Former Dispatch member Brad Corrigan to play in Hawk Rock

On Nov. 9, Brad Corrigan (Braddigan) will come to Saint Joseph's. Most will know Brad from his days in Dispatch; each member of the band is now pursuing his own solo career.

Braddigan's "The Captive" CD-release performance at the World Cafe Live on Oct. 12 bodes well for his upcoming visit. As a trio, his group lends itself perfectly to that sort of intimate venue (for once the Hawk Rock will be conducive to a good show). Corrigan's reggae and Brazilian-inspired guitar work is rounded out by Reinaldo De Jesus' Latin-flavored percussion and Tiago Machado's intricate bass lines.

De Jesus and Machado bring raw musical talent into the mix to support Corrigan's knack for writing catchy yet powerful tunes. During "Fallen," De Jesus broke into a four-minute solo around his hodge-podge kit of bongos; a hollow, wooden box doubled as a drum throne and a bass drum.

"My kit changes all the time, so sometimes I have to really pay attention to where I'm going each night," said De Jesus.

Machado's bass chops were extremely impressive as well. His style was tough to identify, but from bouncing reggae standard lines to Wooten-esque jazz elements and walking blues progressions, Machado really shined. "Walls" featured the longest bass solo of the set and included a great mix of styles, including slap bass and even the incorporation of a few chords here and there.

Musically, Braddigan's visit to the Hawk Rock will be an intimate opportunity to see three very talented musicians who throw themselves completely into their performances. Dispatch fans will get their fix of the "jam band" style they love, as Corrigan's solo material stays true to the formula that made the group famous on the college circuit years ago.

On another level, though, fans packed into the Hawk Rock might come away with a little more.

"How do you start talking about a story that intersected yours and just changed everything in your life?" asked Corrigan rhetorically at the beginning of a documentary on his experiences in Nicaragua.

Braddigan places great importance on the individual encounters that have motivated him to become involved in a number of social justice initiatives. Earlier this year, he started Love, Light and Melody, a charitable organization aimed particularly at bringing relief to the extreme poverty that exists in La Chureca, a community in the municipal trash dump outside of Managua, Nicaragua.

During his immersion there, Corrigan was particularly moved by Ileana, a 13-year-old girl who, despite her beauty and plucky personality, had been forced into prostitution and had become addicted to sniffing noxious glue as a result of the terrible situation that she and her family had been forced into. He pays homage to her and children with a similar plight on "The Captive" with a song named for her. "Ileana" is meant to shed light on the vast potential that Corrigan sees in the people of La Chureca despite the strife that currently plagues them.

Sharing experience has become Brad Corrigan's mission. Since his days as the drummer of Dispatch, he has dedicated himself to using music as a tool to effect change in the poorest parts of the world. In finding his purpose, he hopes to speak to his audiences about finding theirs.

In the central section of the Nov. 9 program, Corrigan will relate some of his life experience and invite interactions with students as part of a panel of other speakers with compelling stories.

Paul Martin,'84, and Joe Davis are from Think First, an injury prevention program aimed at protecting those who are at a high risk for injury often due to drug or alcohol related incidents. Chris Spendley is a parent affected by his son's struggle with addiction.

As a group they hope to offer insights into the decisions that often confront young adults.

Saint Joseph's Counseling Center and the Advocates for Drug Awareness are underwriting this event, and all proceeds from student ticket sales are going toward assisting students who seek help in the counseling center but may not have the means or insurance to pay for appropriate treatment.

Tickets are currently on sale at the information desk in Campion for $10, and only 200 seats are available.