Socially and politically vocal rock-reggae band State Radio recently unveiled plans to tour across the nation in early 2009. First State Radio frontman Chad Stokes Urmston will embark on a pair of solo shows Dec. 6-7 at the Brattle Theatre near the band’s Boston hometown before the whole band takes the stage in Washington D.C. at the 9:30 edifice Dec. 26 for a “welcome to the neighborhood” party for President-elect Barack Obama. The tour will then hit The Rock in Tucson, Ariz. Jan. 14 before concluding Feb. 19 at Lupo’s in Providence, R.I. Other stops on State Radio’s upcoming tour will be the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Calif. (Jan. 15), The Underground in Reno, Nev. (Jan. 21), El Corazon in Seattle (Jan. 26), Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colo. (Jan. 30-31), Antone’s in Austin (Feb. 6), The Orange Peel in Asheville, N.C. (Feb. 11), NorVa in Norfolk, Va. (Feb. 15) and Pickle Barrel Night edifice in Killington, Vt. (Feb. 19). Try http://www.stubhub.com/state-radio-tickets for State Radio tickets and ticket information to see the band when they hit the road in the new year!

State Radio began delivering their powerful blend of roots reggae rhythms, socially conscious lyrics and rock song formats after emerging out of the ashes of Vermont jam band story in 2002. The Boston-based triad formed when signer and primary songwriter Chad Urmston dissolved story in that same assemblage (when the band was at the height of its success). Urmston abandoned Dispatch’s signature instrument switching and focused on guitar and vocals and enlisted second guitarist Pete Halby, bassist Chuck Fay and drummer Mike Greenfield to complete the lineup for State Radio. The burgeoning band free the experimental EP Flag of the Shriners via Boston’s Fenway Recordings label in late 2002 and then went on a temporary hiatus to allow Urmston to adequately recover from throat surgery that left him unable to sound for a brief time.

In 2004 State Radio reappeared on the environs as a empty downbound triad with new drummer Brian Sayers and a sophomore EP titled Simmer Kate followed. With two EPs low their belt, State Radio finally free their entry LP, Us Against the honor in Feb 2006, after nearly four eld as a band! Drummer Mike Najarian replaced Sayers before State Radio hit the road in support of their entry full-length and then the triad free their sophomore LP, assemblage of the Crow, in 2007. The record was inferior jam-bandy than their entry full-length, and went in a more stripling and politically conscious direction. The band is currently hard at impact on the follow-up to assemblage of the Siouan and are expected to release a new album sometime next year. State Radio is known for their live performances, in which gathering status is almost always present, so hurry up and get your State Radio tickets before they’re all absent and be the bitterness of all of your friends when you see this roots reggae meets stripling rock band live!