The State

The State, a rock band hailing from Columbia, Missouri, has unearthed a sound of grinding guitars and rousing lyrics, that echo inspirational staples from the past, but define a unique and inimitable sound all their own.

The State's story began when Joe Brown and Dylan Phelps casually started writing songs together. The two found a common bond in wanting to write significant and meaningful songs with the weight of a raw rock sound. The slow burn of this conglomeration eventually resulted in The State's self-titled album, which they recorded in Brown's home recording studio. When the project was completed in July of 2005, Joe and Dylan sought out band mates to form a permanent lineup for performance. With the recent addition of drummer Matt Taylor and bassist Tyler Morris, The State plans to take their craft as far as they can.

Although The State’s touring career is relatively young to date, their efforts have left the music community reeling from their sudden appearance. Five tracks from their self-titled debut album have been spun by radio stations throughout Missouri, including regular rotation. The State was recently featured on St. Louis's 101.1 The River Homegrown Show, where their music was showcased to a listening audience of over 100,000 St. Louis fans. Internet radio station www.iChannelmusic.com, has had The State listed as a Top 5 iChannel artist, including the #1 position for more than five weeks straight. The State has recently shared the stage with such acts as Candlebox and Greenwheel.

Erin Sadzewicz, a writer for the Truman State University Index, wrote about The State's live performance. "... half the fun of listening to a band like this is witnessing the devotion, the dedication and the love of performing what the band members are so proud of creating. This band's enthusiasm for music is infectious."

The State is currently booking shows, and working on material for their new album, which is tentatively scheduled to be released in the spring of 2007.