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.

  1.  Criminal
  2.  Frozen
  3.  Crystal Ball
  4.  Dead and Gone
  5.  Lightning
  6.  Our Time To Go
  7.  Safe Haven
  8.  Something About You
  9.  The Fix Up
  10.  Cut Through The Static
  11.  Mine Is Gold
  12.  Time Machine
  13.  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.statechampsny.com

www.instagram.com/statechampsny

www.twitter.com/state_champs

 

 

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