It didn't take long for State Radio to become favorites on Amie Street: with tracks like Riddle In Londontown and Mr. Larkin , the band has taken over the block. We thought you might like to learn more about them.

State Radio continues an important and powerful tradition in music - artists employing their craft to speak about social justice. This well-conceived rock and reggae trio was built by former Dispatch frontman and filmmaker Chad Stokes who brings an activist's mentality to his art. After Dispatch's unprecedented success as an independent band, and after creating two political documentaries financed by South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Stokes set out to form a band with a unique sound and an inspiring message. Stokes enlisted Chuck Fay from Philly's hip-hop collective Princes of Babylon, and drummer Mike Najarian.

What sets State Radio apart from many political artists is their proactive approach. The band seeks to empower listeners and address potential positive change, rather than harp on those who are to blame for society's troubles. Stokes himself tells us, "I don't think my stance is any more important than the next guy's, but I do feel that, with State Radio, we have an opportunity to create some awareness and get some change in this country. We need it in a big way."

This approach is best embodied by the band's encounter with Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia of the Florida National Guard, a soldier whose experience in Iraq turned him into a conscientious objector to the war. Mejia refused to return to Iraq and was subsequently jailed. When Stokes learned about the case, he wrote the powerful war song Camilo in support of Mejia, who has since been released.

Mejia has continued to make his voice heard, appearing on stage with State Radio at some of their many concerts across the country (they've been touring like champions for the past few years, playing with Matisyahu, The Wailers, and Slightly Stoopid). The song written for him appears on State Radio's first full release Us Against the Crown, accompanied by other songs of substance such as Right Me Up and People to People . The message, combined with State Radio's original and captivating sound, has led to a first-run production that cannot be ignored. With this release State Radio raised the bar and set a new standard for today's socially conscious music.