Photo by: AboveTheFold.com

Confusion twisted the faces of students walking into University of Colorado Boulder’s University Memorial Cafeteria Friday afternoon to see former Dispatch member Chad Urmston play acoustic guitar and sing, “Keepsake,” the song from the third season of Weeds finale.

Some stopped to stare before gradually putting together what was going on in front of them as Urmston pulled out an old Dispatch favorite, “The General” and shook his curly blonde afro to the beat.

At the Secret Crow Show event Urmston played a few favorites including “Indian Moon” and “Keepsake” before passing around a hat to collect money for Oxfam’s relief efforts in Haiti. As the show concluded Urmston announced the winner of the raffle who was given two tickets to the evening performance at the Boulder Theater.

State Radio may be known as simply a Dispatch off shoot band from Boston but after a few listens you may find yourself sinking into another world, the third world.

A world where ordinary names are transformed into stories of the human spirit and the consequences of a detached generation are explicated in a style that will have you cooing along to the gentle picking of the guitar.

Let’s be honest though, songs about activism can be a bit cheesy, reminiscent of daisy chains and puffs of smoke.   

Combine that with Boulder and you’ve got yourself a real trustifarian event. State Radio proved  to be exceptional though.

They took the stage Friday night at the Boulder Theater in spirited fashion with smiles on their faces to sing about the world they’ve actually seen and are actively participating in.

Their arrival was far from rockstar glam as Chuck Fay, Mike Najarian, and Chad Urmston walked out in front of a backdrop that read, “Wage Peace” to promote their third album, Let it Go (2009).

State Radio gave $100,000 last year to Oxfam’s Stove Project in Sudan with the help of Calling all Crows, an organization formed by Urmston and tour manager Sybil Gallagher to mobilize musicians and fans for human rights activism.

The organization provides energy efficient stoves help protect Sudanese women who risk being rape by going out collecting firewood. The band also participates in volunteer projects in most tour locations to unite with the community and empower action.

The show attracted some “Heady Risers” and gypsy girls but State Radio’s message attracts all sorts making for a spirited environment for the evening performance.

With a message of empowerment, these boys from Boston a concert experience quite unlike anything you’ve felt before.

Their music is moving and so is their mission.