State Radio is scheduled to bring its blend of rock reggae to Lulu's Nightspot, 129 1/2 Pugh St., tonight in a special early bird, all-ages show.

Fans of Dispatch who have yet to hear State Radio will recognize front man Chad Urmston, but might be unaccustomed to the band's exclusively electric sound and politically active lyrics.

Loyal Dispatch followers aside, State Radio has a legitimate fan base on its own accord.

The band performed a nearly sold-out show at Crowbar last year and members say they are eager to return to State College.

"We really like the energy at State College. Some colleges are a little drab, so we never know what to expect. State College always comes out big though," tour manager Sybil Gallagher said.

However, local promoter Ted Swanson said the band's growing fan base hasn't gotten to the members' heads.

"I think that when a lot of bands do well, their priorities get mixed up. But no matter how well State Radio does, they continue to be the same people," Swanson said.

The lyrics on the 2006 album, Us Against the Crown, are certainly consistent with the band's socially and politically conscious identity. Lyrically, Urmston draws from his own life experiences and attempts to reveal the struggles of the elderly, disabled and impoverished.

Besides just life experiences, Urmston's lyrics also vocalize his objections and qualms with the current Bush administration. In the song Camilo from Us Against the Crown, Urmston expresses an immense disapproval with the temporary imprisonment of a war-objector, Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia.

And Urmston isn't the band's sole possessor of a liberal ideology.

Urmston said the band's message was well received at its Crowbar show last year, and he was pleased to see so many eager fans.

"It was great to see kids get really fired about the message; that's how I was with Rage Against The Machine as a kid," Urmston said.

Chris Ryder, who attended State Radio's show last year, said he has different political leanings than the band. Despite this political disparity, Ryder isn't deterred from seeing the band again.

"Last concert they gave a five-minute speech about kids in Africa, and it was made more than evident that they're really striving to get a message across. I'm not quite as liberal as Chad, but it's still good reggae," Ryder (sophomore-civil engineering) said.

Urmston said he doesn't expect all of the band's fans to adhere to the same political ideals as he does.

"If you're willing to go the distance with the band and get into it on a deeper level, it's there for you," Urmston said.

The other bands scheduled on the bill tonight are Illinois and Cloverleaf.

Illinois is a folk-rock band that hails from Bucks County, and Cloverleaf is a local self-proclaimed "piano rock" band.

"It's different music, but the State Radio kids are going to see Illinois and totally get it," Swanson said.

Cloverleaf members said they are excited to have the opportunity to play with both bands and aren't afraid of the genre clashing entailed by such an eclectic bunch of bands.

"I think it's going to be really cool because three different genres will make for an incredibly diverse show. Hopefully everyone stays open-minded enough," Cloverleaf drummer Garrett Bogden (sophomore-marketing) said.

State Radio isn't concerned with either the diverse set of bands booked to play the show or the possibility that its political message may fall on deaf ears.

"It's OK if the message doesn't get through to everybody because it's about the music first and foremost, and it's going to be a great show," Urmston said.