The acoustics must really be top quality for the lyrics to be so clear, I thought to myself as Dispatch played their last song.
At that moment, I realized that every single pair of lips was mouthing the words to “The General” and I was taken aback by the beauty of that moment. Boston-area jam band Dispatch are well-known for their charity concerts, and this past Friday’s (July 10) Hunger concert at Madison Square Garden was no exception. Fans showed up in boots, flannels, and Dispatch shirts as far as the eyes could see, and they were all excited to get a glimpse of the seldom seen band.
This Friday show was a last minute addition, but Dispatch still managed to snatch up the clearly overwhelmed Pennsylvania folk kings Dr. Dog. “It’s such an honor to be on this stage,” said lead singer Toby Leaman, as they started their set. The Garden was still filling up at this point, but Dr. Dog brought a winding energy to the night that served as a good opening vibe.
Once the vibe was established, a video detailing the struggles of various families across the United States who are going hungry played and the emotions swelled accordingly as Dispatch took the stage and “Open Up” billowed through the speakers. Dispatch doesn’t take the stage as often as they used to because of side projects helmed by lead singer/guitarist Brad Corrigan and a sense that it was time to move on, but as “Josaphine,” “Bang Bang,” and “Here We Go” were knocked off the setlist, it was like they never left. Their set went for just over an hour, but barely anyone sat the whole time. And the dancing? The dancing was *shameless*.
The wiling never ceases #DispatchHunger pic.twitter.com/gvwdFMznBz
— Szechuan Don (@CineMasai_) July 11, 2015
