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WHY DON'T WE DO IT ON THE ROAD? State radio brings service to the community // JAKE LERMAN
When musicians pass through town, they seldom leave anything in their wake other than snapped guitar strings, clouds of tour bus exhaust and foggy memories littering hung-over minds. State Radio is out to prove that a rock band can do so much more.
The Boston-bred three-man outfit was spawned from the ashes of the collegiate roots-rock band Dispatch. The band's lyrics decry a slough of social and political injustices, which may not seem like anything new for rock musicians, but what makes State Radio different is they actually back it up.
After years of crisscrossing the country on tour, State Radio's guitarist and lead singer Chad Stokes Urmston realized the untapped potential of his audience and soon set in motion an organization that would couple the messages in his music with his passion for humanitarianism. Urmstone gave the organization the name Calling All Crows.
Calling All Crows rallies interested fans and local activists from the towns State Radio tours through to participate in service projects that help the community and other causes. The organization is more established now, but it all began with what Urmston calls "guerilla-style public service." The band would blow into a town and try to find anything they could do to help. It wasn't until their last tour that they decided on a more organized approach and Urmston, along with his activist partner, tour manager and fiancé, Sybil Gallagher, founded the organization.
State Radio play under the banner of their own independent label, Ruff Shod Records, and the band relies on touring and word of mouth to get its name out. As a result band members are constantly coming into contact with fans from all over the country who believe in their message and are eager to help guide the hand of change.
On stage, Urmston is the voice of State Radio in more ways than one. Not only do his reedy vocals help define the sound of the group, but his strong political views also characterize the attitude and creative direction of the band. This passion for public service may have been sparked by youthful run-ins with the law. After being arrested for protesting at a 2000 political debate in Boston, Urmston was sentenced to serve time doing community service. He says this early state-sanctioned service helped him realize the effect that regular people can have by getting active.
Despite their best intentions, at first the band's ambition outweighed its stamina. The members
found themselves doing a service event in every city they played, which became too strenuous to keep up along side their impassioned live performances.
When the music began to take a back seat, the band opted to start organizing projects for every other city it visited. Today the management of the organization is in the hands of interns, who find potential projects that fit each city and set the wheels in motion ahead of time.
Before State Radio's gig at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., on Oct. 15, State Radio and the Crows decided to focus their efforts into volunteering at Lawrence's Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 708 Connecticut St., which collects and recycles used building materials donated by local individuals, stores, contractors and manufacturers. All of the income generated from this project is used to expand the building program of Lawrence's Habitat for Humanity affiliate. The Lawrence branch of the organization has built homes for 72 families since its inception in 1989 and continues to be a strong influence in our community.
Contributed photo
The pre-show project attracted 20 of Lawrence's most devoted State Radio fans who spent the first day of their fall breaks alongside the band cleaning up and organizing the ReStore. "It's really great how so many people who didn't know each other came together just because they were moved by the band's music and wanted to get out and do some work," says Jill Dryden, 2008 graduate. Dryden works as a concert action leader for Calling All Crowds. She and others like her across the nation are the keys to the organization's grassroots structure.
It took State Radio a lot of touring to build up such a strong network. On their earlier tours, before they began doing service work, their time in Lawrence was spent much differently. Urmston recalls drinking Irish carbombs with fans at the Jazzhaus, skateboarding around the train yards and exploring the banks of the Kansas River. At one point they were even on the verge of toting around hockey gear to play at local rinks to kill the time. Although Urmston's experiences left him thinking of Lawrence as, "a great little city with great people," he found the freewheelin' life left him wanting. The void was truly filled when he realized his passion for community service could find a happy home on tour. "Calling All Crows was a way to bring my interests together," he says. "It was a natural progression." JP
Concerns of the State: State Radio frontman Chad Stokes Urmston (left), along with bandmates Chuck Fay, (center) and Mike Najarian, bring a rock 'n' roll flair to community service. Urmston founded Calling All Crowds, a national service organization that volunteered at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, 708 Connecticut St., before State Radio for its gig Oct. 15.
STATE POLITICS State Radio's lyrics reflect their political views
"State of Georgia" — A song about death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis whose much-debated 1991 murder conviction spawned rallies by Calling All Crows to bring attention to his case.
So now we're calling up lady justice Tell her we need her medicine I'm about to be killed by the state of Georgia And it don't matter if I'm innocent
"Carmilo" — A song about former Staff Sergeant Carmilo Mejia who was sentenced to a year in prison for desertion after refusing to return to Iraq.
From another land's war-torn corners To a prison cell in my own Punish me for not taking your orders But don't lock me up for not leavin' my home
"Sudan" — A song looking at the violence in Sudan as written through the eyes of a child.
And if I had but one wish on which to stand, I'd see the weapons all turn to sand. I'd see the gunners watch their empty hands, Fall down to their sides.
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