PHOTOS BY ALEXI STRISH

The emo train stopped in Atlanta last night (Oct. 2) for a large-yet-intimate show at Midtown's Center Stage where Dashboard Confessional indulged a near-capacity crowd with a mostly solo performance featuring material from singer Chris Carrabba's earlier Dashboard days.

After an opening set from similarly-minded, full-band toting John Ralston, Say Anything frontman Max Bemis treated the crowd to a contrasting acoustic set that included new SA single "Baby Girl I'm a Blur" and other songs from their forthcoming LP, In Defense of the Genre. Perched on a stool with only an acoustic guitar in hand, Bemis mixed in older fan favorites like the acoustic romance "I Want to Know Your Plans" and rebellion anthems "Belt" and "Woe" which translated oddly well to the one-man stripped-down approach.

The stool was tossed aside, though, for Dashboard Confessional's hour-and-a-half headlining set as a solo, denim-clad Carrabba opened with a pair of songs from his 2001 acoustic breakthrough The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. Strewn with witty stage banter and story telling, which included gentile goading to "Know why you like what you like," the set incited Dashboard's trademark campfire-style audience sing-alongs and even included a cover of Weezer classic "El Scorcho," in support of the tour-only covers disc, The Wire Tapes.

Long-time Dashboard guitarist John Lefler chimed in on new tunes such as "Thick as Thieves" and "Where's There's Gold," both featured on DC's latest LP, The Shade of Poison Trees, but the resident emo poster boy returned solo once more for a two-song encore of fan-favorite "The Swiss Army Romance," mixed with a little of Say Anything's "Wow I Can Get Sexual Too." The show ended with "Hands Down" as the crowd's own chanting faded out into night. 

We asked: The solo tour and new album are a return to form for Chris Carrabba and Dashboard Confessional. How do you prefer your Dashboard -- acoustic emo crooner or full-on rock band?

Name: Tray Corley
Age: 25
Hometown: Covington, GA
Occupation: HR manager
"From Dashboard, I like the acoustic. Anything acoustic from any band is much better."

Name: Michael Jackson
Age: 25
Hometown: Miami, FL
Occupation: Crack dealer
"Solo. He's more sincere when he's by himself and plays his good stuff. It's a lot more personal."

Name: Brittany Stephens
Age: 24
Hometown: Pensacola, FL
Occupation: Accountant
"Probably the more rock, poppy stuff. It's trite, but true."

Name: Jezabelle
Age: 26
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Logistics for government
"Naked. Other than that, it doesn't matter."

Name: Fred Weaver
Age: 25
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Occupation: Surgical tech
"I like the acoustic. It's more intimate. He gets more into it."

Name: Renett Franklin
Age: 22
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Occupation: In-between jobs
"Full band. I just think it sounds better, but I love 'em either way."

Name: Chris One
Age: 30
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Occupation: Vagrant
"I prefer it acoustic because it's sentimental. It makes me cry on the inside."

Name: Josh Russell
Age: 21
Hometown: Kennesaw, GA
Occupation: Self-employed
"Acoustic because when he got the full band with the third and fourth albums he didn't have much to write about anymore. His songs used to be about emotion and heartbreak."

Dashboard Confessional, illuminated by a ring of 'fire' at Center Stage / Photo by Alexi Strish

Carrabba, no doubt leading the crowd in song / Photo by Alexi Strish

Having 'Fever Dreams'? / Photo by Alexi Strish

Hotlants fans heart Dashboard Confessional / Photo by Alexi Strish