Pete Francis (of Dispatch) presents a style combination of Funk, jazz,reggae,folk with musical influences of Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Jimi Hendrixs, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis, which culminates into a sound that takes you on an amazing ride

11 MP3 Songs
POP: Folky Pop, ROCK: Acoustic



Details:
Pete Francis an experienced musician, honed his skills and technique as a key member (vocals, guitar, bass) of the band Dispatch, which in the 1990s grew from northeast college phenomenon to national grassroots attraction, touring widely and selling out shows from New York Cityâs Roseland Ballroom to San Franciscoâs Filmore West.
In June of 2004 Pete Francis and his fellow members of Dispatch got together at The Hatch Shell Amphitheater in Boston, MA for their final gig as Dispatch. "After being apart almost 2 years, working on our own individual projects, it was exciting and refreshing to perform together again, Francis said. The fans gave so much love; it was a wonderful and emotional farewell for all of us. The final concert drew 110,000 people where Dispatch played a four hour concert.
An adventurer and searcher, this singer songwriter/guitarist/vocalist covers considerable ground in his narratives -- from the year he spent studying the great poets in Ireland (âBurning the Riverâ) of the album Untold. âI was interested in making an actual album -- with songs that relate to each other and have fluidity from track to track,â Francis says.
In that spirit, âBurning the Riverâ is a song about Francisâs own process of discovery, inspired by his journey to Galway, Ireland. After a rocky first day -- with his hostâs wife deciding she didnât want a houseguest, after all -- Francis managed to stay on to study poetry and absorb the Irish way of life. âThere was great bookstore there, with a room full of poetry,â he says. âAnd at night Iâd hang out in pubs where people were speaking Gaelic. Theyâd close the doors after hours and play music -- squeezebox, fiddle and guitar. Everyone would sit in a circle, and people would start dancing. Then theyâd pass the fiddle into the crowd and someone else would start playing. It was amazing.â
The album Untold was recorded over eighteen months, during breaks in Dispatchâs schedule, the 11 songs present a wide range of sounds, emotions and approaches to music-making. But the songs also present a cohesive musical vision.
His current album Good To Finally Know was written during the touring and promotion of âUntoldâ. Good to Finally Know is a collection of observations and experiences that Pete Francis encountered on his journey with âUntoldâ which included being signed to Hollywood Records. Francis had originally set out to record 4 tracks. That notion was quickly scrapped as song after song made themselves known
A passionate student of music, literature and art, Francis draws inspiration from many sources, including the music of Van Morrison, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis, first heard on records borrowed from his older siblingsâ record cabinets; the writings of Wallace Stevens, James Joyce and William Butler Yeats; and the Surrealist school of painters and filmmakers.
âAn abstract painting represents a moment of clarity with the chaos,â Francis says. âIâm interested in how that can relate to writing, that within a literal and figurative work you can also touch on the abstract, the surreal. I like that someone can understand the literal meaning, and then explore from that.â
Francis applies that sense of exploration to his own writing and recording process, sometimes improvising lyrics as the tape rolls. âSome songs reveal themselves over time,â he says. âIâd get ideas in the moment and just trust the words that come.â
Francisâs intention is that his music be something special to those who hear it. âNegativity is being shoved down our throats -- you turn on the TV and see âterrorâ on the screen,â Francis says. âI want my songs to combat negativity, to be positive, beautiful, thoughtful background to your life. Music is our language, the language of the world. I want to make music that brings people together.â