State Radio

State Radio was founded in 2002, after Urmston, disbanded the very popular band, Dispatch to start anew, a handful of band members later,  State Radio was finally solidified in 2006.  So I’m sitting here with Chuck Fay, the bassist who also provides backing vocals, and Chad Urmston, the guitarist and lead vocalist, of State Radio and the former frontman of Dispatch, in the curtained off VIP backstage area of The Social in Orlando, Florida.  We’re waiting for their new drummer, as of 2006, Mike Najarian, or as he is affectionately known as, Mad Dog, to join us from a, “side project.”  We make small talk about the venue; I mention that this is defiantly one of my favorites for its small intimate size and feel, as anywhere in the club is a good vantage point to watch a band.  Chuck replies that, The Social reminds him of an old jazz club and he feels that, that it being just a small stage it makes it warm and inviting. 

MR: Ok guys…take it easy on me… (I laugh)

Chuck: Alright, Amber… (He says with a playful smile)

(I giggle, like and idiot and think to myself, “God…Chuck is one of those guys who just has the ability to make me nervous and blushy just by smiling at me”)

MR: So, how is the tour going so far in this little breakaway tour in this cool little venue?

Chad:  Pretty good, it’s just a tiny little tour, but it’s been fun, a lot of fun. 

MR: Do you guys have any good road stories to share, anything funny that has happened?

Mike: Well…I was running late today.  (Laughs)

MR: (I laugh) Were you thinking that you weren’t going to make your sound check, huh?

Mike: It really wasn’t that funny. (Laughs)…

(All laughing, loud sound check by their opening band in progress, the sound of a guitar playing through the monitors makes it difficult to catch every word)

Chuck:  Well, we swam with dolphins yesterday, all be it, not all that humorous, but still exciting for us.

MR:  I saw one earlier today on my drive up here actually…It was very calming…

Chuck & Mike: Really?

MR: Yeah, it was just this one dolphin, and it’s strange because I hadn’t been home in a while, at my parents and I was just there for a month and did not see one dolphin.  He was cruising along next to my car, and I was thinking, “Oh, wow, that’s so cool.”    

(They all nod to me)

MR: What do you guys think were some musical, outside influences; political stuff, or where did the concepts come from for The Barn Sessions?

Chad: Umm, I don’t know, I think, uhh, I think uh, it’s a combination of inspired musicians like; Rage Against the Machine, Bob Marley, just that sort of, uh, musical consciousness that were are constantly inspired by and uh, and we were excited to think about The Barn Sessions, and them umm,  just sort of raw takes to the tunes that we didn’t have a chance to release, so, they’re basically the same songs that are on our album, Us Against the Crown.   

MR: Do you guys have any favorite bands past/current, this is something I’m sure your fans would want to know?

Mike: Yes we do.  Dispatch.(All laugh)Chad:  Get outta here with that, haha.  That’s so cool.

Chuck: I like Tool a lot and Nirvana. 

MR:   Who did the writing on this album and what was your process?

Chad: I do like ninety, depending on the song, percent of the song and lyrics and then we have this sort of musical sketch, and we take that together and see what works and what doesn’t. 

MR: Chuck what was your favorite thing about working on The Barn Sessions?

MR: Are you guys working on anything new right now, got any ideas floating around in your minds?

Chad: Actually, we were just in England recording a record in April, and that supposed to come out n a month or two.  Were just listening to the mixes now, and uh, were excited about that, so maybe near September and there is some newer stuff that were working on for the one after that, (He screams)  that’s going to be getting recorded soon. 

(Really loud sound check in background to the point where we can’t even hear each other anymore)

Mike: (Yells over band) You want to go outside?

MR:  (I scream) Yes, (laughing) let’s do it.

(We leave the club through the back exit and end up in an alley way propped up against the back of the social and continue our interview)

MR: Mmmhmm.  So I’m going to scream a little because I guess I’m trying to adjust to being in such a quiet environment all the sudden, what do you miss most when you are out on the road?

Chuck:  Yeah, Girlfriends!

Mike: Dogs

MR: Pets? Parents? ‘7(Laughing)

Chuck: Yeah.

Chad: Parents, normal stuff, seeing the same people everyday, saying hi.

MR:  You miss your normality; I guess being on the road puts you in a different mindset, huh? 

Mike: Yeah, all we have is each other.  (He jokes, as he puts an arm around Chuck)

(The guys laugh)

MR: Awwhh, you guys are your own little family. 

MR:  I know you guys get a lot of time with you fans when you’re in there (on stage), but do you there’s anything you want to say to them, that you wouldn’t say at a show?

Mike: We love you!  You’re the best! (Laughs)

Chad: Umm, I think it’s a big deal to us that people would make the effort to come see us, so just like, uhh, you know, we want you to know that we are grateful that someone would get up in the morning and uhh, think to themselves around afternoon time, I’m gonna go see, I gonna get in my car and I’m going to go see a band tonight.  You would have to be touched.  It’s a big deal.

Chuck:  It totally controls the dynamic of the show.  How they are reacting to us, were not that well-known right now, its just word of mouth, people telling other people.  Just knowing people are coming back to see us again and again. 

MR: It’s probably such a rush.

Chad: Yeah, It is, exactly

Mike: People are going crazy in the crowd and it’s getting you amped up, and you’re thinking I got to be at least as crazy as that dude 

MR: It’s got to be like a bubble with all that energy just going between you guys and the crowd.

Chuck: Yeah, only sometimes there is this one guy standing in the back who looks soo bored and you just use everything you have and you play right at him.  Come on man!  Thinking…you can do this. 

MR: Do you have any personal messages for your families, anything you want to say?

All: We miss them…we miss them a lot.

Mike:  Thanks for housing us!  (Laughs)

Chad: Hey!  You still have a son, his name is Chad, and sorry I haven’t called.

Chuck:  Sorry I haven’t called.

Chad: Sorry I haven’t been around in a couple months.

MR:  Great, cool, well thanks a lot guys that was really great.

Chad: No problem.

Chuck: That was fun.

Mike: Thank you.    

In closing, pick-up State Radio's... not new album... well, actually recorded before their new album (Us Against the Crown), The Barn Sessions, which is totally representative of the feel behind the name, The Barn Sessions has a rough, raw, and surprisingly laid-back sound…And on  a personal note the buys of State Radio are some of the most relaxed, chill guys I have ever met, they make you feel at complete ease, like you are talking to old friends you haven’t seen in a while.  It was such a positive energy I got when I left the interview, utterly amazing.  I’d like to wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavors.