Dispatch Playing On Top Of Their Van "Wimpy", RePete on the Big Screen
July 24, 2007
Blurry Shot of the Stadium and Stage From Our Seats
Dispatch: Zimbabwe
Hey everyone.
Sunday July 15th, I was one of the fortunate thousands to attend that last show of the Dispatch: Zimbabwe "reuinion" shows. It was incredible.
I had been at their farewell concert at the Hatch Shell in Boston on July 31, 2004. This was my first Dispatch show, and ironically their last. It was a free show and over 110,000 people came. That is an unprecedented number for ANY band to have come to see them let alone an independent band, who was never signed on to any major record label. They are just three guys Chad "Chetro" Urmston, Pete "Re-peat"Heimbold, and Brad "Braddigan" Corrigan. That show in my mind was one of the greatest I've ever seen. No fancy pyrotechnics or light shows, or movies in the background to emphasize songs (not that that stuff is bad), but just pure music. They played damn near everything they ever wrote in four hours without a set break. I've never heard of that happening or seen happen. It was was of those shows were nothing could piss you off because the live music was so amazing.
Fastforward to July 15, 2007. Dispatch broke records again. This time they were the first band in history to play the Madison Square Garden without a major record label. On top of that they sold out the show. Because they sold out the show, they added another one, that sold out, so they added another one. Now they have sold out Madison Square Garden, one of the largest venues on the East Coast, three days in a row with no major label promoting them. All they had was word of mouth from their fans and "friends" on myspace.com and facebook.com.
Seeing Dispatch at the Garden was amazing. This time they had the crazy light shows and effects. It didn't really matter though. The show retained its image of just three guys singing and playing a little bit of music that showed the world through their eyes. One of the great moments was that for their third set (yes they had sets this time, four of them), they pushed their original tour van "Wimpy" out into the crowd and set up three chairs ontop so that they could play an accoustic set together. This was really cool to see because the audience was allowed to gather around them like I had been able to when seeing Chad Urmston play the Dispatch song "Elias" at the Eliasfest a few months ago.
The most important thing about this show though was that no matter what anybody says this show wasn't about Dispatch. At least it wasn't supposed to be. It was called Dispatch: Zimbabwe for a reason. ALL of the proceeds went to benefit Zimbabwe and local charities. Zimbabwe is a nation torn by oppression that has created a downfall from "the breadbasket of Africa" in 1980, to the "most unstable country in the world that is not involved in a war" according to studies shown at the Garden before the concert. Life expectancy for women is 34 years, AIDS and HIV are rampant, there's massive droughts, the inflation rate is over 15,000 %. The list of this countries' problems goes on and on. As Braddigan told the audience "Please don't let this be just another rock concert." The band is deeply, deeply concerned about Zimbabwe and truely wanted to make a diffrerence. I haven't got the results of how much money was raised, but its safe to say hundreds of thousands of dollars came from the actions of this band on that weekend.
Before the show and inbetween each set were videos showing the conditions of Zimbabwe narrated by a man named Elias whom one of Dispatch's most popular songs is about. CHad Urmston had gone to Zimbabwe to teach English in the early 1990's, and stayed with Elias and his family. Life there inspired him to write the song which he brought to the world with Dispatch. To see how desperate the people there are makes it hard to actually NOT help out. The band or their staff, whoever, went so far as to make donations as easy as text messenging donation amounts to a number provided for the fund raiser. 99 cent and five dollar donations were offered by one of the two numbers that could be "texted" to the fund raiser. I admit I wa reluctant, then disgusted with myself for being so. What would that money cost me? One meal? Less then two gallons of gas? For a native of Zimbabwe, that kind of money can feed them for a month and school them for a year. It's pretty selfish to think of my MINOR misfortunes compared with those, and I have to thank the band for literally holding my hand in the process of donating to this great cause.
The cause was something to feel honorable about, and the show was something to take with you everywhere you go. From the African Children's Choir on stage for several songs, to the Zimbabwean band "Bongo Love" on others, to the great music of Dispatch and the all around feeling that everyone there was your friend. The Dispatch:Zimbawe concert was something to remember.
If you want to donate to help Zimababwe vist eliasfund.org for more information and for information regarding how you can get involved.
June 29, 2007
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Saturday June 23 I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Dodge Music Center in Hartford CT. They were playing with the Doobie Bros. I had gone to the same show last year and missed the Doobie Bros. Unfortunatly this year the same thing happened.
I love Lynyrd Skynyrd. They are a phenomenal band. Being raised in the country its hard not to. The first time I saw them I was a little leary of seeing them because I knew the "real" Skynyrd hasn't played since that dreadful plane crash that took Ronnie Vant Zant and Steve and Cassie Gains. I had heard that Ronnie's brother Johhny does him justice though by honoring his brother with his music, not trying to get rich off of it. I was impressed last year with what I saw. They put on a hell of a show.
This year the band played great. They were on cue with everything, and got the crowd all riled up with plenty of audience participation, but it wasn't the same. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the show and would definatly see them again, but it felt like I was listening to a radio broadcast. The reason for this is because the band DIDN'T FINISH THEIR SONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never been to a show or heard of this happening except at rap concerts. I can only assume that it happened because most of the audience was older, and they probably wanted to hear all their favorite songs so the band blew through them. At first I didn't mind, but come on, you can't leave out the final verse of The Ballad of Curtis Leow!! What the fuck! Thats where he dies and the singer sings the last chorus directly to Curtis. For me, that's why the song is so powerful. They also shortened Tuesday's Gone, which I didn't understand. Sure its a long song but Johnny told the crowd they were gonna play pieces of songs until the audience really cheered for one, then they'd play the whole song. The audience went wild on Tuesday's Gone and they still blew through it. They didn't play that one last year so I was psyched when I heard it then disappointed.
All and all, I do love Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'll see them again, but I guess I'll get cocked next time so I don't notice when they kill a song.
April 05, 2007
Ryan and Matt Rockin' It
Ryan Montbleau Band
So Friday March 30, I got to see one of my favorite up and coming bands, the Ryan Montbleau Band.
These guys are really starting to pick up. The style of music they play is difficult to label. It's jazzy, bluesy, rock and roll that really gets people up on their feet. Ryan himself, the lead singer is one of the most humble stage personalities I've seen, and I have to say it really makes the energy of the band radiate. Ryan has an incredible voice and is really able to hit some notes with it. Unlike a lot of musicians, Ryan doesn't seem to try and force his way into raising his voice. It kinda comes naturally when he really gets into a song, rather than planned as part of the way the song is supposed to be sung.
Ryan is accompanied by James Cohen on drums, Jason Cohen on keys, Matt Giannaros on bass and Laurence Scudder on the viola. James keeps the rythem moving leaving room for his bandmates to experiment during a song. This is usually picked up by Jason with during sick jam sessions and Ryan playing electric guitar. Probably the most unique aspect of the band however is that Matt Giannaros plays several types of basses from electric to accoustic and even several songs on a cello. Laurence Scudder's viola naturally really compliments songs that use the various types of instruments. A few of my favorite RMB songs, Variety, Inspired By No One, Quickie, and It's All Been Done Before are perfect examples of the unique style the band is capable of creating with the incorporation of their wide variety of musical talent.
The first time I saw the band was at a free show at U-Hart. It was in a small cafeteria and there were only about 10 or 15 people when the band began to play. As a regular campus cafeteria, people were walking back and forth all night. By the end of the night word of mouth and people who came for a sandwhich and stayed for the show packed the place. These guys really have a friendly and welcome persona that obviously rubs off on their fans. They put on another free show there I was fortunate enough to see last October and basically the same thing happened. The funny thing is, I knew who they were now and knew that they had just played The Gathering of the Vibes festival in front of about 30,000 people so it was great to see the treat these U-Hart kids got as they heard the music. The band has been on tour constantly since I first saw them and I have to say it really is evident in their music. They are just better and better every time I see them. They have an album out in stores called One Fine Color that is really a must have for music fans who are sick of the same old radio bullshit. They've also got a new album in the works comming out soon. Check them out at www.ryanmontbleauband.com
Ryan Acapello
April 03, 2007
Martin Sexton Jamming Out
Martin Sexton
Hey everyone, sorry I haven't been up to pace. No excuses. I've seen a few shows recently and intend to see more. Before I can even begin to discuss them I need to give props to the man. I'm talking about Martin Sexton. This guy is a musician. I can honestly say that I was astonished at how well he performed. The man's been around a hell of a lot longer then me (which makes me ashamed that I just learned about him) and he can play. Any of you that are Keller Williams fans should have heard of Martin by now cause he helps out on the track Rainy Day on Keller's new Dream album Dream. Martin Sexton is one of Keller's biggest influences. Seeing Martin live will no doubt show you the influence he has had on Keller Williams. From stage personality, to medodies, its crazy.
Musically Martin is able to hit notes with his voice that don't seem real. If you weren't standing there watching him do it you 'd think he had some divas on stage with him. Then he'll drop right back down low and do some tenor stuff. His overall voice is soft and accompanies his guitar playing fantastically. For such a shy and modest appearing guy he really commands his audience. Those I met at the show that night that had and seen him before were shocked that he could play in such a small venue( it was a bar in North Hampton Ma. on 1/31, we were lucky enough to be part of his warm up show for his new tour). Even his casual fans said they'd never miss another show if they had an oppotunity to go to. I grabbed a few shitty pictures, sorry about the bluriness. I can't put into words how great this guy is. Check out his website at www.martinsexton.com and definitly check him out if your lucky enough next time he rolls around.
November 29, 2006
Joel From Badfish Laying It Down
