In Nothing Feels Good, an examination of emo culture by former SPIN scribe Andy Greenwald, he describes the crowd gathering outside a Dashboard Confessional concert at CBGB in November 2001:

There are young girls in powder blue, midriff-baring tank tops emblazoned with the word ‘rockstar’ emerging from idling SUVs, waving goodbye to their parents behind the wheel with a dismissive nod. There are clean-cut high school boys wearing baseball hats and overly long shorts and khakis. Serious-looking 15-year-olds smile and awkwardly switch off their cell phones. There is backslapping. There are high-pitched giggles.

The events happening inside of Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday could’ve unfolded any night during the genre's early-aught zenith. Blue-blooded poster boy Chris Carrabba enters the stage looking just as he has every day for the past decade: Ken-doll hair, fitted jeans, snug plaid shirt revealing sleeves of tattoos. He starts into “The Good Fight,” spending the most intense portions of the song away from the mic, sweeping the stage and letting the audience take over. They know all the words. Every single one. They don't sing them, they shout them. Even years after they were filmed, those MTV Unplugged videos aren't hyperbole.

The only difference between what Greenwald witnessed eleven years ago and what's happening here are the people doing the shouting. Despite the genre becoming a punch line for most BrooklynVegan commenters, the show, billed as a solo acoustic rendition of Carrabba's band, is sold out. So was the one at Webster Hall two years ago. So who's buying tickets to these? At 37, is Carrabba still resonating with 16-year-olds? Or is this more of a nostalgia thing—presumably the same reason why Taking Back Sunday just added a second show at Terminal 5 for the 10-year anniversary of Tell All Your Friends? (And if so, why is it mocked by indie elitists when every other strain of 90s-birthed nostalgia is currently all the rage?) Or maybe, just maybe, Carrabba is still netting new fans via the powers of message boards Facebook? Talking to fans before Saturday's show, we found out that it's a little bit of all the above.

Vanessa, 22

Is this your first time seeing Dashboard Confessional?
Yes.

Is there a certain song you’re really hoping he plays tonight?
“Bend and Not Break.” That’s my absolute favorite song.

Will you be singing along?
[nods yes and smiles]

Melissa, 21
Jacqueline, 25
Ally, 20

Are you girls longtime fans?
More recent. We’ve heard a couple of his songs but nothing hardcore. He has a nice voice, and he’s kinda cute.

Diandra, 24
Pierre, 24

Have you been listening to Dashboard Confessional for a long time?
Yes. I’ve been listening since I was in junior high, then I kinda stopped, and then I started listening again.

Is this your first time seeing him live?
No, I actually saw him back where I’m from, so I’m excited. This is solo and acoustic… The last time was at a big venue. There were too many people, so I think this will be good.

Is there one song you’re really hoping to hear tonight?
Yes, but I think he’s going to play it because he always does. That song, “Hands Down.”

Do you know all the words?
Yeah, I think everybody knows all the words to that song.

Jack, 19

How long have you been listening to Dashboard?
Probably for about six or seven years, since I was in middle school.

Would you consider yourself a pretty big fan?
Yeah, absolutely.

Is this your first time seeing him live?
No, I think this is my fourth or fifth. I’ve seen him just in New York—Long Island and the City.

What’s your favorite album of his?
Favorite album, oh, that’s a tough one to pick. Hmm, I’d probably say After the Ending.

Meagan, 23
Melinda, 24

Do you guys consider yourselves pretty big fans of Dashboard?
Yeah, I mean, we started listening to him in high school… like, 10 years ago. [laughs]

Is there a certain song you’re really hoping to hear at the show?
“Screaming Infidelities.” And I like “As Lovers Go.” It reminds me of my ex-boyfriend.

Aww, that's sweet.
No, not “aw.” Like, “ugh.”

Chris, 26

Are you a longtime fan of Dashboard Confessional?
Yeah, for, like, probably 10 or 11 years.

What song are you most hoping to hear tonight?
Hmm, that’s a really good question. I’d probably say “The Best Deceptions.” That’s one of my favorite songs from him. I have the Swiss Army Romance DVD that he did a few years ago—he did it unplugged, for MTV—and I think he did it so well live, so I’m hoping to see it again.

And then what would you say is your favorite Dashboard album?
I think I’m going to go with The Swiss Army Romance. That’s how I really got into him.

Gabriel, 24

Do you consider yourself a big Dashboard fan?
Yeah, I’m a pretty big fan, yeah.

Is this your first time seeing him live?
Yeah, I’m actually here from Sweden on vacation, so I wanted to go to the show.

How did you find out about him in Sweden?
I think it was in 2001, a friend played me a song of his, and I really liked it.

Alex, 21
Jennifer, 24
Erica, 21
Kelly, 27

How long have you been listening to Dashboard Confessional?
Forever. Since 2003, maybe. Since “Hands Down.” I didn’t know he was still performing, but then two weeks ago we were all at a BBQ, and we were listening to Dashboard, and I was like, “I remember all the words still.” This is kind of like a reunion tour for [us].

Is there a certain song you’re really hoping to hear tonight?
All of them!