Dispatch

As a group that had built a substantial following almost entirely through touring and the Internet, without reliance on a major record label, radio play, television appearances, or much in the way of media coverage, the jam band Dispatch, as of the fall of 2002, could claim justifiably to be "under the radar," hence the title of its first DVD. But the package, consisting of a DVD containing the basic two-hour-and-20-minute film plus another half-hour of extras, as well as a half-hour CD called Patchwork containing audio versions of a couple of new songs, a couple of remixes, and a couple of live versions of familiar songs from the DVD, suggested that it was long past time for Dispatch to be recognized by the greater music community beyond its coterie of fans. For one thing, the film demonstrated that that coterie was already quite large. The band was traced through concert dates in medium-sized halls around the country -- Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco -- playing to thick crowds of people many of whom sang along to the songs. And it was easy to see what attracted those fans. The group, enamored of Jamaican rhythms that they applied to folk-rock tunes with occasional hip-hop elements, jumped from instrument to instrument and mood to mood with ease: blond, curly-haired Chay Stokely singing and playing electric guitar when he wasn't pounding a conga drum; dark-haired Pete Heimbold, bearing a slight resemblance to Tom Cruise, singing and playing bass guitar when he wasn't playing acoustic; and mastermind Brad "Braddigan" Corrigan (producer and director of the film) singing and playing drums when he wasn't strapping on an acoustic guitar and taking his place in the front line for an intimate ballad. In between performances, the bandmembers discussed their formation (vaguely) and addressed such other issues as their support for Napster and free downloading in general. For hardcore fans, the lengthy video provided insight into Dispatch's activities along with some terrific live performances of songs from all four of the band's regular albums. For casual fans or the uninitiated, it helped explain the underground phenomenon of Dispatch, particularly the on-stage interaction that made them one of those "you've gotta see 'em live" bands. With Under the Radar, Dispatch took a giant step toward being on the map. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide