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Mates of State at Bluebird Theatre in Denver, CO 6/21/02

The Kansas University-educated and San Francisco-based indie-pop duo Mates Of State practice what they preach. Most people have enough common sense never to share a house or apartment with a couple, and absolutely no one in the music industry will join a band where there is a couple within the group. After seeing what happened to Jefferson Airplane, you know it's bad news. Even the White Stripes divorced in 2000. All seems gloomy for the "Love Will Keep Us Together" ethos but what about the Captain and Tennille? They're still together; they're still making music. That is who Kori Gardner (keyboard/vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums/vocals) look to for direction in their music making careers. Well, not exactly because the Mates Of State's music is baby-core. It's a hard-hitting sound that is at the same time delicate and precious. Captain and Tennille are also making upbeat music that shines on 'til the morning comes, but it's two different eras and two different audiences. The feeling is similar, though.

While the Mates of State don't seem to be in danger of becoming Adult Contemporary Soft Rock, they're probably not going to be invited on next year's Warped Tour. Still, seeing the Mates of State live in concert is just as much of an invigorating experience. They were way more rambunctious than the Appleseed Cast who opened the show. Funny enough, the Cast was asked to stop playing because neighbors complained about the noise level, but the Mates of State were performing at about the same noise level. Maybe the neighbors were sick of thinking about those two self-hugging emo boys in the front row with pensive looks on their faces behind their black-rimmed glasses during the Cast's set.

What was great about this show was that there was not very much time needed to warm up or tune instruments. Keyboards and drums are low maintenance. Their playful attitude onstage made you feel like their relationship was low maintenance as well. We all know that a low maintenance marriage is unrealistic and being in a band with someone that you are in love with 
is almost impossible. Their theme song might as well be, "Everyone Needs an Editor" which was the opening song in their forty-five minute set. The Money Mark style keyboard opening was five times as boisterous as it is on their debut album, "My Solo Project". The first words out of Gardner's mouth are, "I feel right all the time" as she repeats the chorus two more times and then sings, "I am right all the time" while giving Hammel a jolly smile. 

You can't help but love these two and want to kidnap them so they can be your children. After the song was over they introduced themselves and thanked everyone for coming. They didn't ask the obligatory "so, Denver how's everyone feeling?" or ask the crowd if they were "ready to get down tonight?" They knew that we didn't come to the show for the dialogue so they postponed the chatting for after the show. They dove right into "Halves and Have-Nots", another rowdy number from their new album, "Our Constant Concern."

Throughout the night, the Mates of State brought their charisma out in full force and flew through almost every song in their two-disc catalog in just under one hour. It's understandable that they kept to themselves and would give knowing grins to each other in a way that makes you feel like you're spying on two elementary-schoolers kissing under the bleachers in the gymnasium.

Some songs have to be heard live to be completely understood. "Control Group" and "A Duel Will Settle This" were two songs that only made total sense when they were played live. They were also fun to dance to in a BS2000 kind of way while shouting the lyrics along with the two lovebirds. At first, it felt odd singing along with them because you don't exactly want to burst into your roommate's bedroom to help out when you hear them getting it on. At the same time, if they were going to wear their hearts on their sleeves, so was everyone in the crowd. It was disappointing that the floor in front of the stage was desolate in comparison to the under-21 balcony region of fans who came out to show support for a band that truly speaks to them.

When the Mates of State left the stage after playing thirteen songs, they felt the need to come right back onstage about thirty seconds later and rip through a five-song encore including "Throwdown" and "Girls Singing". Maybe the next time the Mates of State come to Denver, they'll play a 16+ venue such as The Gothic Theatre or an all ages venue such as The Ogden. Either way, they ripped it up in a way that will continue to spawn new legions of insatiable fans. As long as they keep touring, it seems their message will be heard.
 

Music by the Mates of States can be purchased at Amazon, Insound, and CD Universe

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