Eusebio R. Sheffield 
Dispatch releases Russian version of its beloved anti-war anthem ‘The General’ in support of Ukraine
Boston-based indie/roots/jam band Dispatch has a strong catalog of serious songs addressing a number of mundane topics, among them poverty, homelessness, racial issues, violence and beyond, always infusing his music with an awareness and focus on what really matters.
The band’s latest effort is a reimagining of “The General”, one of Dispatch’s best-known songs and a fan favorite. A poignant anti-war anthem from the perspective of a “battle-torn” general who dreams of seeing his enemies as people with families and lives – and thus challenges his perspective even in battle – it is a powerful piece.
“The General” in Russian. Adding our voice to the global outcry against Russia’s war on Ukraine. We hope it can reach some of those leading this invasion, and realize that this fight is not worth fighting.
Full video on YouTube and proceeds benefit the Leleka Foundation. pic.twitter.com/Y3FFI0vvha
— DISPATCH (@dispatchmusic) April 26, 2022
See the parallel between the original track, released in 1997 bang bang album, and the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Dispatch founding members Chadwick Stokes and Brad Corrigan released a new version this week, with Stokes’ lyrics translated into Russian.
According to a press release, “the song was written as a statement against war and Stokes wanted to record it in Russian in the hope that Russian soldiers could hear the message and question their role in this unwarranted invasion.” Not being a Russian speaker himself, Stokes worked with a translator and shared the results in a performance video:
All proceeds from the song’s broadcasts will benefit the Leleka Foundation, an organization that provides vital medical supplies for the treatment of injured people in Ukraine.
Here’s the original version of “The General”, definitely a favorite gig moment at any Dispatch gig:
Dispatch will be touring this summer with OAR as part of a headlining trek, surprisingly the first time the two longtime East Coast “roots” bands have hit the road together.
It will be a 37-show tour for the bands, which feature musical palettes ranging from rock, indie, reggae, soul and beyond.
We hit the road with @ofavolution next summer! Our good friends @glove and @rrtfb open on certain dates. Fans get a first try of tickets starting December 6 at 12:00 p.m. local with the code: SUMMER22. Set a notification for them to go live at https://t.co/rfpixcU7e2! pic.twitter.com/lj82JQOOTT
— DISPATCH (@dispatchmusic) December 1, 2021
“DISPATCH was always a name on our wish list for bands we wanted to tour with,” said OAR saxophonist Jerry DePizzo. “It’s almost as if we had existed in parallel universes. We both rose through the ranks and cut our teeth playing in colleges and small clubs in the Northeast and Midwest. It took a few years, but the stars finally aligned. We look forward to this as we believe both audiences will be equally thrilled. We should have done this a long time ago.
Dispatch’s most recent album is 2021 Break our fallwhile OAR published The powerfull in 2019.
Dates (click here for more details):
7/15 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheater
7/16 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
7/17 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Outdoor Theater
7/19 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheater
7/20 – Rohnert Park, CA – SOMO Village Event Center
7/22 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
7/23 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park
7/24 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
7/28 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
7/29 – Salt Lake City, UT – Location TBD
7/30 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater
8/5 – Atlanta, Georgia – Coca-Cola Roxy
8/6 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
8/7 – Columbus, OH – EXPRESS LIVE!
8/9 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
8/10 – St. Louis, MO – St. Louis Music Park
8/12 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
8/13 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival *on sale Spring 2022
8/14 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheater Freedom Hill
8/15 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Internship AE
8/18 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at Mann
8/19 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
8/20 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
8/21 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Center for the Performing Arts
8/23 – Lewiston, New York – Art Park
8/25 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
8/26 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
8/27 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
8/28 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
8/30 – Asheville, NC – Recovery Station
8/31 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater
9/2 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
9/3 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
9/4 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheater
9/8 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
9/9 – Houston, TX – The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
9/10 – Irving, TX – Toyota Music Factory Pavilion
*July 15 – August 10: joined by the Robert Randolph Band
*August 12 – September 10: joined by G. Love
