Seattle, WA - An all ages show at the Showbox the other night, and what another great show it was from State Radio! The last time I was in their acquaintance was at the El Corazon, come to think of it—both shows were all-ages. That’s a good thing to do for all your fans. I do wish the show was on the weekend though, but I guess it was a good excuse to go out on a weekday.
To be perfectly honest I’ve only recently got on the State Radio bandwagon. So that gives me every right to spark a review, right? I’ll stick to what I know, don’t worry.
Originally I thought of them as Alternative Ska/Rock, singing a well-believed message of empathy, struggles, pride, love, and awareness. After the two live shows, plus the new album Let It Go, I still feel the same, just a little closer.
When the band first hit the stage that night I noticed Chuck Fay and his green visor. It immediately reminded me of Hunter S. Thompson. I couldn’t tell you if it was intentional. Contrasts and comparisons of State Radio and Thompson in my opinion, were clearly on display that night. The value of the show was being able to step back when I wasn’t shooting and take note the musical talent Chad, Chuck, and Mike possess. Not sure why I missed it before, maybe it was that whole just getting on the bangwagon thing . . . .
I never knew Chad’s old band Dispatch in their popularity, so I wasn’t up to speed with the versatile talents until recently. As for State Radio, you can really see and feel the talent in their live sound. The new album, Let it Go, sounds great at home. I picked up a copy after the show, which Chad graciously offered for whatever we could afford. What a guy.
A live State Radio show unexpectedly opens up their sound to give you a new level of awareness, almost brand new, but where you know the words already. This truly makes the essence and resonance of their lyrics encompass their purest availability. And if that doesn’t do it for you, than the banners directly behind drummer Mike Najarian could have spelled out a hint for you. And is it just me, or is State Radio metal at times? Like the end of "Camilo" and even hints of it in "Held Up by the Wires", from their new album. I hear the Ska/Punk vibe, too, in "Let It Go," and they obviously know how to keep it mellow when needed. The beginning of "Still & Silent" covers that, as do many others not mentioned. They even break down the reggae roots with "Evolution." In this case, I think the name fits the song very well. The versatility is there, folks, and trust me, they sound even better live! State Radio is a band that makes you want to stick around for more, so don’t miss the next appearance!
