The phrase “living proof” can take on several meanings. When I think of “living proof”, I think of situations involving learning from tough lessons or going through challenging obstacles to prove doubters wrong and in order to grow as a person. I also think of “living proof” as when you’re giving advice of something that is advisable or not advisable, one advises because they’ve been through a situation and are trying to help somebody in that situation so the two people can relate to one another. “Living Proof” means growth and maturation and pop-punksters State Champs embody that definition that I described with their June 15th release of “Living Proof” via Pure Noise Records.
State Champs got help and mentoring from pop-punk heavyweights Mark Hoppus of Blink 182 and Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low in the co-writing of a couple of songs on this album. Couple this with the recruiting of John Feldmann to produce this record, and “Living Proof” is certainly a recipe for pop-punk album of the year.
The album is appropriately filled with pop-punk anthems such as the dangerously infectious “Criminal” and the strangely upbeat track “Frozen”, which gets to the heart of the matter in life situations. There is a song that is an ode to the fans and an ode to all who were responsible for their success in “Crystal Ball”. This track really covers the theme of obtaining independence through growth.
This album showcases growth and independence, and that feeling that State Champs is ready for the next step to catapult them to the top of the punk mountain. They proclaim taking leaps of faith to get through the challenges of life in the song “Mine Is Gold”, where the singer sings, “I’m learning how keep burning down the bridges you built by hand”. In this, the singer talks about how difficult it can be to walk away from that failed relationship, but sometimes you have to cut that person off in order to move forward in life.
This album also showcases that independence and growth that we should be striving for in our lives in the track “Cut Through The Static”. The lyrical content continues to have that message of independence and embracing change in your life. “Time Machine” is a lovely ballad that talks about fixing that failed relationship, with quality guitar work and the arrangements providing that mix of angst and a chill atmosphere in the ballad.
In this record, State Champs showcases that they know how to craft a catchy song, now there is some maturation in the music that showcases that State Champs is growing up before our eyes. With this record, State Champs has become the flag bearer of pop-punk that is as freaking catchy as all get out. Fans everywhere will cite this record as the one that revived pop-punk, and with that “Living Proof” by State Champs receives 8.5 out of 10 stars from Madness To Creation. Here is the track listing below.
- Criminal
- Frozen
- Crystal Ball
- Dead and Gone
- Lightning
- Our Time To Go
- Safe Haven
- Something About You
- The Fix Up
- Cut Through The Static
- Mine Is Gold
- Time Machine
- Sidelines
State Champs will be performing at Vans Warped Tour this summer. Check out the Warped Tour dates below.
Thursday, June 21st- Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California
Friday, June 22nd- Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California
Saturday, June 23rd- Shoreline Amphitheater in San Francisco, California
Sunday, June 24th- Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, California
Thursday, June 28th- AK Chin Pavilion in Phoenix, Arizona
Friday, June 29th- Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday, June 30th- USANA Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City, Utah
Sunday, July 1st- Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado
Tuesday, July 3rd- Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri
Thursday, July 5th- Providence Medical Center Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas
Friday, July 6th- Starplex Pavilion in Dallas, Texas
Saturday, July 7th- AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas
Sunday, July 8th- NRG Park in Houston, Texas
Tuesday, July 10th- Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee
Thursday, July 12th- Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Friday, July 13th- Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey
Saturday, July 14th- PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey
Sunday, July 15th- Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut
Monday, July 16th- KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, July 17th- Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Canada
Wednesday, July 18th- Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Thursday, July 19th- Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio
Friday, July 20th- Meadow Brook Amphitheater in Detroit, Michigan
Saturday, July 21st- Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Chicago, Illinois
Sunday, July 22nd- Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota
Monday, July 23rd- American Family Insurance Amphitheater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tuesday, July 24th- Klipsch Music Center in Indianapolis, Indiana
Wednesday, July 25th- Darien Lake PAC in Darien Lake, New York
Thursday, July 26th- The Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Friday, July 27th- Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts
Saturday, July 28th- NIKON at Jones Beach Amphitheatre in Wantagh, New York
Sunday, July 29th- Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland
Monday, July 30th- PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, North Carolina
Tuesday, July 31st- Cellaris Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia
Thursday, August 2nd- Cypress Lot at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida
Friday, August 3rd- Tinker Field in Orlando, Florida
Saturday, August 4th- MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida
Sunday, August 5th- Coral Sky Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida
For tickets and further information go to www.vanswarpedtour.com
This fall, State Champs will be sharing the stage with Machine Gun Kelly and Fall Out Boy on an arena tour. Check out tour dates below.
Tuesday, October 2nd- Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho
Friday, October 5th- Pinnacle Bank Arena in Omaha, Nebraska
Saturday, October 6th- Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa
Tuesday, October 9th- Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas
Wednesday, October 10th- Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
For tickets and further information, click here!
State Champs will be embarking on a European run this fall/winter. Check out tour dates below.
Monday, October 22nd- The Academy in Dublin, Ireland
Tuesday, October 23rd- O2 ABC in Glasgow, United Kingdom
Wednesday, October 24th- Northumbria Institute in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Friday, October 26th- Academy 1 in Manchester, United Kingdom
Saturday, October 27th- Roundhouse in London, United Kingdom
Monday, October 29th- UEA LCR in Norwich, United Kingdom
Tuesday, October 30th- O2 Academy in Leeds, United Kingdom
Wednesday, October 31st- O2 Institute in Birmingham, United Kingdom
Thursday, November 1st- O2 Academy in Bristol, United Kingdom
Saturday, November 3rd- Muziekodroom in Hasselt, Belgium
Sunday, November 4th- Patronaat in Haarlem, Netherlands
Monday, November 5th- Knust in Hamburg, Germany
Tuesday, November 6th- BI NUU in Berlin, Germany
Thursday, November 8th- Feierwerk in Munich, Germany
Friday, November 9th- Das Bett in Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
Saturday, November 10th- Zeche Carl in Bochum, Germany
Sunday, November 11th- La Machine du Moulin Rouge in Paris, France
For tickets and further information on European tour dates, click here.
State Champs will be embarking on a South American tour in support of “Living Proof”. Check out tour dates below.
Friday, November 16th- Teatro Odisseia in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Saturday, November 17th- Fabrique Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sunday, November 18th- Basement Cultural in Curitiba, Brazil
Tuesday, November 20th- UNICLUB in Abasto, Argentina
Wednesday, November 21st- Loreto Bar in Recoleta, Chile
For tickets and further information on any of the South American tour stops listed above, click here.
Fans can find State Champs at the following locations:
www.facebook.com/statechampsny
www.instagram.com/statechampsny
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