A pop/punk band based out of Bowling Green State University in the mid-1990s, State of Green featured students from Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. It only released one CD, 1995’s Lost, but managed to get some good gigs. It opened for the Violent Femmes and other top acts during the time period. It also played at the now defunct CBGBs and performed at several Pennysylvania summer festivals alongside acts such as “Weird Al” Yankovic and Cheap Trick. The local label Love Muffin plans to release State Of Green: It’s All About The Smiles, clips from home video shot on VHS and recently transferred to DVD. A Kickstarter campaign will be launched in early 2015.

This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2014.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.