State Radio
Rose Hill Drive

Few bands are as outspoken and thought-provoking as State Radio , the musically inventive, socially and politically charged trio fronted by Chad Stokes . With its sophomore album, Year Of The Crow , the group–rounded out by bassist Chuck Fay and drummer Mad Dog –matches its conscience-raising messages with an inspiring amalgam of rock, punk and reggae that is as distinctive as it is sublime. 

For U.S. concert-goers, Stokes was first known as the voice behind agit-prop outfit Dispatch, a band that sold a whopping 600,000 albums by word of mouth. Although the outfit's six-year tenure ended in 2002, its members have reunited for noble causes, including 2007's epic three-night sold-out stand at Madison Square Garden to benefit the plight in Zimbabwe. In lieu of college, Stokes lived in Zimbabwe during his eighteenth year, and the experience not only galvanized his songs, but it also shaped his life with a commitment that is as strong as ever.

Simply stated, it is impossible not to be moved by the sounds emanating from State Radio, whether it's the genocide in Darfur, which is told through the eyes of a young boy on the alluring, rhythmic “Sudan,” the explosive, edgy, reggae-laden “C.I.A.” or the steamrolling rallying cry for justice known as “Unfortunates.”

With the willingness to give back and raise issues, it's little wonder that State Radio's following--which gravitated to its first album Us Against The Crown (2006) and a series of well-received EPs--continues to expand. Positive karma seems to surround everything that Stokes does, of which he says,“I'm thankful that we've been able to grow as a band. And being in Dispatch enabled me to fund our growth without being fucked by some major label. We feel very lucky that we don't need to necessarily sign any of our rights away.”

“As long as people keep believing in us,” State Radio's leader says, “and we feel like we're making a worthy contribution to the movement, we'll keep playing.”