State Champs' Explosive Return to Manila

It took eight years, three albums, a global pandemic, and a whole lot of patience, but pop-punk veterans State Champs finally made their explosive return to Manila. And when they did, they didn't just hit the stage—they owned it.

- — Randell John Bautista

To understand the significance of State Champs' return, you have to go back to where it all began. Their first visit to Manila was back in June 2017 for Bazooka Rocks V—a stacked pop-punk lineup that gave Filipino fans a taste of what the global scene had to offer.

Speaking just hours before taking the stage again in the Philippines, the band reflected on how much had changed—not just around them, but within them.

"I feel like a lot has happened since we were here eight years ago," bassist and backing vocalist Ryan Scott Graham told us hours before the show. "I mean, what, we put out three records. We've done a countless amount of touring. We took a break. The pandemic happened. So much of life has happened. So, we're older, we're wiser, we're better at what we do."

If there was ever any doubt about the loyalty of Filipino fans, it was obliterated the moment State Champs hit the stage.

From the first note, the crowd erupted. And they didn't stop for over 90 minutes.

The band tore through their most extensive setlist yet, spanning all five albums. Elevated. Secrets.