Dispatch remained true to its reputation as an engaging live band Friday night as it played to a sellout crowd at downtown Boston's Orpheum Theater. The trio played a lengthy two-hour set of original, reggae-influenced rock along with the occasional cover, all to the pleasure of an equally enthused crowd.
The band began its tour in October to promote its new live album, Gut the Van. This double CD, released Nov. 6, contains songs recorded in New York and Washington DC, among other US cities. Dispatch is not known for its studio albums, and the latest return to its performance-based roots just confirms the band knows how to put together a great live show.
Dispatch, composed of Chad Urmston, Pete Heimbold, and Brad Corrigan, is a band of many talents. Each member is lyrically inclined, and each is an accomplished musician on his own. In fact, they frequently and comfortably switched instruments and shared vocal duties as Friday night's set progressed. The drummer laid down a strong back beat with the bass drum while occasionally using loud rim shots and creative symbol fills. The bassist locked in well with the drummer, providing a strong rhythmic backdrop for the guitarist to add nice, clipping chords. Dispatch's wide range of styles also allowed the band to sound folksy, sometimes simply using an acoustic guitar and bongos.
Combining their talents, the three musicians have a unique sound that is clearly influenced by a wide range of contemporary and classic artists. Although Dispatch's style is primarily a reggae/rock reminiscent of Sublime, the group also has songs that jam Phish-style, rock out with a punk flair, and become as mellow as the work of Tufts' own Guster.
On Friday, this eclectic variety kept the crowd on its feet. Concert-goers responded to the band's efforts by listening quietly and waving lighters to the beautiful "Spades," then jumping to their feet in a dancing frenzy for rockers such as "Bang Bang."
And the venue couldn't have been better. If you haven't seen a show at the Orpheum, you're missing out on a captivating experience. While the 2,800 seat theater is old, it's among the best places in Boston to watch a concert. The Orpheum resembles an old playhouse on the inside, but it's beautifully blessed with impressive architecture and even better acoustics. The wide theater gives every seat in the house a great view and the balcony, which some claim actually bounces during shows, adds a nice touch.
At Friday's concert, though, many fans seemed not to appreciate the listener-friendly Orpheum; rather, they were there rather to socialize and party. The aisles filled with delighted dancers and young fans falling over each other took away from the overall experience - and a true appreciation of Dispatch's craft.
But while Dispatch played to a slightly disrespectful crowd, it's performance wasn't hindered. The band's arrangements, though tight and groovy, were always simple, allowing Dispatch to focus on its strongest talent: vocal harmonies. Each member is an amazing singer, and when all three put their talents together, it creates a beautiful patchwork of melody lines and vocal soundscapes that are the signature of the Dispatch sound.
The night's clear highlight came when the band wrapped up its high-energy set by playing "The General." A longtime favorite of Dispatch followers, the song drew a roar from the crowd with its first telling chords. With each chorus, the crowd responded emphatically with the lyrics, "Go now you are forgiven...you've got to be, got to be livin'."
Among the night's best moments came when the band played Bob Marley's "War," a song protesting racism throughout the world. Their rendition mixed great harmonies and beautiful dub-reggae instrumentation that surely made for a smoker's delight. Despite Dispatch's socially-conscious effort to provide a sign of the times, many in the young crowd did not recognize the cover and only expressed interest when the band eventually segued into Sublime's "Pawn Shop."
The two-hour set concluded before midnight with an encore version of "Bats in the Belfry" before the crowd poured out into the cold Boston night - tired, but satisfied.
