A State Of Mind For Radio

An interview with State Radio’s Chad Urmston

By J.A. Garrido

Chad Urmston (aka Charlie or Chetro) is truly a talented man. As one of the founders of the mega successful 90's music group Dispatch, they managed to sell more records than any other independent music outfit in history. Dispatch's free farewell concert in Boston in the Summer of 2003 was the also the largest event in independent
music history.

After their breakup in the summer of 2002) Chad has moved on to form State Radio, a trio of fantastic musicians who specialize in jam rock, folk, and reggae. Penned as a "Political Trio." State Radio is a group in which virtually all of their songs are about some sort of social injustice or issue in need of addressing.

After four weeks of badgering State Radio's manager, I was finally able to obtain the interview of a lifetime. So without further adieu, here is my interview with one of the most amazing musicians today.

JG: We love your new project State Radio' down here, and its obviously really political, and with Dispatch you had the song the "General", but now most of your songs are either anti war or politically minded, can you touch on why you decided to change things up and take this approach?

CU: Yeah, I think, I think I always felt like, in some ways, the protest song I think, since I was young moved me, more so than any other songs I've ever heard. But that I didn't sort of, I think maybe when I was younger and more naïve it wasn't always up at the forefront of my mind, until I started growing up and then I think in Dispatch Brad and Pete [other former members of Dispatch] wouldn't necessarily like this type of song. Some of these songs I've had for a long time, but just wouldn't bring them to the table with those guys. And then recently in the last couple of years, especially with our world being so.sort of umm.politically sort of umm.you know volatile that, you know it's even more sort of in our everyday conscience.

JG: Yeah I definitely realize that and you know I feel that since it's so much more reggae, and this is just a personal thing, State Radio holds so much more of a reggae vibe, I think, that that obviously helps with the protest feel of the songs.

CU: Yeah, that's one of the really, you know powerful things about reggae.

JG: Back to a more basic idea, you're a great songwriter, but what's your favorite way to write a song? Do you typically have the idea first or do you prefer to have the riff/music?

CU: Favorite ways to write a song is sort of going about an everyday activity and just start unconsciously humming the song, and then not even thinking about it and then, and then after maybe you're doing something else and you realize that you are humming a song and you realize that maybe.. ' Am I humming someone else's song, something new, or what is this?', and then if it is new and sort of new and interesting to you then I might sit down with a guitar or piano and see what chords work underneath that melody and that's always the fun part of the process.

JG: I read somewhere, and I don't remember where, it might have been on the message boards or something, but I read you actually played the trombone in elementary and junior high and stuff, any chance of you busting that out sometime on stage?

CU: Haha, yeah [I played] all through High School. I'd like to [play the trombone] actually, When I first met Pete [Francis, co-founder of Dispatch] up at school in Vermont I was like the trombonist in his band, and then it just sorta grew from there, I told him I played guitar too and had a couple songs. I've always liked the idea about bringing it back I'm just not sure how to do it. I think it could fit but since we’re just a trio, when you drop out the guitar, it’s just bass, drum, and trombone, haha, that could seem a little sparse I guess.

JG: How did you end up meeting Brian Sayers, your drummer?

CU: I was playing with this kid from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and he was like ‘You know you really shouldn’t be playing with me you should be playing with Brian Seyers’. Just in terms of Brian’s reggae chops. And so chuck and I were playing with a bunch of different drummers, and basically for a little while it was this girl Nikki and Brian, and then for whatever reason we went down one path with Brian. He’s pretty well known in the reggae community up here in Boston.

JG: What’re your views on narcotics, and how if at all do they relate to your writing, and/or performing of music?

CU: I’m pretty straight as far as uh, I feel like some friends who are into the whole coke thing, and obviously I used to smoke a lot of weed but don’t anymore because my voice can’t really handle it. I had vocal surgery a couple years ago and I couldn’t really use my voice for about six months. I’m sort of aware of what goes through my body and I’m conscious of that, but uh, you can let me now if I’m answering your question…

JG: Haha no, you are answering it just fine.

CU: I remember uh, usually haha when I would write while being high or whatever, I would think it was great when I was high, and then I’d try to remember it in the morning and it would be lame, you know how that goes, which is definitely interesting. But I think being in the business and being around people you see what sort of drugs come in, especially heroin, and ruin so many great friends and musicians.

JG: Is that prominent in the scene, up east and stuff (heroin)?

CU: Yeah, up in New York, I feel like coke is more now than a few years ago, but it’s sort of always been there, and then we get just tons of weed thrown at us at shows and which is great, and Brian and Chuck have no problem with that haha, which I think is great too. I think marijuania should be legal. I think it can be a good recreational thing. I find that as I got older and kept smoking, weed just made me more check out instead of check in.

JG: Tell me about the new album Us Against the Crown.

CU: Yeah we actually had 15 songs for it, but everyone thought that was too many, so we cut three, so that will be 12 songs.

JG: So, you guys are going on this huge tour, and you guys have been on tour since 2002, and obviously since you’re an independent band and you’re relying totally upon the fans to get the word out. Is that why the tours are so long?

CU: Yeah man, we’re just looking at, because our van broke down, so we were just looking at buying a new van today. Yeah it’s wild, looking at all these different vans, getting in them and lying down on the bench seats to make sure they’re comfortable. But the tour, that’s the thing when you are independent, you’re only on the strength of yourself, and the people who believe in you, and the people who come see you play. I’d rather not tour so much, because sometimes it’s nice to sort of be home and have a nice sort of quiet mind, and have sort of a home base. But I’m psyched for this tour, I think we’re gonna have the new album out in a couple of weeks, and it’s really great to have people here that. I get sick of the driving, but it’s just amazing to go into a different city night after night and be met by all these great people, and see all these faces and personalities. It’s such a wild concept that I’m grateful for, to be a part of.

J.A. Garrido can be contacted at GarridJ@culver.org

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