State Champs

State Champs is an American pop punk band from Averill Park, New York, formed in 2010. They are currently signed to Pure Noise Records and have released three EPs and two full length albums. They released an acoustic EP titled The Acoustic Things in October 2014 and their second full-length album Around the World and Back one year later, in October 2015. Their 2013 full-length, The Finer Things, debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.

History

Formation, early releases, The Finer Things and The Acoustic Things (2010–14)

State Champs formed in the spring of 2010 in Albany, New York by founding members lead guitarist Tyler Szalkowski and lead singer Derek DiScanio. Shortly after forming, they self-released a five song EP, 2010, that was followed by their second self-released EP, Apparently, I’m Nothing, on January 1, 2011. This EP contained all tracks from their first release plus several new songs. In July, the band toured with The Tired and True and Call It Fiction. On April 19, 2012, it was announced the band had signed to Pure Noise Records. The band recorded their Pure Noise debut with producer Jay Maas (Defeater, Transit, Title Fight). Overslept was released digitally and as a 7" record on September 11, 2012. The band finished recording their debut full-length with producer Sam Pura at The Panda Studios and co-producer and former New Found Glory guitarist Steve Klein in Fremont, CA in May 2013.

Their debut full-length album, The Finer Things, was released on October 8, 2013. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, selling a little over 3,100 copies in the first week of release. To support the album, the band supported Motion City Soundtrack and Bayside on a fall tour in North America. The band spent a majority of 2014 touring in support of The Finer Things. The band started their busy 2014 schedule in March with their first full-United States tour, opening for We Are The In Crowd, William Becket, Set It Off and Candy Hearts. Shortly after completing this tour, the band headed on tour overseas for the first time to support pop-punk band The Wonder Years and A Loss for Words. The tour routed throughout the UK and mainland Europe.

The band performed on the Kevin Says stage for the 2014 installment of the Vans Warped Tour occasionally playing the main Kia Soul stage. During the tour, it was announced that the band would also be co-headlining the 2014 Pure Noise Records Tour with Handguns, with support from Forever Came Calling, Front Porch Step, Heart to Heart and Brigades. On October 7, 2014, the band released an acoustic EP titled The Acoustic Things which featured acoustic versions of 5 tracks off of The Finer Things as well as 2 new tracks.

Around the World and Back (2015–present)

On March 25, 2015, the band announced that they have completed their second album, along with a picture of working titles of songs, however the exact song titles as well as which of these songs will be featured on the record have yet to be revealed. They opened for All Time Low's Future Hearts tour in spring 2015 and opened for 5 Seconds of Summer in June 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. On July 15, the band announced their second album, Around the World and Back, would be released on October 16. The band went on a co-headlining UK tour with Neck Deep in February 2016, with support from Creeper and Light Years.YOLO

Style

State Champs have been described as pop punk. The Finer Things has been described as pop punk.

Accolades

Around the World and Back was ranked at number 4 in Alternative Presss "10 Essential Records of 2015" list. Mackenzie Hall of Alternative Press wrote that the band brought "everything you love about old-school pop punk with new-school heart." The album was included at number 8 on Rock Sounds top 50 releases of 2015 list.

Band members

Current members

• Derek DiScanio - lead vocals (2010–present)
• Tyler Szalkowski - lead guitar backing vocals (2010–present)
• Ryan Scott Graham - bass, backing vocals (2014–present)
• Tony "Rival" Diaz - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
• Evan Ambrosio - drums (2012–present)

Former members

• William Goodermote - bass (2010–13)
• Dave Fogarty - guitar (2010–11)
• Matt Croteau - drums (2010–12)

Discography

Studio albums

• The Finer Things U.S. #131 (Pure Noise, 2013)
• Around the World and Back (Pure Noise, 2015) U.S. #30

Extended plays

• EP 2010 (self-released, 2010)
• Apparently, I'm Nothing (self-released, 2011)
• Overslept (Pure Noise, 2012)
• The Acoustic Things (Pure Noise, 2014) U.S. #112

References

Citations

Sources

• Top 50 Releases of the Year. In: Rock Sound. Nr. 208. Freeway Press Inc., Januar 2016, ISSN 1465-0185. 
• Mackenzie Hall: 10 Essential Records of 2015. In: Alternative Press. Nr. 330. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc., Dezember 2015, ISSN 1065-1667.