By Erin Lee
Pop-punk band State Champs brought their infectious sound to House of Blues Orlando on Sunday, December 1st, and South Florida Concert News was there for this incredibly fun show!
Opening with the lead single "Silver Cloud" from their self-titled album released earlier this month, the band members burst onto stage full tilt, quickly capturing the eager audience. The first thing I noticed was everyone did their homework: the crowd sing-shouted back every lyric to new tracks like "Light Blue," Clueless," and my personal favorite, "Too Late to Say," among others. The band has a dedicated fan base, and it was immediately apparent.
Representing their home state, lead singer Derek DiScanio was dressed in a Patrick Ewing jersey. Throughout the evening, DiScanio would check in with the crowd, asking us to give a thumbs up if everyone was OK and having a good time. What a kind, thoughtful way to engage with your audience.
Bassist Ryan Scott Graham captivated us with his high-energy moves: spinning circles, traveling the stage end to end, shouting encouragement for everyone to jump up and join in the fun.
We love a diverse setlist and State Champs delivered it, spanning most of their entire discography.
You wanted guest vocalists? We got the beautiful harmonies of Dani and Keaton from Daisy Grenade featured on "Around the World and Back" from 2015's album of the same name.
Not enough? How about a hyped up version of 2022's "Everybody But You" as an encore: featuring surprise guest vocals from Gregory James of Boys Like Girls?
Throughout the 21 song set, I witnessed so much joy in the crowd: singing along at full volume, dancing in the aisles, crowd surfers respectfully helping one another.
I've been going to concerts since I was a kid, and I don't think I've ever seen a show quite like this one: a tight knit community looking out for each other, from the band to the fans and back again.
Each member played with passion and heart, coming together to bring us an unforgettable show filled with songs we love so much.
State Champs made it a night to remember!
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