The band originated in the early 1990s as One Fell Swoop, but changed their name to Dispatch in 1996. Chad Urmston, Braddigan, and Pete (Francis) Heimbold, who were all attending Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont comprised the band's lineup throughout their entire career. Their music has drawn on several influences, such as acoustic folk-rock, reggae, and funk.
Dispatch gained much recognition outside of New England, without any help from a label, and stuck together long enough to release seven albums, three of which were live performances. During concerts, the band had been known to improvise upon their album releases, often resulting in a song ending in twice the length of the original. The group was also fond of switching instruments and vocal duties when playing live.
Upon the announcement of its break-up in 2002, the band scheduled one final concert. The free show was performed at the Hatch Shell in Boston on July 31, 2004. "The Last Dispatch," as it was referred, is said to be the largest concert in independent music history; roughly 110,000 fans from over 20 different countries attended the show. Parts of the performance were released as a CD/DVD two-disc set later that year, entitled All Points Bulletin, along with an earlier show in Somerville, Massachusetts.
All three of the band's members are currently still in the music industry. Urmston is now the frontman of State Radio, while Corrigan (now credited as Braddigan, a nickname by which he was known since his time with Dispatch) and Heimbold (now credited as Pete Francis, his middle name) are succesfully pursuing solo efforts.
After the song Elias, written by Urmston after his experience living and teaching in Zimbabwe, the "Elias Fund" was formed to send children from the ravaged country to college.
Dispatch came out with a movie entitled "Last Dispatch" in July 2005, which documents their final 12 days together as a band and tells the story of how they became "the band that redefined independent music history". The film was released and previewed in Boston. Chad, Brad, and Pete attended the showing and celebrated throughout the weekend with their fans.
On December 22, 2005, Corrigan helped to organize a benefit concert, known as the Relief Project, at Irving Plaza in New York, New York. Along with several other performers, Corrigan invited Heimbold and State Radio to play. The three reunited very briefly, playing the song Here We Go as an encore. Corrigan stated there that he plans further Relief Project concerts featuring all three and perhaps sometime in 2007, a major Dispatch reunion concert.
Entitled "Dispatch: Zimbabwe", Dispatch arranged for one show in Madison Square Garden, with all the money sent towards relief efforts in Zimbabwe. Originally billed as a one show deal on July 14, Dispatch was surprised how quickly this first show sold out and set two more shows for the 13 and 15. After all three shows sold out, Dispatch announced another smaller show on July 11th at Webster Hall in New York, where they made their comeback debut to great success.
Dispatch had a second set of reunion concerts beginning at Red Rocks amphitheater in Denver, Colorado on June 3, 4, and 5th, 2011. These performances launched a reunion tour around the US and the release of their Dispatch EP on May 17th.
In 2017, the band released the song, "Only The Wild Ones" from their album, America, Location 12.
Bulls on Parade
Dispatch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shattering the molds
Either drop the hits like de la O
Or get the fuck off the commode
With the sure shot
Sure to make the body drop
Drop and don't copy, yo
Don't call this a co-op
Terror rains drenchin'
Quenchin' the thirst of the power dons
That five sided fist-a-gon
The rotten sore on the face of mother earth gets bigger
The trigger's cold, empty your purse
Rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells
They rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells
They rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells
They rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells, come on
Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes
Not need, just feed the war cannibal animal
I walk the corner to the rubble
That used to be a library
Line up to the mind cemetery now
What we don't know keeps the contracts alive an' movin'
They don't gotta burn the books, they just remove 'em
While arms warehouses fill as quick as the cells
Rally 'round the family, pockets full of shells
Rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells
They rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells
They rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells
You rally 'round the family
With a pocket full of shells
The lyrics to Dispatch's song Bulls on Parade are a commentary on the destructive nature of war and the responsibilities of citizens to resist oppressive power structures. The opening lines of the song set the tone for its rebellious spirit: "The microphone explodes, shattering the molds / Either drop the hits like de la O / Or get the fuck off the commode." The singer is urging the listener to take action and speak out against the injustices they see around them.
The chorus of the song is a call to action, rallying the "family" with a "pocket full of shells" to fight against those who hold power through violence and oppression. The singer laments that weapons and war are given priority over basic human needs like food and shelter, and notes that those who hold power use their control over information to hide their actions from the public eye.
Throughout the song, Dispatch uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of a world gone awry, where even libraries are reduced to rubble and the people are powerless to stop the forces that seek to control them. However, the lyrics also suggest that true power lies in collective resistance and solidarity, symbolized by the rallying cry of "pockets full of shells."
Overall, Bulls on Parade is a powerful critique of militarism and corrupt power structures, and a call to arms for those who seek to resist them.
Line by Line Meaning
The microphone explodes
The energy and passion conveyed through the microphone is explosive and powerful.
Shattering the molds
Breaking free from conventional expectations and creating something new and fresh.
Either drop the hits like de la O
Produce music at the same level of quality as successful artists like De La Soul.
Or get the fuck off the commode
Either contribute something meaningful or stop wasting our time and occupying space.
With the sure shot
A certain and guaranteed hit.
Sure to make the body drop
The power of the music will have a physical impact on the listeners, causing them to move and feel its intensity.
Drop and don't copy, yo
Create an original sound, not simply copying what has been done before.
Don't call this a co-op
This is not a collaboration or cooperative effort, but rather a statement of individual creativity and expression.
Terror rains drenchin'
The fear and violence is overwhelming and all-consuming.
Quenchin' the thirst of the power dons
Those in power are thirsty for control and use fear and violence to maintain it.
That five sided fist-a-gon
The Pentagon and its military might, which is being used to oppress and control others.
The rotten sore on the face of mother earth gets bigger
The negative impact of war and violence on humanity and the planet is growing and expanding.
The trigger's cold, empty your purse
The government and military-industrial complex are cold and uncaring, demanding money and resources from its citizens to fund its efforts.
Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes
The government is investing in weapons and war, but ignoring basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing for its people.
Not need, just feed the war cannibal animal
The war machine is never satisfied and needs constant nourishment, regardless of the suffering and devastation it causes.
I walk the corner to the rubble
The violence and destruction caused by war is pervasive and affects even the innocent bystanders.
That used to be a library
Even cultural and intellectual institutions are not safe from destruction and violence in times of war.
Line up to the mind cemetery now
People are losing their ability to think critically and independently, as their minds are being buried and numbed by the propaganda and violence of war.
What we don't know keeps the contracts alive an' movin'
The ignorance and apathy of the general population allows the government and military-industrial complex to continue their work unchecked and unquestioned.
They don't gotta burn the books, they just remove 'em
Censorship and control of information is a powerful tool for suppressing dissent and maintaining power.
While arms warehouses fill as quick as the cells
The production and accumulation of weapons is outpacing the incarceration of individuals, highlighting the government's misplaced priorities.
Rally 'round the family, pockets full of shells
Calling for people to unite against the oppressive forces of war and violence, while emphasizing the power and impact of weaponry on both sides.
You rally 'round the family
Reinforcing the message to join together and take a stand against oppression and war.
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jfoxvii
Interesting cover, pretty good. Also: first?
Cosmic Wheel
I'll never get my 2 minutes back...