On Saturday, February 15th, State Champs’ ‘European Winter’ tour made a stop in The Netherlands. On this run Broadside and The Home Team joined the line-up. Despite the cold day fans were lining up for hours outside Dynamo in Eindhoven. The band offered a VIP package where fans got to get in early, meet the band, take a photo and get a signed poster.
Half an hour after doors it was time for the first band, Broadside, to take to the stage. Before the band walked out ‘Mr Brightside’ by The Killers played over the speakers, which got the crowd singing along. Vocalist Oliver Baxxter was full of energy telling the crowd that the second song of the night, ‘Dazed & Confused’, is about fucking. That was followed by ‘Heavenly’ which got introduced as: “This song is not about fucking. It’s about being cute and holding hands. If that’s not your type of shit, this next song goes out to anybody that has a dog. Especially if you let the dog sleep in your bed with you!”. For the song ‘Cruel’ the band was joined on stage by Brian Butcher from The Home Team to sing his part. That the bands are good friends shows, with both of the bands having a song featuring each other.
This tour is the first time that The Home Team is playing in Europe and from the volume of the crowd they have been waiting for them to come. Guitarist John Baran and bassist Ryne Olson came out on stage doing a little dance, before being joined by vocalist Brian Butcher. Their energy was radiating from them, with their dance moves and smiling faces. Baran and Olson kept spinning in circles and jumping around, even doing some synchronized choreographed dance moves during the set. The first crowd surfer of the evening came forward during ‘She’s Quiet’. Their music is impossible to stand still to, making you want to dance along to the catchy beats and lyrics. Like Butcher joined Broadside on stage, it was now time for Baxxter to return the favour, joining them on stage for ‘Somebody Else’s Face’. The venue lit up with phone lights for ‘Walk This World With Me’. They ended their set with ‘Loud’, which made the crowd go crazy for them one last time.
The lights dimmed one more time this evening, now indicating it was time for State Champs to hit the stage. The excitement from the crowd was noticeable right from the start, immediately crowd surfing people to the stage. The American band had a packed setlist for the night, playing 21 songs with 7 songs coming from their latest self-titled album which came out in November last year. Someone in the crowd was holding a blow-up pig, which vocalist Derek DiScanio gladly took to play with, riding it around the front of the stage. “Alright we can all take one deep breath in and out right now, but we’re still just getting started. I hope you’re not tired yet. We’re going to keep this party going.” said DiScanio before ‘Hell Of It’. The band played banger after banger, barely giving the fans a break from screaming along the lyrics and jumping along. During ‘Act Like That’ DiScanio noticed the bar staff singing along as well: “You know the vibe is good when you see the bartender singing, I see you over there, someone give this man a raise”. The crowd surfers kept going throughout the whole set, but after getting the final call for the last song ‘Secrets’ some more came up one last time.
The match of the three bands on the line-up was clear, all of them genuinely enjoying getting the chance to perform for crowds all over the world. Every one of the bands was either doing happy dances or performing with the biggest smile on their faces. It was a night filled with true pop-punk, making it the perfect evening out.
