{"id":22000,"date":"2014-06-05T19:01:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-05T18:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/interview-state-champs-3\/"},"modified":"2023-01-11T14:35:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T14:35:55","slug":"interview-state-champs-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/interview-state-champs-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: State Champs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no doubt that Albany, New York\u2019s State Champs<\/strong> are one of the hottest US pop-punk exports in recent years. With their debut full-length, ‘The Finer Things’,<\/em> receiving widespread support on both sides of the Atlantic and coming off the back of their first UK tour supporting The Wonder Years, the quartet played to packed out crowds at the Slam Dunk Festival<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We grabbed guitarist Tyler Szalkowski for a quick interview at the final date of the Slam Dunk Festival<\/strong>\u00a0to discuss their first time at the festival, handling the pressure from the success of ‘The Finer Things’<\/em>, and his expectations to playing this summers Vans Warped Tour.<\/p>\n

Already Heard: For the record, can I get your name and role in the band?<\/strong>
Tyler: My name is Tyler. I play guitar in State Champs.<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: Ok, this is your first time touring the UK. How has it been so far?<\/strong>
Tyler: It\u2019s been awesome! We\u2019re finding it to be really great over here. There has been awesome shows, awesome vibes. All the fans have been amazing over here. We can\u2019t wait to come back.<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: So this is your first Slam Dunk appearance. How have you found Slam Dunk so far? <\/strong>
Tyler: Slam Dunk is seriously the sickest! We love it. The last 2 days has been 2 of the most insane sets we\u2019ve ever played. I hope we can do it every year. It\u2019s like nothing else. It\u2019s awesome!<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: Did you know much about the festival before you came over?<\/strong>
Tyler: I definitely used to see flyers online and stuff. Kids would share it and I would be so jealous. \u201cAh man I hope we get to play Slam Dunk someday.\u201d The line-ups are always insane, and now here we are. It\u2019s really cool for us.<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: Has it been much different to playing shows in the States?<\/strong>
Tyler: Yeah. We\u2019ve never played to that many kids who are that into or involved in our set. In the States we play to a crowd of something like 2000 kids but not all of them knew who we were. This is the first time where it has been our crowd.<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: Your album ‘The Finer Things’<\/em> has received tons of praise since its release. Did you feel any pressure to match expectations before coming over?<\/strong>
Tyler: Not really. If there\u2019s one thing I\u2019m confident with our band its our live show. In my opinion, there is not many weaknesses in our set. I think coming over here, with all the expectation, I felt confident we would deliver and I think we did. Everyone who has seen us has been really happy with the setlist and the performance. <\/em><\/p>\n

AH: I\u2019ve heard the room was packed out on Saturday?<\/strong>
Tyler: Yeah, on Saturday they had to close off the room. The room was at full capacity. It was insane!<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: You\u2019re back over here in the UK for the \u201cPop-Punks Not Dead Tour\u201d. That’s a great line-up with New Found Glory, The Story So Far, yourselves, Candy Hearts and Only Rivals.<\/strong>
Tyler: It\u2019s going to be an awesome tour.<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: Before that you\u2019re off on Warped Tour. Is this your second time on Warped Tour?<\/strong>
Tyler: No we played one date of Warped 2 years in a row, the Boston, Massachutes date. But this is the first year we\u2019re actually part of the tour.<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: What are your expectations for Warped Tour?<\/strong>
Tyler: Everyone tells me it\u2019s the best worse experience of your life. You\u2019ll have the most fun but when you\u2019re not having fun, it can be the worst time ever. I\u2019m expecting it to be awesome. I\u2019m going to try and be positive the whole time, and not let people tell me it sucks. Everyone says its \u201cPunk Rock Summer Camp\u201d so I can\u2019t wait. We kinda got a taste of it here. A few of the bands playing here are on Warped Tour; Devil Wears Prada, We Are The In Crowd, Real Friends, Neck Deep. We\u2019re hanging out with all of them, and its the same sort of festival vibe but with more friends. I truly can\u2019t see it being a bad time.<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: I can imagine at the age you are, it\u2019s a type of \u201cdream come true\u201d scenario?<\/strong>
Tyler: It truly is. We grew up going to Warped Tour. I went to my first Warped Tour 10 years ago, so being able to play is unreal!<\/em><\/p>\n

AH: Any final words you\u2019d like to share?<\/strong>
Tyler: Thanks for reading this interview. Thanks for supporting this band – keep it up!<\/em><\/p>\n

‘The Finer Things’ <\/em>by State Champs<\/strong> is out now on Pure Noise Records<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

State Champs<\/strong> links: Facebook<\/a>|Website<\/a>|Twitter<\/a>|Tumblr<\/a><\/p>\n

Words by Sean Reid (@seanreid86<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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