R-e-s-p-e-c-t State of Corruption’s new 3 marks 10 together BY BOB GULLA

If there’s a theme that’s marked State of Corruption’s 10 years together, it’s gotta be "Respect." Not the Aretha Franklin version, per se, but the street version of the same. "At the end of the day," says the band’s Mike L, "if it’s respect that you have, well, at least you have that."

Since forming a decade ago, the band has had the "R word" working in its favor. As a start-up rock-rap act before the term was even invented, the SOC crew has slowly and steadily come of age as a unit. All this despite a climate that has seemingly worked against them, despite real life getting in the way, and despite the backlash against the current crop of rap-rock bands that arose in the wake of what they had already started. And while most rap-rockers have ditched their hybrid in favor of more melodic craft, SOC soldiers on, true to their original mission.

"The big thing right now is that every rap-rock band sings now," says Mike. "That, to me, proved that it wasn’t their style of music in the first place. They just wanted to get sold. I’m telling you right now, I didn’t start making this kind of music to sing. I’m not singing."

Mike’s a man of his word, so when the band set about making their new record, 3, they kept the cornerstones of their musical edifice in place: rapping, rocking, a cool DJ, and a massive rhythm section. The opening "Tourniquet," "Bushido," "Atlantis," and others mine the heaviness the band has always embraced, but with a newfound attention to craftsmanship that brings the band to a new level. Where SOC’s last record brought the noise, too, 3 burns with more focus and passion. "We wanted to make a heavy record," says Mike, "but we also wanted to write the kind of songs that we could really be proud of."

There’s much to be proud of on 3, and it’s not all about the decibels. The band’s lyrical skill has also come of age, with a much darker and pointed approach. "You hate to say that this CD is more mature, because that word doesn’t really apply to us, but this CD is a lot darker and lot more ominous," Mike notes. "People who read the lyrics tell us, ‘Wow, you guys are really pissed off. This CD just came out dark. Why?’ We’re all a little older, I guess, and we pay more attention to what’s going on around us and what we see ain’t pretty."

What is pretty awesome, though, is the way the band has come together as performers. New bassist Mario Fantasia (ex-shed) brings an insane heaviness that puts the burr in drummer Mike Lopes’s stool, and both of them ramp it up good, especially on "Land of the Misfit Toys" and "Stripper Song," where the band kicks into rousing, shout-along choruses that never showed up much on SOC works of the past. "We didn’t make any conscious effort to do anything different on this record, except to have choruses. You have to give people something they can sing to, especially when you play music like ours. It’s a nice counterpoint to the rapping."

Which brings us back around to the idea of merging rap and rock. "People come up to me all the time and say that they hate rap-rock but they like us. I think it’s because we do it from the heart. It’s genuine and it always has been."

If nothing else, at least having that sincerity earns the band the respect they crave. Like they say on their tune "Respect" — a song they nearly named the album after — " ’Cuz I never changed my ways/Still the same like back in the day/Never try to diss my crew/It bounces off of me and back to you."

The irony here is that 3 is actually good enough to get the band more than the respect they crave. It may just get them signed.

State of Corruption play two release parties this weekend — on Friday, August 27 at the Green Room and on Saturday, August 28 at the Living Room. Special guests at the Green Room are Inner Self Lost, Donnybrook, and Imprint (who also have CDs available), while Mastamindz, Blackstone Valley Crew, shed, and Imprint share the stage at the Living Room.

Wandering Eye. On Friday, Providence’s monthly twang/roots-rock/alt.country/Americana music series, "Your Roots Are Showing," continues at the Century Lounge. This month’s featured acts are Watermelon/Sire recording artist Hayseed, rising star (and Alison Krauss collaborator) Rod Picott, Providence-based songwriter Eric Fontana and his band the Ultra-Fine Reducers, Engine 143, a Carter Family tribute from Richmond, Virginia, and roots-rock hosts Lucky 57.

The Chilblains have a show coming up at AS220 on Sunday (the 29th) with Su Casa and the Bob Kendall Band headlining. Music starts at 9. It should be a nice night of jangly, rootsy, twang rock stuff. The Chilblains have some new songs up on their web site: www.thechilblains. com.

Almost Homeless and Tung will both appear at the massive heavy rock fest called Locobazooka this weekend, which takes place at the Fitchburg [MA] Municipal Airport. National acts include Shinedown, Saliva, Tesla, Clutch, Monster Magnet, and many more. Purchase tix through your local bands and get a discount.

There’s a big Dan Lilley and Lovetrain gig at the Call this Saturday. The show’s a big deal for the band because it’s their first in town since reuniting back in December. You may recall that the band broke up in January 2003 after playing together since 1996. The gig at the Call is important to the group because the time off seems to have rejuvenated the members of the band and they plan to continue playing out regularly (and hopefully record again sometime in the future) but keep the schedule light enough so it doesn’t cause another burnout. The show will also feature Barry Cowsill and his band, US1.

The Killdevils, a two-piece blues band, will open for Paul Geremia at Billy Goode’s in Newport on Saturday. And the Green Harbor Roots & Blues Festival features a great lineup, with Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Bellevue Cadillac, Lonesome Jukebox, and British Yankees. For details on the fest, which takes place on Sunday, go to www.rhythmroom records.com.

E-mail me at big.daddy1@cox.net with your music updates and gig news.