When I was asked if I would like to interview State Radio, I eagerly accepted. Although I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t know much about the band before the interview, I remembered several friends talking nonstop about a band called Dispatch. I also recalled these same friends telling me that I needed to check out their new project, State Radio. So this was the perfect opportunity for me to check out this fantastic band.

Playing an interesting blend of rock and reggae, State Radio use their music to express their political stance on a variety of issues affecting our world today. They were kind enough to take time out of their busy touring schedule to answer some questions for us.

Shout!: For those who don’t know about the history of the band, can you give a description of how the band was formed?

State Radio: Chuck had just come out of the disbanding of Princes of Babylon. I’d met those guys when they came up to Boston and had played with Dispatch. Maddog was playing buckets outside of Fenway Park and we struck up a conversation. He’d gone to school with a friend of mine from high school. I had heard that he plays drums in a Spider-man leotard so it seemed like a good fit.

S!: You guys are out on tour right now in support of the your new album. How have the crowds been reacting to the new material?

SR: Yeah, we’ve been playing mostly from the new album and it’s going over well. In some cases people know the new album better than some of the older stuff.

S!: Most of your lyrics revolve around political causes. Are there any political causes you want to bring to the attention of the Shout! readers?

SR: The ongoing genocide in Sudan is something that needs a lot of attention. Whether it’s boycotting countries like China that support the government or asking elected officials to make the crisis a priority.

S!: Who do you hope wins the election this year? Why?

SR: Kucinich or Nader would be a good start. But from a realistic standpoint I think both Obama and Clinton are respectable candidates with good ideas for change.

S!: You guys are playing several festivals this summer, including Bonnaroo. How does playing a festival date compare to playing a headlining date in a club?

SR: The whole vibe is different. Clubs are an intense dingy affair; festivals are more of a free for all and you’re playing outside to a festival crowd that’s there to see a lot of different bands.

S!: You recently had a song featured in an episode of “Weeds” last November. Did this have an impact on your fan base?

SR: I think people who know about us were surprised to hear us on TV. I’m not sure if it had any impact besides that.

S!: Here is the inevitable question: what is the chance that we will see some sort of Dispatch reunion in the near future?

SR: There’s a chance depending on the definition of near - maybe four or five years from now if the three of us feel driven to meet up.

S!: What can your fans expect from you next?

SR: We’ll be touring around the country and going over to Europe a couple times. The second time we head over in May to open up for Anti-Flag. Hopefully we’ll start working on a new record in September with songs like “Arsenic and Clover”, “Calling All Crows”, “Held Up by the Wires” and “Manson Humanity”. Episode one of “HOWS YOUR NEWS” comes out on MTV in early May.

S!: Do you have any other words for the readers?

SR: It’s an exciting time with the election coming up. We like to encourage people to vote on the candidates that they feel well represented by. Whether the issue is the genocide in Sudan or the fate of the Iraq war, it’s up to the people to take our country back.

• Official Site: http://www.stateradio.com/
• Image Courtesy Of: Sheila Springsteen (from the band's MySpace)
• MySpace URL: http://www.myspace.com/stateradio