STATE

June 2006 Issue of Indy Men's Magazine

STATE- Top 5 must see bands along with Margot and the Nuclear So and So's and The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band

"Force. Specifically, a heavily desired punch in the face. Too brutal to be pop-punk. Too accessible to be hardcore. Too fast to be stoner rock. Too good to be missed"
-Indy Men's Magazine


- Doug McSchooler "Art Director"

City Beat Sept. '06 (Mid-Point Music Festival)


STATE was formed last year by singer/guitarist David Barajas, who had just left the popular, radio-friendly Pop crew Extra Blue Kind in favor of something teethier and more eclectic. The band quickly drew the attention of the local press and became favorites at some of Indy's most esteemed clubs. The band's explosive Rock has a dynamic drive and is highlighted by Barajas' sublime vocals, which move from sultry melodies to gut-tearing howls. Citing influences as varied as early Van Halen, Fantomas and Funkadelic, STATE combines them for a captivating, forceful and creative sound wholly their own, as evidenced on their debut, self-titled EP, released this spring. - City Beat Staff

David Barajas of STATE brings a sense of humor to his straight-ahead rock music. “I kind of think of STATE as a slab of testosterone marinated in estrogen. It makes for a great balance in flavor. I'd like to add that I think we've all had our fill of the heartbroken cry babies. No wonder she left your ass, you're a puss!” The group is a lean trio of rock music taken down to its essence. With a chuckle, as is to be expected from someone who counts Fantomas, Funkadelic, and the Dead Kennedys as influences.

Guitarist/vocalist Barajas started playing music at age 11. “As a kid I would come home after school and hear my Dad playing guitar to some Sabbath or Deep Purple. During a time of Aqua Net and parachute pants, he made sure I wasn't in harms way. He was and still is a big part of my musical influence.” That influence goes beyond just memories, though. “I really feel the most proud when I get the chance to play alongside my Dad on stage. Those are the moments that make me proud to be a musician. I enjoy those simple times. Unfortunately, the ‘music industry’ is a bit of a shallow game and has ruined other moments that I should have enjoyed.”

While achieving notoriety with Extra Blue Kind, he originally formed STATE with some high school friends. “It started back in 2002 with my childhood friend (Brody). It just came so natural with him. We didn't even have to say anything to each other, it just happened. Unfortunately old habits and new habits got the best of our friendship and lead to the downfall of the original STATE line-up. I'll see him again some day. The new line-up is great though and we couldn't be happier with the way things are going.” That lineup includes Brian McKenna on bass and Dagan on drums. “I get a lot from the people I play with. Dagan has a great outlook on the way things should be done. He comes from this school of rock were there's no room for bullshit. It's simply sex, drugs, and rock and roll and as cliché as that sounds, it's really not being practiced the way it should anymore.”

Barajas says STATE is heading to Russian Recordings this February to record the band’s new album. He’s also got some other projects on the burner. “I have some songs that need a home and I've been talking with Ed from the band Missing Six about collaborating on some stuff so we'll see. They're recording their new record at The Lodge and they've asked me to come produce it. I'm definitely looking forward to that.” When writing songs, he prefers to bring things together “in the Arctic Mountains with the cool wind in my hair while the natives wrestle with stories of ancient battles. Either there or on my couch.” As for touring, Barajas says STATE is going to stay with “Mainly regional stuff. We like quality vs. quantity. Too many bands are quick to blow their wad and well, that just goes back to the whole emo and sex thing, doesn't it?”

While the band started as a side project, Barajas had some help in moving it to the front of his agenda. “I'd like to publicly thank Greg Brenner at www.punkrocknight.com for staying onto me about keeping STATE alive. We would certainly like to thank all the folks that are coming out to the shows as well. It means a lot to us.” STATE next takes the stage February 4th at Rhino’s in Bloomington with the Zero Boys and Those Young Lions.

-- Ryan Williams --

- www.indianapolismusic.net

By Jessica Halverson
jessica.halverson@intakeweekly.com



The local band State puts its combined local music history and collective drive to do something new into a solid, straight-on rock sound.

As a power trio, David Barajas (vocals and guitar, formerly of Extra Blue Kind), Dagan Thorgerson (drums) and Brian McKenna (bass) together wrap up a sound that is more than the sum of its parts.

Here, Barajas answers a few prying questions via e-mail.

What kind of music did you think you would play when the group formed?

Well, being that I was sitting on some of these tunes for a couple of years, I had a pretty good idea where it was going to go. It's been nice because Dagan (drummer) has helped a lot of these ideas come to life. We both understand what needs to be done without saying too much. I can't stand wasting time by talking about stuff during band practice or a live show. It's kind of like sex. If you need to be told how to do it then it's probably not gonna work.

How does State compare to your former bands?

Thankfully there is no real comparison. I think it would be silly to try and recreate something or follow anything I've done in the past. I always want to try new things and play with new musicians. It's kind of a curse.

Describe a live show:

If you leave our show feeling like you just had a one-night stand with a transvestite in Portugal, than we've done our job. You know, the feeling of getting your money's worth. Pure satisfaction.

Talk about the album you have been working on:

The album was recorded with Mike Bridavsky at Russian Recording. The guy knows what he's doing and is a complete gentleman. He offered us wine and strumpets as soon as we walked through the door. The album sounds great and we're anxious to get it out in April. There are sections that remind me of Faith No More when Chuck Mosley fronted the band, and there are sections that remind me of a mature Barry Manilow. It's a nice well-rounded record.

What sort of role do politics play in your band?

Well, our bio is an excerpt from the Futurist Manifesto, which was written by Filippo Marinetti in the 1900s. All of those guys were completely out of their minds. Most of Europe was out of (its) mind during that time. Every time I read that though it reminds of how we need to keep moving forward as musicians.

With our music, though, the political nuances are there for your taking. Most of the lyrics are about sex and politics, but I don't want to force feed that down anyone's throat.

We're not Rage Against the Machine.

What are you planning to do with the band? What should people expect?

We're going to do some traveling this summer and basically pre-heat the oven before we get started on our first full-length album. Our agenda is a little different than other bands I've come across.

This whole underground movement has become so dark and infested that we kinda have to watch what we do.

- By Jessica Halverson

State goes "Off the Record"

by David Lindquist

The latest episode of "Off the Record" is posted at IndyStar.com. Once you click on the link at the left side of the page, there's an interview with Indianapolis rock band State plus an exclusive unplugged performance of the song "Crash" in a separate video clip.

During the performance, David Barajas sings into a vintage microphone originally used as part of a wire recording kit. Before tapes were used for recording -- and way before digital devices -- steel wires were a popular way to preserve audio in the 1940s and '50s. Tangles were a drawback of this method, and wires would be cut and tied together if the need for editing arose.

Barajas and band mate Tre Murillo ran their microphone through a small vintage speaker, which gave Barajas' voice a slightly and intentionally frayed tone during the performance. As you'll hear in both the interview and the performance, Barajas is the owner of a resonant, full-bodied voice.

On first glance, you may think he's singing into a pack of cigarettes -- but that box is merely taped to the microphone to help keep it in place. State hasn't secured corporate sponsorship from Parliament ... yet.

The Punk Rock Night organization unveiled its award nominations after we taped this episode. State is in the running in five big categories: best performance, best local act, best CD, most humorous act and "drunken performance."

In the grand tradition of musicians giving fake answers to interview questions, Barajas pulls our collective leg when describing the trophy Punk Rock Night founder Greg Brenner has distributed to winners at previous editions of the Punk Rock Night awards. In fact, the trophy has been an impressive metal sculpture that echoes the PRN logo of a crescent moon being pierced by a safety pin.

And if you're looking for one more reason to check out Saturday's performances and ceremony at the Melody Inn, the 2007 "Punkrocknight.com Pin-Up Calendar" will go on sale at the show.

- David Lindquist -Indianapolis Star