State Champs Anaheim
10/12/2024 - House of Blues - Anaheim, California
📸 by @wolfsnapphotos
State Champs Bring the House Down at House of Blues Anaheim (November 13, 2024)
If you're a pop-punk fan, the House of Blues Anaheim was the place to be on November 13, 2024. The State Champs by State Champs Tour, headlined by (you guessed it) State Champs, delivered a night packed with energy, nostalgia, and pure pop-punk vibes. With an impressive lineup featuring Daisy Grenade, Meet Me @ the Altar, Knuckle Puck, and San Diego locals New Aesthetic, the stage was set for an unforgettable show.
Hailing from Albany, New York, State Champs is made up of Derek DiScanio (vocals), Tyler Szalkowski (guitar), Ryan Scott Graham (bass), and Evan Ambrosio (drums). Formed in 2010, they’ve been at the forefront of the modern pop-punk scene for over a decade, delivering hit after hit and amassing a dedicated fanbase.
When they hit the stage, the crowd absolutely lost it. They kicked things off with “Silver Cloud,” a track from their latest self-titled album, State Champs. Even in the photo pit for the first three songs, I could feel the energy surging through the room. There was a tsunami of crowd surfers left and right, streamers flying, and even pyrotechnics lighting up the stage.
With a hefty 21-song setlist, State Champs proved once again why they’re one of the best in the game. They treated the audience to a mix of old favorites like “Elevated” and “All You Are Is History” alongside fresh tracks like “Silver Cloud” and “Act Like That” from the new album.
A personal highlight was the medley of “Perfect Score,” “Frozen,” and “Fake It.” Another standout moment was the acoustic debut of “If I’m Lucky,” with Derek bringing out his guitar to serenade the crowd. Fun fact: this was the first song he ever wrote at just 15 years old!
The night ended with a special guest appearance by their merch guy, Cody, during “Save Face Story,” followed by an encore that cranked the energy up another notch. As if “Everybody But You” wasn’t enough of a banger to wrap things up, they closed with “Secrets” and sent confetti bombs flying into the crowd, a perfect party finale.
If you weren’t there, you missed out. State Champs didn’t just put on a show, they threw a pop-punk party for the ages. Here’s hoping they’re back soon because this kind of night is what live music is all about.
