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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Mates of State| image =Mates of State 2011 press photo Mountaintops.jpg|thumb|| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence , Kansas , United States | genre = Indie pop | years_active = 1997 –present| label = Barsuk Records|Barsuk , Polyvinyl Records|Polyvinyl | associated_acts = Vosotros| website = http://www.matesofstate.com/ Official website| current_members = Kori Gardner Jason Edward Hammel|Jason Hammel | past_members = Mates of State are an United States|American indie pop duo, active since 1997.cite web |title=Mates of State's YouTube channel |publisher=Mates of State |url= http://www.youtube.com/user/matesofstate |accessdate=27 December 2010 The group is composed of the husband-and-wife team of Kori Gardner (vocals, organ, synthesizer , piano , electric piano , and occasional guitar ) and Jason Hammel (vocals, drums, percussion, and occasional synthesizer).
Over the course of the band's fourteen year career, they've released three Extended play|EP s and six full-length, studio albums. Their seventh album Mountaintops was released on September 13, 2011.
History
Gardner and Hammel met in Lawrence, Kansas|Lawrence , Kansas ,cite web |title=Mates of State bio |publisher=Polyvinyl Records |url= http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/artists/index.php? id=286 |accessdate=4 January 2011 while both were involved in relationships with other people. Although they exchanged e-mails regularly, they didn't get together until three months later when they were both single again, and were inseparable from then on. They originally played together in a four-piece rock band called Vosotros,cite web |title=Mates of State: Two's a crowd for band mates |publisher= SFGate.com |date=22 May 2008 |url= http://articles.sfgate.com/2008-05-22/entertainment/17155177_1_mates-debut-album-musicians |accessdate=5 January 2011 in which they both sang and played guitar. Shortly after the couple moved to California in 1998, Gardner began teaching and Hammel applied to medical school.cite web |title=The Hot Seat: Mates of State |publisher= mtvU |date=4 December 2008 |url= http://www.mtvu.com/music/hot-seat/mates-of-state/ |accessdate=4 January 2011 They both opted later to devote their time to making music and touring together instead and ultimately, the two of them got married in 2001. Gardner and Hammel originally lived together in San Francisco , and in 2004 they moved to East Haven, Connecticut .cite web |title=Mates Of State: The Sound Of Settling |publisher= Magnet (magazine)|Magnet |date=16 May 2006 |url= http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2006/05/16/mates-of-state-the-sound-of-settling/ |accessdate=5 January 2011 In February 2007, they sold their house in East Haven and are currently living in Stratford, Connecticut .
Gardner and Hammel have two daughters, Magnolia, born in 2004, and June Elizabeth, born in 2008. For the band, touring is a family affair, with both daughters going on the road with their parents. Gardner currently writes a blog, Band on the Diaper Run , that appears on Babble.com . In it, she recounts their experiences of life on the road and the unique circumstance of touring with two young children in tow.cite web |title=Band on the Diaper Run |publisher= Babble.com |url= http://blogs.babble.com/band-on-the-diaper-run/ |accessdate=27 November 2010
The main instruments used by the band in early recordings were drum kit|drums and the electronic organ|electric organ . Although they both started out playing the guitar, they found they ended up fooling around with the organ and drums in their practice space more often than with more traditional instruments. However, in later recordings, the band moved away from their signature, organ-dominated sound and incorporated additional instrumentation. Evidence of this sound progression is first heard on the "All Day EP" and continues into "Bring It Back", their fourth studio album. Ultimately, they abandoned the organ completely on their fifth album, "Re-Arrange Us".cite web |title=Interview: Mates of State |publisher= The A.V. Club |date=11 December 2008 |url= http://www.avclub.com/articles/mates-of-state,14342/ |accessdate=9 November 2010
Mates of State songs are notable for their male/female vocal harmony , shifting rhythm s, and quirky song structure – most tracks comprise distinct, almost disjointed movements. Both members sing with great intensity, often in the upper ranges of their voices, and often simultaneously sing different, complementary melodies and lyrics. Tempos are nearly always fast, with beats often resembling those found in electronic club or dance music.
The band recorded one album on Omnibus Records before moving to Polyvinyl Record Co.|Polyvinyl for their second and third full-lengths. In December 2005, the band signed with Barsuk Records and released two full-length albums and an EP of remixes on the label. Their latest album was released on their own label, MOS Records and was also produced by Gardner and Hammel themselves.
On October 11, 2004, the band held a contest for fans to create their own video for "Goods (All In Your Head)," the first track on their All Day EP. The winning entry, directed by G. J. Echternkamp , became the official video for the song and was aired on MTV on June 12, 2005. It and an all-dance video for the song, also directed by and featuring Echternkamp, are available for download in the Media section of the band's official site.
The band's fifth album, Re-Arrange Us , was released on May 20, 2008cite web |title=Re-Arrange Us - Mates Of State |publisher= Metacritic |url= http://www.metacritic.com/music/re-arrange-us |accessdate=8 January 2011 and for their tour in support of the album, Mates of State became a quartet by adding Lewis and Anton Patzner of Judgement Day (band)|Judgement Day as multi-instrumentalistscite web |title=Recap: Mates Of State and Black Kids at The Varsity Theater |publisher= The A.V. Club |date=13 April 2009 |url= http://www.avclub.com/twincities/articles/recap-mates-of-state-and-black-kids-at-the-varsity,26545/ |accessdate=8 January 2011 to compliment the duo's sound on select songs.
On June 15, 2010, Mates of State released their sixth studio album, Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) , which consists entirely of their cover versions of songs previously recorded by other musical artists,cite web |title=Mates of State Release New CD 'Crushes' and Talks to PopMatters |publisher= PopMatters |date=16 June 2010 |url= http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/126931-mates-of-state-release-new-cd-crushes-begin-summer-tour |accessdate=8 January 2011 including "Long Way Home" by Tom Waits and " Son Et Lumiere (song)|Son Et Lumiere " by The Mars Volta . Music videos have been made for two of the songs: Nick Cave 's "Love Letter" and Daniel Johnston 's "True Love Will Find You in the End." The former was directed by Daniel Garcia (director)|Daniel Garcia and the latter was produced in conjunction with ABC News for its indie rock program, "Amplified."cite web |title=ABC News Makes Awesome Low-Budget Music Video |publisher= ABC News|abcnews.com |date=21 June 2010 |url= http://blogs.abcnews.com/amplified/2010/06/abc-news-makes-awesome-lowbudget-music-video.html |accessdate=26 June 2010
Their most recent album, Mountaintops , was released September 13, 2011 on Barsuk, the same independent label that released two of the band's previous records, Bring It Back and Re-Arrange Us . It is composed wholly of new original material.cite web |title=Mates of State announce new album, Mountaintops |publisher= Consequence of Sound|www.consequenceofsound.net |date=9 June 2010 |url= http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/06/mates-of-state-announce-new-album-mountaintops/ |accessdate=7 July 2011
Tours and performances
Mates of State have performed all over the globe; in the United States , Canada , Europe , Japan , and Australia .
In the summer of 2001, they played shows with Superdrag and Beulah (band)|Beulah & later in the year opened for The Anniversary during the release tour for their album Your Majesty (album)| Your Majesty .cite web |title=Mates of State band |publisher= eventful.com |url= http://eventful.com/performers/mates-of-state-/P0-001-000000344-0 |accessdate=8 January 2011
In 2003, Mates of State toured with Palomar (band)|Palomar .cite web |title=Mates of State, Ladybug Transistor and Palomar |publisher= Dallas Observer |date=13 November 2003 |url= http://www.dallasobserver.com/2003-11-13/music/mates-of-state-ladybug-transistor-and-palomar/ |accessdate=8 January 2011
In 2005, Mates of State toured with Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday , and performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas .
In 2006, Mates of State toured with Spoon (band)|Spoon and Death Cab for Cutie .cite web |title=Death Cab For Cutie Plan Summer Tour |publisher=Alternative Addiction |date=4 June 2006 |url= http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/633/Death-Cab-For-Cutie-Plan-Summer-Tour |accessdate=8 January 2011 Mates of State also provided support (alongside Au Revoir Simone ) for We Are Scientists on their tour of the UK in November 2006.cite web |title=Mates Of State: "What we do isn't normal" |publisher= Drowned in Sound |date=24 October 2006 |url= http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/1237018-mates-of-state--what-we-do-isn-t-normal |accessdate=9 January 2011
During February–March 2007, Mates of State toured as the house band for WBEZ Chicago, Illinois|Chicago 's This American Life , hosted by Ira Glass .cite web |title=Mates Of State announce unique tour |publisher= NME |date=20 February 2007 |url= http://www.nme.com/news/808-state/26571 |accessdate=8 January 2011 Tour locations included New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Recordings of some of the band's performances during this tour were included in a 2008 episode entitled "What I Learned from Television".cite web |title=What I Learned From Television (Episode 328) Audio CD |publisher= This American Life |url= http://store.thisamericanlife.org/ProductDetails.asp? ProductCode=328 |accessdate=9 January 2011 On Earth Day in 2007, Mates of State headlined the Concert for a Green Earth in Westport, Connecticut .cite web |title=Music to Save the Earth |publisher=WestportNow.com |date=28 April 2007 |url= http://www.westportnow.com/index.php? /v2/comments/16925/ |accessdate=8 January 2011
In 2008, they appeared again at the Austin City Limits Music Festival , in addition to performing at Lollapalooza in Chicago, http://venuszine.com/clips/video/events/16/Mates_of_State_at_our_Lollapalooza_Kick_off_Party the All Points West Music & Arts Festival in Jersey City , and the Pemberton Festival in Pemberton, BC.cite web |title=Metric & Mates of State add NYC show, tour dates |publisher=Brooklyn Vegan |date=16 July 2008 |url= http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/07/metric_mates_of.html |accessdate=8 January 2011 In 2009, they played at Diversafest in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Voodoo Experience|Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on Halloween weekend.cite web |title=Mates of State goes pop, Bingo& #33; Show goes zombie |publisher=nola.com |date=31 October 2009 |url= http://www.nola.com/voodoofest/index.ssf/2009/10/mates_of_state_goes_pop_bingo.html |accessdate=8 January 2011
In 2010, they appeared on the children's television show Yo Gabba Gabba in Rochester, New York .cite web |title=VIDEO: Mates of State on Yo Gabba Gabba |publisher=Whale in a Cubicle |date=6 May 2010 |url= http://whaleinacubicle.com/? p=2194 |accessdate=8 January 2011
Since 2010, the band has toured with backing musicians Kenji Shinagawa on guitar and John Panos on trumpet, both graduates of the University of Miami.
On February 16th, 2012, the band kicked off a 9 day tour of the East Coast at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania .cite web |title=Mates of State Tour Dates |publisher=matesofstate.com |date=16 January 2012 |url= http://www.matesofstate.com/#cf3/custom_plain |accessdate=17 February 2012
Appearances in Film & Television
Year
Song Title
Where Featured
2002
"Girls Singing"
on an episode of Clone High
2004
"These Days"
Wicker Park
2006
"California"
on an episode of The O.C.
2007
"Goods (All in Your Head)"
in the film, In the Land of Women
2007
"So Many Ways"
on an episode of Kyle XY
2008
"For the Actor"
cite web >title=Mates of State - AT& T Wireless Commercial
in the trailer and end credits for Best Worst Movie
2009
"My Only Offer"
One Tree Hill
2010
"Second Hand News"
Chuck
2010
"No One Wants To Be Left Out"
on an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba
2011
"Palomino"
performed by the band on an episode of Late Show with David Letterman
2011
"Unless I'm Led"
on an episode of Ringer
2011
"Sleep Around the Clock"
in the movie The Art of Getting By
2012
"Unless I'm Led"
One Tree Hill
Films
Two of Us (2004). Produced, directed, shot, and edited by Thadd Day. Released by Hooked on Sonics!cite web |title=Mates of State: Two of Us DVD |publisher= Allmovie|allmovie.com |url= http://www.allmovie.com/work/mates-of-state-two-of-us-315107 |accessdate=8 January 2011
Discography
Albums
My Solo Project (Omnibus, 2000; later re-released on Polyvinyl Record Co.|Polyvinyl , 2003)
Our Constant Concern ( Polyvinyl Record Co.|Polyvinyl , 2002)
Team Boo ( Polyvinyl Record Co.|Polyvinyl , 2003)
Bring It Back (Mates of State album)|Bring It Back ( Barsuk Records , 2006)
Re-Arrange Us ( Barsuk Records , 2008) U.S. #140Allmusic|class=artist|id=p425559/charts-awards|pure_url=yes Billboard, Allmusic
Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) (MOS Records / Constant Artists, Inc. / TuneCore, 2010)
Mountaintops (Barsuk, 2011)
EPs
European Tour 2003 EP ( http://www.ficklefame.com Fickle Fame, 2003)
All Day EP ( Polyvinyl Record Co.|Polyvinyl , 2004)
Re-Arranged: Remixes Volume 1 ( Barsuk , 2009)
7" Singles
Mates of State/Fighter D Split (Omnibus, 1999)
"It's the Law/Invitation Inn" (Omnibus, 2000)cite web |title=Mates of State Biography |publisher= iTunes |url= http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mates-of-state/id13533589 |accessdate=16 November 2010
"Lower" (Devil in the Woods, 2001) *Note: split single with The Shins & Sparklehorse
These Days ( Polyvinyl Record Co.|Polyvinyl , 2002) *Note: split single with Dear Nora (band)|Dear Nora
"Fraud in the '80s" (Moshi Moshi Records|Moshi Moshi, 2006)
"Like U Crazy" (Moshi Moshi Records|Moshi Moshi, 2006)
Other releases
2002 – "Why You Little..." on the compilation CD Ten Years of Noise Pop (Amazing Grease)
2005 – "Invitation Inn" on the compilation A House Full of Friends (Magic Marker)
2006 – "California" ( Phantom Planet cover) on the compilation Music from the OC: Mix 6 (WEA)
2006 – "Popular Mistakes" on the compilation This is a Care Package (Exotic Fever)
2007 – "Jellyman Kelly" ( James Taylor cover) on the compilation For The Kids III (RCA)
2008 – " Little Boxes " ( Malvina Reynolds cover), was recorded as theme music for an episode of Weeds (tv series)|Weeds but never appeared on the program
2010 – "I Will Dare" ( The Replacements (band)|Replacements cover) is featured on The Onion|The Onion's The A.V. Club|A.V. Club Undercover , with comedian Todd Barry on drumscite web |title=A.V. Club Undercover |publisher= The A.V. Club |url= http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-replacements,38881/ |accessdate=9 November 2010
References
reflist
External links
http://www.matesofstate.com Official site
http://www.myspace.com/matesofstate MySpace Music Profile
http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Mates+of+State/ Mates of State interview at SuicideGirls
http://scheduletwo.com/video/index.php? vid=14 Mates of State live videos at http://www.scheduletwo.com scheduletwo.com
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/09/24/mates_of_state Mates of State interview/performance at Minnesota Public Radio
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=102602167 Mates of State in concert at NPR Music
http://cornellsun.com/node/21373 Interview with the Cornell Daily Sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_1kkm8f22Es G.J. Echternkamp's contest-winning video for "Goods (All in Your Head)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=w5et0AFlgxY Echternkamp's dance video for "Goods (All in Your Head)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jM7O81fGeR0 YouTube video of AT& T wireless commercial feat. Mates of State
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=kdoYK9jOltQ "Get Better" video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=56d72x1o1vA "True Love Will Find You In The End" video on YouTube
Category:American indie rock groups Category:Rock music duos Category:Musical groups established in 1997 Category:Musical groups from Kansas Category:American indie pop groups Category:People from Lawrence, Kansas Category:American progressive rock music groups
