Street musicians, for many, are cheap outdoor entertainment, or an easy act of charity. Either way, they are characters that come in and out of people's lives as quickly as it takes to walk past them and throw a quarter in their violin case. This is not the case for Chad Stokes, who made a life-changing decision by stopping to talk to the man playing buckets outside Boston's Fenway Park.
The bucket-player, Mike ""Mad Dog"" Najarian, and Stokes found common ties, and soon joined with bassist Chuck Fay to create the reggae-rock trio State Radio. ""We realized we had mutual friends … it was one of those small world things,"" Stokes said. Since forming in 2002, the band has done four albums and several tours focusing on human rights and political injustice.
They will be performing at the Majestic Theater this Friday along with a guest musician, Matt Embree of the California band Rx Bandits, toting their jams and latest social commentary in the State of Troy tour. Before arriving in town, The Daily Cardinal got a chance to talk to front man Chad Stokes about his passion for activism and inciting social change through music.
Stokes explained how his enthusiasm for politically charged music began in childhood, growing up next to a center for activists in his hometown of Sherborn, Mass.
""When I was a kid I was always seeing [the activists] get together, chaining themselves to cranes, or protesting this or that military move,"" Stokes said. ""I always liked music that had a message, I always found that so powerful.""
State Radio's sound varies from alternative rock to ska, reggae and punk inspired tracks. When it comes to songwriting, the band collaborates to complete older songs that were mainly written by Stokes.
""The inception [for a song] starts because I really enjoy writing songs.It's also really cathartic too,"" Stokes said. ""You know if I'm reading stuff in the newspaper, hear a great story or something, it's fun to translate that into song.""
State Radio's tours have historically focused on raising awareness and funds for social and humanitarian causes, and the State of Troy tour is no different. It's focal point is the case of Troy Davis, a man sentenced to death for allegedly killing a police officer in Georgia in 1989. Davis has maintained his innocence and several of the original witnesses condemning him have recanted their stories, prompting further appeals and postponements of his execution.
""Troy has become a friend of ours over the years. He at first chose to go through Amnesty International, and we partner up with that organization quite a bit,"" said Stokes. ""We felt like we could get his story out there, we could help contribute to his fighting injustice, and also serve as a larger symbol of our feelings toward the death penalty.""
The band expresses their objection to the death penalty and unjust incarceration through more than just their music, such as the track ""State of Georgia,"" featured live on their album Let it Go. They partner with Amnesty International to write letters to political prisoners around the world. ""It's all about people power, getting as many letters out as possible,"" Stokes said.
Stokes also mentioned they may be tailoring their service project and show to current events in Madison, with a focus on human rights connected to unions. People can take part in the project Friday from 1-3 p.m. by registering online at countingallcrows.org on the Madison event. As Stokes commented, ""the more the merrier,"" when it comes to social justice events. Who knows, making some noise could make a difference—it certainly did for the bucket-player outside of Fenway Park.
