will always be extra special as your first.”
Boom Music Group’s Joe Fisher and Kobalt’s Kevin Lane echoed MaryAnn’s sentiments about Jordan’s work ethic.
Niko Moon performing at the No. 1 party for “Good Time.” Photo: Steve Lowry
Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, who was an early believer in Moon, was on hand to speak about his Warner Chappell writers. “Look at that smile,” he said to the beaming artist. Vaughn also gave all of the co-writers a special gift: hand-painted bottles of apple pie moonshine, like referenced in “Good Time.”
After reading off an impressive list of stats, Ben said, “Niko, the point is you draw people in. You have a vision, a work ethic, and that smile. We all love you and are proud to be your partner.”
Ben also spoke about writer-producer Joshua, who was visiting Nashville from the west coast. “Every time you hear Niko Moon’s music, and you think ‘Dang, that sounds so fresh,’ this guy had a lot to do with it.”
When Ben spoke about Mark, he let the crowd know that the songwriter had been named “most talented” at his high school. He then spoke about Mark’s many talents and work ethic. “I think that label sticks,” he said.
Niko stepped up to talk about his talented wife, Anna. “Ever since we met, I just wanted the world to know how insanely talented this woman is,” Niko said. “How many people out there get to enjoy their No. 1 with their husband or wife? I just feel so grateful that we’re able to experience this together.”
Sony’s Sr. VP of Promotion at RCA Nashville, Dennis Reese, spoke about working a positive song like “Good Time” during the darkness of the pandemic. “We launched this single at terrestrial radio right as the world was changing. Here comes this song called ‘Good Time’ when there was a lot of bad times. I really believe in my heart that music changes everything. It takes a tragedy and turns it into something we can come away with appreciation for. I believe that ‘Good Time’ did that for a lot of people.”
MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson, who presented the co-writers with their No. 1 Challenge Coin for reaching No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, echoed Dennis’ sentiment about the positivity of “Good Time.”
Make Wake’s Chris Kappy, spoke about his journey to working with Niko. “Thank you for letting us wake up every day and represent you,” he said to the artist. “It’s a very special moment for us. We appreciate you a lot.”
When it came time for the co-writers to speak, Joshua kicked things off by talking about his friendship with Niko and Anna. “I’m grateful I get to make music with my two best friends that I love and am very proud of.”
Jordan recognized Niko’s effort at keeping the songwriters in the loop on the success of the song. “Niko was very attentive to us,” he said. “He would call me and Mark and let us know what was going on with the song. You were very good about communicating and being aware of things that a lot of artists maybe don’t take into account.”
Mark agreed. “At the time [‘Good Time’ came out], I was amazed at the hard work you put into it and the dedication you had for the song,” he said to Niko. “I’m so grateful to you and your team.”
Anna and Niko Moon. Photo: Steve Lowry
Anna spoke about her journey to becoming a hit songwriter. “13 years ago I was just a young girl, 15 years old, playing my little country songs. I didn’t know how I was going to be involved in music,” she said. “To be here today celebrating my first No. 1 is absolutely insane.
“I can’t say much more or I will start crying, but let me just say how proud I am of this guy. Everyone who knows Niko knows how hard he works.”
Niko closed the celebration with some history of “Good Time,” which he recorded at home. “This record was made in our old laundry room at our house. The entire Good Time album was made at home,” he said. “You know when your grandmama would cook you some food? It tastes different because there’s love in it. Because it’s homemade. I feel that way about music.
“Thank y’all for believing in this homemade project that we made,” Moon said, before thanking each of his team members. “I’m so happy y’all.”
Eric Church To Play Minneapolis Stadium Date With Morgan Wallen & Ernest
/by Lorie HollabaughEric Church has announced a second headlining stadium show this summer, “One Hell of a Night in Minneapolis.” The June 11 show at U.S. Bank Stadium will feature special guests Morgan Wallen and Ernest.
Tickets for the Minneapolis show go on sale to the general public March 11 at 10 a.m. CT via EricChurch.com. Members of the Church Choir will have early access to tickets beginning this Friday, (March 4) with the opportunity to add the “Church Choir Pre-Show Tailgate,” which includes food trucks, two drink tickets, a special gift, tailgate games, giveaways and more.
The announcement follows news of Church’s headlining Milwaukee stadium show at American Family Field over Memorial Day weekend, Set for May 28, Church will share the stage with Brothers Osborne and Parker McCollum.
Church embarks on his 55-city “Gather Again Tour” this Friday (March 4) at Orlando’s Amway Center. The in-the-round show will visit Chicago, Fort Worth, New Orleans, San Diego, Las Vegas and more through Aug. 28. For a full list of upcoming shows, click here.
Onsite Launches Global Entertainment Division, Adds Debbie Carroll To Executive Team
/by LB CantrellDebbie Carroll. Photo: Courtesy Onsite
Onsite, an international leader in the emotional and mental wellness space, is launching an innovative new division explicitly curated to meet the growing needs of the entertainment industry. The organization hopes to provide support to those in the entertainment space who carry tremendous influence, face unique challenges, and have a long, often tragic history of adversity, burnout, and stress.
“Working in both entertainment and psychology has provided a unique vantage point from the intersection of mental wellness and music, sports, film, etc.,” says Miles Adcox, Onsite Partners Chairman, and Proprietor. “Our experience has been instrumental in helping build a vision for a healthier entertainment landscape so artists, actors, athletes, and speakers can thrive interpersonally while building sustainable professional success. By cultivating proactive resources that go beyond symptom management and influence systemic change, this array of new services has the power to impact every aspect of the entertainment space and culture at large.”
Joining the team to lead Onsite’s entertainment division is industry veteran Debbie Carroll. Carroll has created scalable emotional health solutions in the areas of counseling, addiction recovery, human services, psychiatric care, coaching, and intensive outpatient care. For more than two decades, she has served as Vice President of Health and Human Services for MusiCares, a charitable partner of the Recording Academy.
“I am honored to be joining Onsite’s executive team,” shares Carroll. “It’s so exciting to draw on my understanding of the unique challenges within the entertainment community to create a portfolio of emotional health services to support creatives and public-facing professionals throughout their careers. We’re seeing the overall rise in demand for these services, and I’ve witnessed the increased need in the entertainment industry, as well.
“Onsite has long been a respected leader in emotional health and well-being and has the reach and resources to positively impact the lives of creatives, media personalities, athletes, and others living and working in the public-eye,” she adds.
Carroll will begin her new role on March 21. An official rollout of Onsite Entertainment will launch in the coming months.
Tin Pan South Lineup Revealed
/by LB CantrellThe full lineup and festival schedule has been revealed for the 30th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, presented by Regions Bank.
The lineup for the festival includes an array of artists set to take the stage March 29-April 2 at nine venues in the heart of Nashville. Attendees will be treated to sets from Lori McKenna, Ashley Gorley, Bill Anderson, Carly Pearce, Hillary Lindsey, Jimmie Allen, Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, Steve Bogard, and many more. View the full lineup at tinpansouth.com.
Additionally, Fast Access Passes for the festival are on sale now at tinpansouth.com. Festival attendees with a Fast Access Pass will have the opportunity to choose from several shows each night throughout the week at the following venues: 3rd & Lindsley, Analog at Hutton Hotel, The Bluebird Cafe, Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole, Elliston Place Soda Shop, Hard Rock Cafe Nashville, The Listening Room Cafe, The Lounge at City Winery, and Station Inn. At-the-door admission will also be available for most shows.
Another stellar addition to the festival schedule will take place on Saturday, April 2 from 2:30-3:30 p.m., where Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Tom Douglas (“Little Rock,” “I Run To You,” “The House That Built Me”) performs his one-man show, Love, Tom at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Seating is limited, and attendance is free to Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Fast Access pass-holders, museum members, and is included with museum admission.
Niko Moon Has Nothing But A ‘Good Time’ At His First No. 1 Party
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Jordan Minton, Mark Trussell, Niko Moon, Anna Moon, Joshua Murty. Photo: Steve Lowry
Industry members gathered for a night of firsts on Monday night (Feb. 28), when Niko Moon celebrated his first No. 1 as an artist.
While Niko has had success as a songwriter, co-writing such chart-toppers as Zac Brown Band‘s “Beautiful Drug,” “Loving You Easy” and “Homegrown,” and Dierks Bentley’s “Gone,” he’s never been able to commemorate his successes at a No. 1 party. The RCA Nashville rising star was all smiles during the celebration.
The party, hosted by SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, took place at Gibson Garage. JC Curleigh, Gibson’s CEO, said it was the first time the company had seen the swanky space used for an industry gathering since it opened in the summer of 2021, and that Gibson founder Orville Gibson would be proud. He also presented Niko with a brand-new Les Paul Gibson guitar in celebration of his No. 1 smash hit.
Shannan led a room full of joyful publishers, label personnel, and other team members through several presentations to celebrate Niko and his co-writers Anna Moon, Jordan Minton, Mark Trussell, and writer-producer Joshua Murty.
“I’d like to welcome you all to a ‘good time,'” Shannan quipped. She spoke about the reigning SESAC Songwriter of the Year, recalling when she met him. “He’s one of those people that even when you can’t see his face when you’re talking to him [on the phone], that smile comes through. You get his enthusiasm and happy nature. It’s so refreshing.”
BMI’s MaryAnn Keen spoke on behalf of Jordan, who was also celebrating his first No. 1. “You’ve got a lot going on right now,” she said to the songwriter, who currently has the No. 1 song on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “Best Things Since Back Roads” by Jake Owen. “You’ve worked really hard. I know this one will always be extra special as your first.”
Boom Music Group’s Joe Fisher and Kobalt’s Kevin Lane echoed MaryAnn’s sentiments about Jordan’s work ethic.
Niko Moon performing at the No. 1 party for “Good Time.” Photo: Steve Lowry
Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, who was an early believer in Moon, was on hand to speak about his Warner Chappell writers. “Look at that smile,” he said to the beaming artist. Vaughn also gave all of the co-writers a special gift: hand-painted bottles of apple pie moonshine, like referenced in “Good Time.”
After reading off an impressive list of stats, Ben said, “Niko, the point is you draw people in. You have a vision, a work ethic, and that smile. We all love you and are proud to be your partner.”
Ben also spoke about writer-producer Joshua, who was visiting Nashville from the west coast. “Every time you hear Niko Moon’s music, and you think ‘Dang, that sounds so fresh,’ this guy had a lot to do with it.”
When Ben spoke about Mark, he let the crowd know that the songwriter had been named “most talented” at his high school. He then spoke about Mark’s many talents and work ethic. “I think that label sticks,” he said.
Niko stepped up to talk about his talented wife, Anna. “Ever since we met, I just wanted the world to know how insanely talented this woman is,” Niko said. “How many people out there get to enjoy their No. 1 with their husband or wife? I just feel so grateful that we’re able to experience this together.”
Sony’s Sr. VP of Promotion at RCA Nashville, Dennis Reese, spoke about working a positive song like “Good Time” during the darkness of the pandemic. “We launched this single at terrestrial radio right as the world was changing. Here comes this song called ‘Good Time’ when there was a lot of bad times. I really believe in my heart that music changes everything. It takes a tragedy and turns it into something we can come away with appreciation for. I believe that ‘Good Time’ did that for a lot of people.”
MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson, who presented the co-writers with their No. 1 Challenge Coin for reaching No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, echoed Dennis’ sentiment about the positivity of “Good Time.”
Make Wake’s Chris Kappy, spoke about his journey to working with Niko. “Thank you for letting us wake up every day and represent you,” he said to the artist. “It’s a very special moment for us. We appreciate you a lot.”
When it came time for the co-writers to speak, Joshua kicked things off by talking about his friendship with Niko and Anna. “I’m grateful I get to make music with my two best friends that I love and am very proud of.”
Jordan recognized Niko’s effort at keeping the songwriters in the loop on the success of the song. “Niko was very attentive to us,” he said. “He would call me and Mark and let us know what was going on with the song. You were very good about communicating and being aware of things that a lot of artists maybe don’t take into account.”
Mark agreed. “At the time [‘Good Time’ came out], I was amazed at the hard work you put into it and the dedication you had for the song,” he said to Niko. “I’m so grateful to you and your team.”
Anna and Niko Moon. Photo: Steve Lowry
Anna spoke about her journey to becoming a hit songwriter. “13 years ago I was just a young girl, 15 years old, playing my little country songs. I didn’t know how I was going to be involved in music,” she said. “To be here today celebrating my first No. 1 is absolutely insane.
“I can’t say much more or I will start crying, but let me just say how proud I am of this guy. Everyone who knows Niko knows how hard he works.”
Niko closed the celebration with some history of “Good Time,” which he recorded at home. “This record was made in our old laundry room at our house. The entire Good Time album was made at home,” he said. “You know when your grandmama would cook you some food? It tastes different because there’s love in it. Because it’s homemade. I feel that way about music.
“Thank y’all for believing in this homemade project that we made,” Moon said, before thanking each of his team members. “I’m so happy y’all.”
Johnny Cash’s 90th Birthday Honored With New Tennessee Pathways Marker
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Carter Cash and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s Commissioner Mark Ezell. Photo: Rick Murray
Johnny Cash was honored on Feb. 26 with the unveiling of his new Tennessee Music Pathways marker on what would have been the singer’s 90th birthday.
Representatives, friends and family of the country legend, along with city and state officials, gathered on Main Street in Hendersonville at HALO Realty, the original site of the House of Cash music publishing company, to celebrate the milestone achievement.
“Having lived in Hendersonville my whole life, I am grateful and indebted to Tennessee for preserving critical music sites and noting the former House of Cash building as one of those,” said John Carter Cash. “In the early 1970s, this building housed my father’s recording studio. He made hundreds of historical recordings here. I remember sitting on his lap and recording a song with him when I was no more than four years old. Later, it became the Johnny Cash Museum, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to Sumner County. On behalf of the John R. Cash Revocable Trust and the rest of my family, we look forward to further working with the state to develop additional locations so that fans of music and students of history alike can continue to learn about my father, Johnny Cash.“
Cash made his home in Hendersonville with his wife, June Carter Cash, for 35 years. Roy Orbison and Marty Stuart were close neighbors of Cash, and celebrities and entertainers were regular guests at their lakefront home, which burned in 2007. Visitors come from all over the world to pay their respects to one of music’s greatest love stories at Hendersonville Memory Gardens.
“When the idea of the Tennessee Music Pathways came about, it was artists like Johnny Cash that helped to lay the foundation of this statewide initiative,” added Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell. “From Memphis, Nashville, Hendersonville, Bristol and more, Johnny Cash helped shape Tennessee’s rich music history across the state and we are so grateful to celebrate him and his great contributions to music.”
ASCAP Delivers Record-Setting Revenues & Distributions In 2021
/by Lydia FarthingASCAP has revealed its record-setting financial results for 2021, showing total revenue collected to be a historic high of $1.335 billion.
Increases in collections from the audio streaming and audio-visual sectors pushed ASCAP’s domestic revenue to $1.011 billion in 2021, up 4.4% from 2020. Additionally, ASCAP’s identification, matching and processing of trillions of musical performances drove distributions exceeding $1 billion for the fifth year in a row for a total of $1.254 billion available for distribution to its 850,000+ members in 2021.
“The ASCAP team is dedicated to building a future of opportunity for our songwriter, composer and music publisher members,” comments ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. “We know music creators have been deeply affected by the pandemic, and that is why it is so important that ASCAP has delivered more royalties to our members when they need it most. Through our licensing, advocacy and wellness efforts, we strive to provide both economic and emotional support to our members to help them weather these challenging times and to create a brighter future.”
ASCAP continued its shift to virtual events in 2021, such as The ASCAP Experience which featured conversations and award presentations on YouTube with ASCAP Golden Note Award winner Greg Kurstin and ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award winners Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and D-Nice. In 2021, the organization hosted 22 sessions and two feedback opportunities, drawing nearly 17,000 registrants from 93 countries and generating over 41,000 views of its original programming.
“Music creators have no greater champion than ASCAP,” adds ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams. “The ASCAP team worked extremely hard for our members for the second pandemic year, helping our community to stay healthy, creative, connected and financially stable during this time. Music gives us the gift of hope, which is so critical as we move forward. We forge ahead with our work in 2022 with inspiration and gratitude for the trust that our members place in us to enable their livelihoods, protect their rights and defend the value of music.”
Click here to read the full 2021 financial report.
Hannah Kerr Joins Curb | Word Entertainment Roster
/by Lorie HollabaughHannah Kerr
Black River Christian artist Hannah Kerr has signed with Curb | Word Entertainment.
Kerr released her Top 30 hit “Same God” in the spring of 2021 and followed it up with “Grave” last fall. She has released two full-length albums and two EPs that have garnered more than 115 million total streams, including her recent release, Listen More, entirely co-written by Kerr, which features the Top 20 radio hit “Split The Sea.”
Her 2016 debut, Overflow, which earned her more than 40 million streams, featured her Top 15 hit “Warrior,” as well as her version of Matt Maher‘s Top 5 hit “Your Love Defends Me.” The song propelled her to win the award for Most Played Song at the 2018 ASCAP Christian Awards.
“We welcome Hannah to the Curb | Word family,” says Mike Curb, Chairman of Curb | Word Entertainment. “Black River has done a tremendous job establishing Hannah, and we look forward to building on that success in the future.”
“When we created Black River Christian, we did so with a servant’s heart,” adds Gordon Kerr, Black River Entertainment President and CEO. “Our goal was to create music that is mission minded and to follow wherever God leads us. We’ve heard countless testimonies over the years from people whose lives have been touched by this ministry. With this next step, we know there is potential to reach countless more lives with her ministry.”
In other label news, Brian Thiele has joined Curb | Word Entertainment as VP, Christian Promotion. Jeri Cooper has been promoted to SVP, Christian Promotion for the label, while both Jen Allen and Samantha Evangelista continue in their respective roles as National Director, Promotion and Coordinator, National Promotion.
The Chicks Announce New Summer Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Chicks. Photo: Robin Harper
The Chicks are returning to the road this summer on “The Chicks Tour.” Patty Griffin and Jenny Lewis will open select dates on the trek.
The 27-city tour kicks off on June 14 in St. Louis and will visit Chicago, Toronto, Boston, LA, Detroit and more before wrapping in George, Washington at The Gorge on Aug. 13.
General ticket on sale for the tour is set to begin March 4 on ticketmaster.com.
The Chicks have also partnered with environmental nonprofit REVERB.org to make this year’s tour more environmentally sustainable while engaging fans to take action for people and the planet. At each show, The Chicks/REVERB Action Village will be set up for fans to take action on important environmental and social causes, fill up at the free #RocknRefill water stations, and more.
After nearly 14 years, The Chicks released their fifth studio album Gaslighter in July 2020 via Columbia Records. The 12-track record was co-produced by singer-songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff. One of the biggest-selling U.S. female bands of all time, The Chicks have sold more than 30.5 million albums and achieved multiple Diamond releases. The trio also boasts 13 Grammy awards, six Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and numerous CMA Awards, among other accolades.
‘Georgia On My Mind’ Returns To Ryman With Amy Grant, Butch Walker, The Lone Bellow & More
/by Lorie HollabaughBrent Cobb and Amy Ray in Macon, GA in front of the mural of Duane Allman, Gregg Allman and Phil Walden outside of Capricorn Sound Studios and Museum. Photo: Philip Wages
The ninth annual “Gretsch Presents Georgia on My Mind” benefit concert, hosted by Brent Cobb and Amy Ray, is returning to the Ryman Auditorium on May 10. Artists set to perform on the lineup include Amy Grant, Amythyst Kiah, Alison Brown, Butch Walker, Charlie Starr, Elizabeth Cook, Katie Pruitt, Kevn Kinney, Jontavious Willis, The Lone Bellow, O.N.E The Duo and Patterson Hood.
Stringonometry, an accomplished bluegrass band featuring four high school seniors from Thomasville, Georgia, will highlight the power of music education performing on the Ryman’s PNC Plaza ahead of the show.
Proceeds from the show benefit the Georgia Music Foundation and its music grants, which fund music programs at schools, after-school programs and summer camps. Tickets for the annual benefit show go on sale at ryman.com on Friday, March 4. The Georgia Music Foundation has awarded nearly $600,000 in Georgia Music Grants since the first “Georgia On My Mind” in 2014.
Says Cobb, “I can’t wait to get on the Ryman stage with Amy and a bunch of our friends to make music in honor of Georgia and all its musicians who came before us.” Ray adds, “This show is a very special offering of some of our state’s finest artists and some of our neighbors, all bringing their gifts together to help us raise money for the Georgia Music Foundation.”
“We see value in coming to Nashville—a sales mission, if you will—to acknowledge and celebrate the musicians and songwriters from Georgia who have long had such an impact on American music,” shares Executive Director Lisa Love. “To create a Georgia sense of place inside the Ryman is already special, but to be able to do it help fund music education for future generations is golden.”
Dashboard Confessional Shares New Level Of Vulnerability & Introspection On New Record [Interview]
/by Lydia FarthingDashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba. Photo: Nick Fancher
Celebrated Nashville-based rock band Dashboard Confessional has exploded back onto the scene with its first album of new material in four years. Helmed by frontman, songwriter and founder Chris Carrabba, the group recently released their ninth studio album, All The Truth That I Can Tell, via Hidden Note Records/AWAL.
Since making their debut in 2000 with their acclaimed The Swiss Army Romance, Dashboard Confessional has spent more than 20 years as an influential force in the pop punk and rock genres. With hits such as “Screaming Infidelities,” “We Fight,” “Vindicated,” “Hands Down,” and more, the band has returned with their signature blend of vulnerable, honest and relatable lyrics laced over hard-hitting production.
All The Truth That I Can Tell came about from a relatively intense writing process. First taking shape through a transformative moment in a Manchester greenroom in the UK, Carrabba felt the full creative force of the album in the fall of 2019. As he notes, he wrote the entirety of the 11-track record in the span of about 10 days, with the exception of one or two songs.
“It was the kind of thing when a creative person finds themself deep in the wave,” he explains. “When a creative person finds themself there, I think they probably discover that it’s after many years of waiting for the right wave. When someone finds themself there, that’s when they just ride it out for all it’s worth, which was the case for me.”
The first song came when he had woken up in the middle of the night. Pattering over to his guitar, a song rushed out. Hunkering down, he began to repeat the same daily routine, down to waking up at 3 a.m. each day. “I was waking up at a time when the world doesn’t seem real on some level and you feel like you’re the only one in it because everybody’s sleeping. It’s this long, fruitful isolation, for lack of a better word.”
For the album’s production, the group tapped longtime collaborator John Paul Wiser who produced the band’s first two albums, which Carrabba credits as his most personal and profound projects to date. Since those early years, Carrabba shares that he has been waiting to be in that same place of honesty and introspection, and he believes with All The Truth That I Can Tell, that’s exactly where he’s landed.
“I would say this record is set apart, or it at least sits in rank with my first two records [in that respect],” he says. “I’ve been hoping and waiting for the kind of songs that I felt in my early days to make their way back to me, which is not a place you can force, apparently. I know from trying that you just have to wait.”
From mapping out how he sees himself, how he sees the world, and more, Carrabba’s hope for the new record is that its songs resonate with his listeners, whether through their experiences or through depth of feeling. Most of all, he hopes that the 11 songs can serve as some kind of shared territory that someone may find useful to their own circumstances.
After over two decades, nine albums, countless shows, two anniversary tours and an immeasurable impact on a generation, Carrabba explains that for him, nothing throughout these twenty years has felt like repetition, but rather a story that continually felt like new chapters in the same book.
Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba. Photo: Lupe Bustos
“That 20-year span is impressive in a sentence, but it doesn’t feel like that’s what it’s been. It just feels like I’ve been going to the same job I’ve loved every day and hoping that maybe I’ll be lucky enough to still have this job tomorrow or next week,” he explains with a smile. “I remember doing about six shows to celebrate the 10th year anniversary and thinking it was weird, but I didn’t think it was as weird [when we did the 20th anniversary tour]. I thought, ‘Oh, we’re celebrating with the audience being in each other’s lives in some fashion,’ which is genuinely worth celebrating.”
In tandem with the band’s new music, Dashboard Confessional is also gearing up for a busy touring year as they join forces with Jimmy Eat World for their co-headlining “Surviving The Truth Tour.”
Carrabba and the band will also be performing at the sold out “When We Were Young” festival, slated for Oct. 22-24 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. Featuring some of the biggest names in the pop punk format, Dashboard Confessional will take the stage alongside My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Avril Lavigne, Bring Me the Horizon, All-American Rejects, We the Kings, and more for the nostalgic weekend event.
“I’m excited because I get to be with all my friends and watch them all be celebrated, some of them in a way that I know they haven’t had the opportunity to be or haven’t felt in a long time,” Carrabba shares.
“I’m a pop punk kid and an emo kid, so you will see me out there in the audience,” he sums. “You won’t only see me on stage or side stage. I will be out there, as I often do, watching the bands with the people I feel most like, which are the people on that side of the barricade.”