The New England jam band
Dispatch was comprised of Brad Corrigan, Pete Heimbold, and Chad Urmston, who first grouped together while attending Middlebury College in Vermont. The young band debuted in 1996 with
Silent Steeples and returned a year later with
Bang Bang. Both albums displayed the trio's three-part harmonies and cheeky, college-friendly mix of
Barenaked Ladies-style acoustic pop and
folk-rock, with some
reggae and
funk influences tossed in for good measure.
June 2000 saw the issue of
Four-Day Trials, a fan-friendly album of first takes and live favorites that featured a jammy take on
the Beastie Boys' "Root Down."
Who Are We Living For? followed that October, and was marked by a protest song vibe to go with the normal round of good-time grooves. By this point,
Dispatch had built a sizable East Coast following due to frequent university gigs and a strong Internet presence. The buzz secured
Dispatch some national modern
rock airplay of the
reggae-tinged single "Open Up." The band returned in 2001 with Gut the Van, which enjoyed national distribution through the Digital Club Network online store and showcased the band's energetic live act. In 2003, however, the bandmates announced their amicable decision to split up; the following year,
Dispatch played what was said to be the band's final concert, a free show that drew upwards of 110,000 fans to the Hatch Shell in Boston. The live album All Points Bulletin documented the event, and the three members subsequently disbanded to pursue other ventures. Fans didn't have to wait long for a reunion, however, as
Dispatch reunited in the summer of 2007 for a string of benefit concerts. A CD/DVD package, Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden, was released to commemorate the shows. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
