Chad Urmston
Encyclopedia
Chad Stokes Urmston (born February 26, 1976 in Sherborn
, Massachusetts
) is an American musician. Urmston was a member of the band Hermit Thrush
which later gave birth to the band Dispatch
. He is the frontman for the Sherborn, Massachusetts
-area band State Radio
, as well as a constant activist for improved living conditions in Zimbabwe
. In 2008 he co-founded Calling all Crows, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of women all over the world, as well as local communities on tour stops for State Radio. Because of Dispatch's recent reunion, Chad is currently a member of both State Radio and Dispatch.
in 1994, and went on to attend both Middlebury College
and NYU. He met Pete Heimbold in 1995 and formed the band Hermit Thrush
. He later formed a band called One Fell Swoop with Heimbold and Brad Corrigan
; they would ultimately become known as Dispatch
, and would become known for their grassroots college following and independent success. He is now touring with his new band, State Radio
. Chad writes the majority of his songs about historical and contemporary social issues, and advocates social change in many of State Radio's songs. He is married to Sybil Gallagher, who has a key role in State Radio. In addition to being the band's tour manager, three songs, Sybil I, Sybil II and Sybil III, found on Us Against the Crown
, Year of the Crow
and Let It Go
, were written by him about her.
While a member of Dispatch, Chad, Pete and Brad performed a final show at the Hatch Shell in Boston, MA in 2004, attracting over 110,000 fans from all over the world. The members, and Boston PD expected closer to 20,000, thus attracting the largest crowd in independent music history.
In 2007 the band again reunited for a single show at Madison Square Garden in NYC. After selling out the concert in mere seconds, the band added 2 more nights to the MSG venue, selling all three out. Again, Dispatch made independent music history, becoming the first independent band to sell out the world's most famous arena.
Dispatch completed a tour during the summer of 2011 with stops in Boston, Red Rocks, and Governor's Island at the Dave Matthew's Caravan.
He released a solo album entitled Simmerkane II on June 28, 2011 under the name Chadwick Stokes, and launched a solo tour in August to promote it.
Amplifier
Effects
Sherborn, Massachusetts
Sherborn is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is in area code 508 and has the ZIP code 01770. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the town population was 4,119. The assessed value of the town for the fiscal year 2005 is $1,008,146,994....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
) is an American musician. Urmston was a member of the band Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush (band)
Hermit Thrush was an American indie rock band started by Pete Heimbold and Chad Urmston in 1995 while they were students at Middlebury College. The band was only active for a short time when they joined forces with Brad Corrigan of Woodriver Bandits to create One Fell Swoop...
which later gave birth to the band Dispatch
Dispatch (band)
Dispatch is an American indie/roots band. The band consists of Brad Corrigan , Pete Francis Heimbold , and Chad Urmston ....
. He is the frontman for the Sherborn, Massachusetts
Sherborn, Massachusetts
Sherborn is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is in area code 508 and has the ZIP code 01770. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the town population was 4,119. The assessed value of the town for the fiscal year 2005 is $1,008,146,994....
-area band State Radio
State Radio
State Radio is an alternative rock band from Sherborn, Massachusetts, consisting of Chad Urmston , Chuck Fay and Mike Najarian...
, as well as a constant activist for improved living conditions in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. In 2008 he co-founded Calling all Crows, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of women all over the world, as well as local communities on tour stops for State Radio. Because of Dispatch's recent reunion, Chad is currently a member of both State Radio and Dispatch.
Personal life
Born into a large family, Chad graduated from Dover-Sherborn High SchoolDover-Sherborn High School
Dover-Sherborn High School, or DSHS, is a regional public high school in the town of Dover, Massachusetts, United States. It serves students from the towns of Dover and Sherborn, and is the senior school of the Dover-Sherborn Public School District, housing grades 9 through 12.-History:Until the...
in 1994, and went on to attend both Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
and NYU. He met Pete Heimbold in 1995 and formed the band Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush (band)
Hermit Thrush was an American indie rock band started by Pete Heimbold and Chad Urmston in 1995 while they were students at Middlebury College. The band was only active for a short time when they joined forces with Brad Corrigan of Woodriver Bandits to create One Fell Swoop...
. He later formed a band called One Fell Swoop with Heimbold and Brad Corrigan
Brad Corrigan
Brad Corrigan is a musician who is a member of the indie band Dispatch, which reunited in 2011 after a several year hiatus...
; they would ultimately become known as Dispatch
Dispatch (band)
Dispatch is an American indie/roots band. The band consists of Brad Corrigan , Pete Francis Heimbold , and Chad Urmston ....
, and would become known for their grassroots college following and independent success. He is now touring with his new band, State Radio
State Radio
State Radio is an alternative rock band from Sherborn, Massachusetts, consisting of Chad Urmston , Chuck Fay and Mike Najarian...
. Chad writes the majority of his songs about historical and contemporary social issues, and advocates social change in many of State Radio's songs. He is married to Sybil Gallagher, who has a key role in State Radio. In addition to being the band's tour manager, three songs, Sybil I, Sybil II and Sybil III, found on Us Against the Crown
Us Against the Crown
Us Against the Crown is the first full-length LP from reggae-rock band State Radio, headlined by former Dispatch vocalist, Chad Urmston.-Track listing:# People to People – 4:16# Mr...
, Year of the Crow
Year of the Crow
Year of the Crow is the third full-length LP from reggae-rock band State Radio, headlined by former Dispatch guitarist/vocalist, Chad Urmston....
and Let It Go
Let It Go (State Radio album)
Let It Go is the fourth full-length LP from reggae-rock band State Radio.It was released on September 29th, 2009. It is notable for being the first State Radio release available in vinyl format.- Tracks:...
, were written by him about her.
While a member of Dispatch, Chad, Pete and Brad performed a final show at the Hatch Shell in Boston, MA in 2004, attracting over 110,000 fans from all over the world. The members, and Boston PD expected closer to 20,000, thus attracting the largest crowd in independent music history.
In 2007 the band again reunited for a single show at Madison Square Garden in NYC. After selling out the concert in mere seconds, the band added 2 more nights to the MSG venue, selling all three out. Again, Dispatch made independent music history, becoming the first independent band to sell out the world's most famous arena.
Dispatch completed a tour during the summer of 2011 with stops in Boston, Red Rocks, and Governor's Island at the Dave Matthew's Caravan.
He released a solo album entitled Simmerkane II on June 28, 2011 under the name Chadwick Stokes, and launched a solo tour in August to promote it.
Equipment
Guitars- Creston Electric Instruments custom
- 1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior
- 1979 Fender Stratocaster
- Modulus G3CT (Customized for Chad with a truck inlay)
- Township Special AfriCan Gas Can Guitar
- Guild D40AE Acoustic Guitar
- Gretsch G5135 Electromatic Corvette
- Modulus Genesis 3
Amplifier
- Fender Hot Rod DeVille Amplifier
Effects
- MXR Micro Amp
- ProCo The Rat
- Fulltone Fat Boost
- Dunlop Crybaby GCB95
- Menatone The Blue Collar Overdrive
- Fulltone Supa-Trem
- Boss DD-5 Digital Delay
- Rapco AB100
- Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
External links
- http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/47690/dispatch-on-state-radio.html
- http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/03/07/050235.php