Ruff Shod/Nettwerk

Chad Stokes sure is a prolific songwriter and performer. Fresh off of a new recording and tour with his reunited band Dispatch, he found time to record another batch of songs with his baby band, State Radio. Harder edged, fueled by jagged electric guitar and more political than the rootsy, melodic Dispatch, State Radio affords him the chance to rage against the machine. The 11 tracks on Rabbit Inn Rebellion cohesively create a loose concept album, based around Stokes’ travels around the country hopping trains with his brother. He falls for down on her luck “Freckled Mary,” a patron saint of the downtrodden. With pounding drums and bass, “Big Man” depicts the Occupy movement and the 1 percenters, and the bluesy wail of “State of Georgia” relates the tale of an innocent black man on death row for a murder that he didn’t commit.