Polyphonic Spree

Last night I finally got to go to a concert. It's been a while. This concert however puts all others to shame. FSU put on a "welcome back" type show featuring some DJ and The Polyphonic Spree. If you don't know who Polyphonic Spree is, get yourself to iTunes and download some songs.

The show was absolutely amazing. The weather was perfect, the crowd was decent and the Spree were incredible. It was a great show to people watch as this band had quite the "cult" following. Normally the band wears choir robes, and with 25+ members all on stage, can look a wee little be like a religious cult. Still, they are amazing.

About ten minutes before the Spree began a few members of their crew went up on stage (the show was outdoors) and took this giant red piece of fabric about seven feet tall and stretched it across the entire stage and tied it at both ends. We all just watched an waited. Soon enough a spotlight illuminated on center stage and someone began cutting the fabric from behind. It was then obvious that whoever it was was cutting a giant heart. The cutting kept on until the fabric dropped to the stage, the lights flashed on, smoke billowed out from behind and all 25+ members leaped forward and went right into the first song. It was quite an entrance. From then on it was an hour and a half of rocking out.

The performance was incredible. Seeing that many people on stage so "in" to their music just puts you in a good mood, especially with the type of songs they perform. It's feel good music and definitely something you should check out. The lead singer, Tim DeLaughter was in the band Tripping Daisy from the 90's that had a big hit with "I've Got a Girl." C'mon, you know you've heard it before and sung along. Now his enchanting voice leads this army, "Fragile Army" (their latest album) to be exact. The Spree played their big hits among some oldies and a bunch off their new album. My favorite being their rendition of Nirvana's "Lithium." Holy shit, they had everyone singing along shaking their heads. Unbelievable. It was truly the best show I have seen in a long time. To make things even more interesting, it was the Spree's first time ever performing in Florida. All in all it was a kick ass show. If you get the chance, don't miss them live. In the mean time pick up their latest album, "Fragile Army" or even my personal favorite "Together We Are Heavy."

DISPATCH: Zimbabwe

The economic crises in Zimbabwe is worsening at an alarming rate. At the beginning of 2007, Zimbabwe’s inflation rose to 1,281.1%, the highest in the world by far. Unemployment is over 85 %, poverty over 90 %, and foreign reserves are almost depleted. Over four million persons are in desperate need of food. One in four citizens are HIV positive. Coupled with severe malnutrition, thousands are dying every month. To do something as simple as buying a loaf of bread is near impossible for most zimbabwean families. Combined with a consistent lack of potable water, power, perpetual regional drought, over all environmental degradation and the recent displacement of hundreds of thousands desperately poor from urban areas, the country is on the brink of ruin.

July 31, 2004 marked one of the most memorable and moving days in the life of DISPATCH. 110,000 of you came together to celebrate an amazing eight-year run that would conclude that day in Boston, Massachusetts. You all blew the band away.

Brad, Chad and Pete have truly enjoyed the time that's passed since then, focusing their efforts on new career paths. During these months and years, the band has been moved by tragedy and devastation in all parts of the globe. The tsunamis in Southeast Asia. The hurricanes in the United States. The genocide in Darfur. As individuals, each of the guys have done work to try and make a difference. As DISPATCH, they feel like they can do more.

On Saturday, July 14, 2007, Brad, Chad and Pete will reunite as DISPATCH for "DISPATCH: ZIMBABWE," a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. All of the money raised from ticket sales will go directly to charities that are fighting disease, famine and social injustice in Zimbabwe; a portion will be allocated to local charities that the band supports here in the States as well.

Do what you can. Educate yourself. Make a difference. Visit www.dispatchmusic.com/zimbabwe for more information. Add them as a friend on MySpace. Every little bit will help.

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Road of the Righteous

The name of this blog comes from a song title of one of my favorite bands, Dropkick Murphys. The song can be found on the "Do or Die" album that was released in 1998. It was also released on a split compilation with Face-to-Face in 2002. Both are sick.

Road of the Righteous
Lyrics: McColgan, Music: Barton

Now I saw a man stand up one day and fight to save his life, just a common worker, supporting his kids and his wife, he put a plug in his jug things looked up for sure but the whole damn thing of it was there is no blasted cure

Chorus: I've seen a few men go "The Road of the Righteous" and a few have traveled "This Old Lonely Path" I've seen a few men go "The Road of the Righteous" by God I'm sure we'll see some more "go there blessed way"

Hey it's gonna, take some foot work to get you on your way, they'll be pit-falls and some cat-calls but hard you must persist, cause life is so precious and we have only got one shot, so if you move along and you stay God strong all the treasures will be got