For generations of great American songwriters, the music and the message have been inextricably linked. Word and deed are one in the same, and the only thing more moving than the rousing call to action is the evocative melody that transports the words like a shell casing. These are fire-breathing poets of justice who sing about ordinary people in extraordinary ways, and can turn the world inside out with three chords and the truth. These are the tenets by which STATE RADIO’s Chad Stokes Urmston, Chuck Fay, and Mike “Mad Dog” Najarian are driven, and they once again flex that strength and sense of purpose on their third album, LET IT GO. But this is no soapbox symposium.
“It’s the only way I know how to do it,” says singer/guitarist Stokes about the band’s impassioned social consciousness. “It’s the only way State Radio has done it. This has always been an organic, grassroots thing. It’s about trying to be true to what we do.”
Like Rage Against The Machine and System Of A Down before them, State Radio roll up their sleeves as they practice what they preach, whether it’s riding bikes to gigs to support Bikes Not Bombs, hosting food drives in conjunction with Rock For A Remedy, or playing shows to raise money for the Learning Center for the Deaf. How’s Your News?, a film project created by Stokes while working at a camp for adults with disabilities, where the campers are the reporters, was just a way for Stokes and company to flip the standard interview format on its head with a different viewpoint before it was picked up by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for a run on HBO and MTV.
Action is hardly a new concept for all the members of State Radio. Before the band, Mad Dog volunteered as mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, while Fay was and continues to be a powerful voice for Instant Runoff Voting and comprehensive election reform across the country. On tour, State Radio has joined with Amnesty International to expose the injustices and improprieties of the legal system by protesting the death penalty for Georgia’s Troy Davis. They’ve worked to minimize wildfire danger by removing invasive plants from areas in California, and have partnered with Oxfam America to organize home run derbies and 5K road races to raise money and awareness to help protect women against violence in Sudan. Most bands have touring schedules. State Radio have an Action Calendar.
During their sold out, 25-city tour this past February, the band performed service projects in every town they visited, from serving lunch at a homeless shelter in Houston to building a community garden at an inner city elementary school in Washington, D.C. Calling All Crows (callingallcrows.org), the group’s platform for social action started by Stokes and State Radio tour manager Sybil Gallagher, is committed to continuing the group’s socio-political dialogue once the music ends and the lights come up. In less than a year, State Radio and their fans have amassed over 1,800 hours of community service through projects that have local, national, and global impact.
“There are times when there’s a service project every morning at 9am—and we’d had a late night the night before—where it’s like, ‘Are we a service group that plays music, or are we a band that does service projects?’” Stokes laughs. “There’s a balance between the two things because they feed each other. I want to experience the stuff I’m writing about.”
That same mindset held true for Stokes’ previous band, the roots rock outfit Dispatch, who formed while Stokes was a student at Middlebury College in Vermont. Though the group disbanded in 2002, they’ve reunited three times, the most notable being a three-night, sold out run at Madison Square Garden in 2007 to raise funds and awareness for poverty-stricken Zimbabwe. It marked the first time in history an unsigned band had headlined the Garden, let alone sold it out.
“It was a progression,” says Stokes’ of the shift from Dispatch to State Radio, who formed in 2002. “I think had Dispatch stayed together, all these State Radio songs would have been Dispatch songs.”
State Radio’s first album, Us Against The Crown, introduced listeners to the band’s raw, pop-punk sound. Tracks like “Mr. Larkin” and “Black Cab Motorcade” had all the boundless energy of a vigorous protest, while “Right Me Up,” a personal account of a friend with a disability, showcased Stokes’ reggae harmonies.
Their second album, Year Of The Crow, was recorded in the UK and produced by Tchad Blake (Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Soul Coughing). Featuring songs like “Sudan,” “Guantanamo,” and “Gang Of Thieves,” the album pushed the group’s socio-political motivations even further into the forefront. It also broadened their sonic palette with bigger guitars (“CIA”) and more diverse instrumentation (“The Story Of Benjamin Darling, Part 1”). But the bridge between both records has always been Stokes’ transcendental storytelling, which continues to mature and evolve on Let It Go.
The album kicks off with “Mansin Humanity,” a gripping song about the Armenian genocide, then slides into “Calling All Crows,” a one-drop groove that calls the band’s legion of fans to attention as Stokes beckons, “It’s gonna be a showdown, said the rebel to the revolutionary, come with me!” Elsewhere, State Radio invoke the spirit of the Clash on “Doctor Ron The Actor” and “Knights Of Bostonia,” a raise-yer-pints anthem to the band’s hometown. (After all, Stokes did meet Mad Dog while he was drumming on a bucket outside of the home of the Red Sox Fenway Park.) Another track, “Held Up By The Wires,” mixes classic Boston references and Civil War tales with nods to Jack London’s “The Road,” sailing pioneer Irving Johnson, and Stokes’ own time spent in Zimbabwe. The track has been in the band’s repertoire since the early days, but it wasn’t until now that it found it’s way onto an album, a fact Stokes attributes to the way in which Let It Go was recorded.
While touring Year Of The Crow, State Radio enlisted Tchad Blake’s assistant, Dom Monks, as their front-of-house engineer; a critical position for a band with such a large live audience. When it came time to seek out producers for Let It Go, Monks threw his hat in the ring. He also suggested that the band record the songs in the same manner as they were performed: live off the floor, with all the instruments buzzing and howling at once.
“He has a great ear and he’s worked with the best guy,” says Stokes of his producer and friend. “He knew all our songs and he did an amazing job.”
Two-thirds of the album were recorded at Q-Division in Boston, while the remaining parts were tracked at the famous Long View Farm Studio, the preferred practice space of the Rolling Stones before all their US tours, and a location that houses just as much livestock as it does vintage pre-amps. The rustic setting provided the perfect atmosphere with which to coalesce the band’s trademark live energy, while recording straight to tape with limited tracks allowed them to be more succinct with the musical message they wanted to convey.
“We’ll take the long way around, we gather on the wall on the wrong side of town. We’ll surprise them all,” sings Stokes on “Evolution.” After years of social action and political awareness—not to mention playing in front of thousands upon thousands of fans with very little support by the mainstream—the 33-year-old Stokes knows a thing or two about how to serve up lighting in a bottle. Sometimes quiet persistence is the best way. Like when he and 15 other peers spent 28 days walking a headstone 433 miles from Sherborn, Massachusetts to Arlington National Cemetery to honor unknown civilians killed in war. (Alas, they were stopped at the bridge and not allowed to enter.) But after you’ve done the backstroke in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and shaken hands with the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, what do you do next?
“I think the dream would be to jump freights to each city,” says Stokes of their upcoming tour to support Let It Go. “Going out to the Democratic National Convention last year, my brother and I jumped freights from Massachusetts to Denver, then from Denver to California, opening up for Rage in the middle there.”
And have someone drive the gear?
“Or just get back line everywhere we go,” Stokes smiles, “and hit the rails that night.”
State Radio’s Let It Go is out September 29, 2009.
Indian Moon
State Radio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Outstretched arm and upturned hand
Never knowing when the shakes steady
And 'till now we have seldom seen
And I will go if you go with me
Understand I will wait for thee
I'll try to catch up if you move quickly
If the wind does blow
And oh sir
If you ever lose your way
You can call upon this family
You can call upon this day
And oh ma'am
If you ever lose your way
You can call up on this family
You can call upon this day
'Cause you're my present my future
My lesson my teacher
Oh, My world is still
You're my guard you're my guide
In my life I confide
To ever shelter your will
And my words are forever my blanket my shiver
Whatever you give I'll never lack
You're my chorus my refrain
The verse of my first pain
Let the voices come barrelling back
'Cause I can stand to stay right where I am
Let the water fill this hand
Bring it to your mouth
Let it pass beyond your lips
No gale can down this ship
And I'll stand on your shoulders
To watch us grow older
I can see us far along the road
As the trail grows deeper
your my giver my keeper
Laughter for years untold
'Cause I can stand to stay right where I am
Let the water fill this hand
Bring it to your mouth
And pass beyond your lips
No gale can down this ship
And wherever you go there you are
And if I go I won't go far
Wherever you go
There you are
And if I go I won't go far
And oh sir
If you ever lose your way
You can call upon this family
You can call upon this day
The song "Indian Moon" by State Radio is a powerful ballad that speaks of the importance of standing together as a family and relying on each other during times of struggle. The first verse acknowledges the uncertainty of the world and the feeling of helplessness that can come with it. However, the singer asserts that as long as they have someone to stand with them, they can weather any storm. The second verse goes on to declare the importance of the people in the singer's life, with the chorus accentuating the centrality of this relationship. The final verse brings the theme of the song to its conclusion, reminding listeners that, no matter where they go, they will always have the support of their family.
The lyrics of this song are powerful and emotional. At its core, it's a tribute to the ties that bind us together as a family, and the ways in which we can rely on each other, no matter what life throws our way. It's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and the fundamental need for human connection. The song is both hopeful and empowering - a reminder that, in the face of adversity, we can always rely on the people we love to see us through.
Line by Line Meaning
On this earth not alone we stand
We are not alone on this planet and have each other for support and guidance.
Outstretched arm and upturned hand
We reach out to others for help when we need it.
Never knowing when the shakes steady
We never know when life's uncertainties will become certain.
And 'till now we have seldom seen
Until now, we have barely scratched the surface of what life has in store for us.
And I will go if you go with me
I will take on new experiences with you by my side.
Understand I will wait for thee
I will patiently wait for you to be ready to take on new adventures.
I'll try to catch up if you move quickly
I will do my best to keep up with you if you take charge and move forward quickly.
If the wind does blow
If life throws challenges our way.
And oh sir
Addressing a male friend or companion.
If you ever lose your way
If you ever feel lost or alone.
You can call upon this family
You can rely on our group for support and help.
You can call upon this day
You can call upon us at any time for assistance.
And oh ma'am
Addressing a female friend or companion.
You're my present my future
You are both my current and future state of being.
My lesson my teacher
You teach me valuable lessons about life.
Oh, My world is still
Everything is complete, peaceful, and content in my world when you are around.
You're my guard you're my guide
You protect and guide me.
In my life I confide
I trust you with my life and innermost thoughts and feelings.
To ever shelter your will
I am willing to keep you safe and follow your lead always.
And my words are forever my blanket my shiver
My words will comfort and soothe you when you feel scared or alone.
Whatever you give I'll never lack
You always provide me with everything I need, and I am never left wanting.
You're my chorus my refrain
You are my repetitive and essential part of a musical piece that gives it structure and meaning.
The verse of my first pain
You were there during my initial times of distress and pain, and I will never forget your support.
Let the voices come barrelling back
We should let the memories of our past voices and experiences come back to us.
Let the water fill this hand
Let the water represent the unknown and let us fill our hands with it, showing our willingness to embrace new experiences.
Bring it to your mouth
Take a sip to taste the experience.
Let it pass beyond your lips
Let the experience become a part of you and pass beyond the superficial level.
No gale can down this ship
We can weather any storm and overcome any obstacle together.
And I'll stand on your shoulders
I will look up to you and see the potential for growth and learning by your example.
To watch us grow older
I am excited to see how we develop and evolve together over time.
I can see us far along the road
I can envision us being together for a long time, on the same journey down the road of life.
As the trail grows deeper
As we gain more life experiences, the path will become more complex and challenging.
your my giver my keeper
You provide and keep me grounded and focused.
Laughter for years untold
We will share countless years of joy and laughter together.
And wherever you go there you are
No matter where you go or what you do, you bring yourself with you.
And if I go I won't go far
If I have to leave, I won't go too far away and will still be there for you when you need me.
Contributed by Micah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jonathanespinoza9328
Still coming back to this gem in 2021.
@grayzbeardz
its odd we live in a world where this isnt everyones favorite band
@Forlorn.
Can't tell you how many times I have had that exact thought...
@stuckinsideofmobile9957
Agreed.
@KosherPorky
Well, to be fair, Dispatch is taking up all the attention
@pieceofthepeace
AGREED!!!!! Seriously the best...ever.😁
@MrVideoforhire
I lost my Dad in a car accident 08/20/08 and this song has always helped me feel "OK" with it and helped me deal. Thanks to you guys... You never know how powerful your art can be. Thanks you.
@lukeweiler1192
Def one of my fav state radio songs ever. Maybe some day we will get another state radio album that would be awesome I’d love to see a new album and a new tour on some dispatch down time
@p1tz
this is by far my favorite state radio song. you guys were awesome at the bottleneck in lawrence.
@BrianLapp
This song song just keeps getting better. Awesome