Dispatch Live At The Troubadour!

Do you know the band, Dispatch? Well, they are awesome, and they just gave me a wonderful night of music and positivity that was so badly needed, I almost cried. Dispatch played two sold out acoustic gigs showcasing their latest album, America, Location 12 at The Troubadour, and probably could have sold out the place the rest of the week as well. It was jam packed for the beloved Boston-based jam band, and I think I was the only person besides my friend I brought along in there who had never seen them before. EVERY person knew EVERY word of EVERY song to the point that I felt kind of like a poser for even being there, but you gotta start sometime!

I am friends with Dispatch's Chad Stokes Urmston from when he was in the band, State Radio, which formed after Dispatch had broken up, so I only knew State Radio music - which I loved. We toured together as a part of Tom Morello's Justice Tour in 2008, and that trip was so memorable that pretty much everyone remained friends for always. We served meals to the homeless. We tried to talk vets out of the Iraq War at the Walter Reed Hospital in D.C. We cleaned up yards and homes destroyed by Katrina in New Orleans ... we were in the trenches together. Urmston always went even more the extra mile though, like on days off he would skip the sightseeing or sports game and go visit a prison and sing for the inmates. He is the real real deal, and also the co-founder with his wife, Sybil Gallagher, of Calling All Crows, a non-profit focusing on women's rights. So, we love him even more.

Well, in the years since, State Radio has broken up and Urmston returned to his band mates in Dispatch (but still with his oil can guitar!), and they are now on an acoustic tour promoting their latest album, America, Location 12 (offered for pay what you can and free to download online. Great guys).  Urmston invited me to come out to see them, and I couldn't wait to hear the other music he creates, as well as see my friend jam again! The album was played last night in its entirety, front to back, and it is wonderful. People already knew every lick of the new one, and belted it out at the top of their lungs. As I'd never heard ANY of the Dispatch music, I was jealous that I couldn't join in on the raucous singing, but loved it all nonetheless. Urmston was joined by his bandmate, Brad Corrigan (founding member Pete Francis is not along on this tour), as well as some more guys rounding out the touring band, all of whom were beyond excellent. The harmonies, the musicianship, the camaraderie, the positive vibes ... all of it was so good, and again, so needed.

As bands like this are needed. Always an activist band, Dispatch has upped the ante on this new and excellent album, with songs of immigrants, war vets, children, gun violence ... but all of it is taken with a spoonful of sugar, as the music accompanying the heavy topics is so upbeat and hopeful that it feels like there simply MUST be solutions out there for all of it. I would describe it as genreless. People call them a jam band, but that makes you think of the Dead, and here there's reggae, irish jig sounds (Boston), African drum beats, rock, blues, lullabies, jazzy riffs, almost raps, twangy slide ... you name it. There's something for everyone to dig. There were volunteers out in the front bar next to the merch, signing people up and informing them about the Brady Campaign, to end gun violence. They addressed this during the show, and who cares if it's at all controversial to some, but there MUST be at least background checks implemented if we're ever to have any progress in this area. That is not nearly to much to ask, in fact, to me it's not nearly enough. Stop. Gun. Violence. Period.

Ok, the music. SO, so good. I truly loved every note. As I mentioned, they played the entire new album, in order. There was a brief intermission, and they came back with ... (got the set list because it's all new to me!)

Hey, Hey
Circles Around The Sun
Bats In The Belfry
Prince of Spades
Steeples
Fallin'
and the one I knew already - Out Loud.

People were going crazy. They were singing louder than the band, and when Urmston asked if they'd been there the night before, it sounded like most of them had. And would be happy for it to never end. They said good night, but with this crowd, that wasn't going to be it, and the fellas came right back, to fans yelling out requests. Someone shouted, "Stick to the set list!" - which the band had never heard before and cracked up. They gave us a new one, "Thoughts and Prayers" (a phrase we've been hearing far too much of lately) and it was hauntingly beautiful. "Your thoughts and prayers are not enough, you say you care but you're not my baby" goes the sad chorus, and it ends with the random numbers of deaths in mass shootings being recited. Whoa. "Open Up" lightened it back up and ruled as hard as all the rest. The entire place had to have been exhausted by then, but the band for sure. Cheers rang through the building until the lights came on and Frank Sinatra started singing about fairytales coming true, but the crowd didn't care. The chant of "One More Song!" thundered above the house music, and sure enough, the band came back down the stairs to perform that one more song - "Elias", a clear favorite for the elated room. I've never seen that happen at The Troubadour before. They shut the lights back off and muted Frank and the crowd went off once and for all again. My friend and I just looked at each other and said, "That was awesome."

It really was. As Corrigan said at one point, "Peace is the way forward. Put away all the divisive stuff and find the human core." I was wearing my State Radio "Wage Peace" sweatshirt at the show, so did feel a part of that one. Plus it's so true.

Early in the night, the band said that California is now its second home, which stoked everyone in the house, as we welcomed them with wide open arms. I first ever heard Urmston play with State Radio in this very room, so it was cool to see him with Dispatch for the first time in the very same venue. Now that we're the Dispatch second home, I have a good feeling that I'll be far better prepared to sing along with them the next time they return.

I recently read that attending live shows gives one a longer, happier life. After a show like this, I can see exactly why. Anyone who needs a boost, or needs to feel better about the current world, that someone else out there cares like you do, or you just need to dance around and feel happy, get out to see Dispatch when they come to your town. You will feel so much better. I know I did.

Massive thank yous to Chad, and to Dispatch, and to everyone there that gave out all those good vibrations. We're all in this together, and when the band left saying, "Good night! Peace and love!" - that's exactly what we got.

America, Location 12 is available everywhere now.
Dispatch is touring now. Go!

State Radio Rocks St. Patty's At The Troubadour

I tend to kind of shrug about going out on St. Patrick's Day ... but not when one of my favorite bands around is playing at The Troubadour. State Radio blew through town on the west coast leg of their current tour, and shared their Boston Irish green with us, with their own particular cocktail of roots, rock, and reggae, with an acidic twist of dead serious lyrics that make you smarter and more compassionate - if you're listening.

I was honoring my Irish compatriots with a little whiskey prior to the show, so missed most of the opening band, The Tontons, but from what little I heard, (especially from cool chick singer, Asli Omar) I assuredly will be hearing more. The guys of State Radio have been my homies and comrades since traveling together on 2008's Justice Tour, so every time they come through L.A. it is a joyful reunion, and a great excuse to whoop it up - that it was March 17th only enhanced the rowdiness.


State Radio brought it right from the moment the old Troubadour went dark, the stage backed by a backdrop of flying black crows and candles. The guys (joined on this tour by Matt Embree of RX Bandits) went blasting right into fast rocker, "CIA", riling the crowd (dressed mostly in green, drinking mostly Guinness) up from the word Go. I didn't hear that much of "Desert Queen" because I was catching up with the lovely girlfriend and wife of band members. Sorry, Guys.


"Wicker Plane" started up and I noticed a guy down front - the entire time - wearing an "I Am Troy Davis" shirt, who air drummed along with Maddog Najarian the. entire. show. I mean non-stop. "I want to be THAT enthusiastic about something," I said to my friend. It was both funny and inspiring, as the cat knew every single word, every single drum beat/cymbal hit, and was in absolute Heaven the entire show. That's what it's all about, man. FEELING IT!


State Radio absolutely was feeling it last night, from Maddog's heavy beats to Chuck Fay breaking it down on his bass, to new addition Embree's steely rasta-sounding guitar, to Chad Urmston's lyrical voice leading it all into a frenzy on every tune. "Graces" and "Bohemian Grove" were a reggae-tinged double whammy that saw my friend yell into my ear, "I want to be in the islands!" That is exactly the sound, and the vibe, that I was in the mood for last night. Then my thoughts turned to Japan, then the world at large, then I focused on the last verse of "Bohemian Grove":

World control
And the opinion of the inner elite
Oh don't you know
That we are aching for a part in the chance worth taking
Who's to say
That we are destined just to fall at your feet
It's World Control
So that it's rendered to we, the people of the earth rolling round
Versailles. Way down. How long. Outlaw.

... Which made me think about Madison, Wisconsin, revolutions around the world, and all the other crazy stuff going on right now. Isn't it great that a fun-times reggae-sounding song can conjure up all these thoughts AND the feeling that you CAN do something about it all? That's State Radio for you.

Some great news is that I don't have Alzheimer's, and the songs that I thought I forgot/didn't know, are really NEW songs that will show up on State Radio's next album, that sources close to the band (like THE band) told me they hope to release this fall. They included "Adelaide" and "Take Cover" and both were so good that you'll want to do the pre-order thing.

"Gang Of Thieves". "Arsenic & Clover". "Fall Of The American Empire". The very powerful true story of "Camilo"... All of them had entire audience participation, from over the head clapping to singing loudly along to all lyrics. It's fun to watch the give and take between band and crowd in a little place like The Troubadour, because it's just so tangible. State Radio is one of those bands that gets SO involved, (both musically and activist-ly) that it naturally impels its fans to do same. So we did.

"Calling All Crows" shares its title with the wonderful organization founded by Chad and his girlfriend, Sybil, that strives to both assist and empower women around the world. SO crucial, and one of my most favorite SR songs musically as well. L.A.'s Calling All Crows event was for the local chapter of Dress For Success - an organization that helps women get ready for professional life through setting them up with business attire, skills and support. Word.


As it was St. Patrick's Day, it was the perfect time for the Boys from Boston to throw down their Irish jig of rock, "Knights Of Bostonia". Not one still body in the place for that one, and band and crowd shared beaming grins throughout. That was my perfect St. Patty's moment, no contest.

They wrapped up their regular set with "State Inspector", with (oil can) guitars and drums building to an explosion of music and yells that saw not one hipster posing. There were only people FEELING it in there by this point. Rock and roll.

After a split second wait for an encore, State Radio was back, this time with an instrument swap between Maddog and Chuck - Chuck on drums, and MD on bass - for the classic "Indian Moon". Again, the mood was extra-Rasta on this one, and I simply loved it. So did the entire house, as they sang as one, drowning out anyone with a mic. They closed the night with "Doctor Ron The Actor", a BIG hit with the Superfans (and I include myself), still grinning, screaming themselves hoarse with appreciation, thumping their friends on the backs, and in one case, a big air-drum finale flourish.


We got a chance to chat and do a quick catch up before the guys had to load out and head north to San Francisco to continue their tour. As we hugged our farewells for now, I thought about not only how GREAT nights like these are, but also how important. In precarious times like these (radiation on its way to L.A. from Japan ... etc .. etc ...) it's all the more important to treasure what we've got, while we've got it. I'll steal from "Indian Moon" to close out our story, as it sums up what I was feeling as I left The Troubadour last night all so perfectly:

And oh sir
If you ever lose your way
You can call upon this family
You can call upon this day

You can call upon this day... to get strength through music. Strength through community. Strength through LIVING life to its very fullest, every moment that you get.


*The one good first photo (regular photographer unavailable) was stolen from State Radio's twitter. Thank you!