Dispatch: No Looking Back

by Evan Speiser

The floor begins to rattle, with every mind shattering beat of the band. The energy in the room increases, you can't help yourself, you become part of the action. You listen and watch as Charles Chetroe, with eyes shut and dred-locks pinned up, releases his voice. He belts out the first line. The crowd responds simultaneously by joining in, almost matching the sound level of the singer. The energy level rises again, as Pete Heimbol, or "RePete" steps up to his microphone and sings in harmony. As if to complete the missing puzzle piece, Brad Corrigan, or "Bradigan," begins to add to the harmony with his voice as he lays down the beat on the drums. Suddenly, as if on cue, Pete gets the crowd to jump with the music.

Just three guys are creating this unique sound that has initiated the energy. This energy is so catchy, yet so original. Their sound, so different from the same-old, same-old that is played on the radio day in and day out. If you have never experienced such a sound before, and you have looked for something different than the packaged radio band, then Dispatch is a must.

Dispatch is taking college campuses, high schools and clubs by storm. A three man band from the North East, Dispatch plays to packed houses at least 3 times a week. This relatively new band is making waves across the US with live concerts, word of mouth, and through the internet which has charted them an impressive place on the top 20 billboard held by a national agency that charts and compares record sales.

TeenSpeak caught up with the band before a concert at the Hopkins School in Connecticut recently to talk about their views of the music industry and their place in it. Brad Corrigan explained, "I think the coolest thing that is happening now in music is the internet and MP3s... When we went out to California and performed at a college, the people had not only heard the music, but they knew the music. One thousand people showed up and they were singing to a majority of the songs. That was definitely Napster and word of mouth. The General, Bang-Bang.... they knew all of the words because of Napster." Their availability over the internet is very simple. They have created a website for themselves at www.dispatchmusic.com. MP3s are on Napster as well as their website, and surprisingly, the band says it works as a benefit.

From left to right: Pete Heimbol, Brad Corrigan and Charles Chetroe