July 24, 2006

Inside The Rockers Studio: Mates Of State

Kori and Jason of Mates of State have an action-packed two months ahead of them, crisscrossing the country in support of Bring It Back, the jubilant indie-poppers' best collection to date. (Though "Goods (All In Your Head)" alone is worth the price of All Day.)

Mates Of State - "Think Long" (MP3)
Mates Of State - "Fraud In The '80s" (MP3)

(Cute "Fraud In The '80s" video here.)

As the post title implies, we made keyboardist/vocalist Kori sit down while we went James Lipton on her ass.

Kori Gardner, Mates Of State
1. What is your favorite word?
FLAMINGO

2. What is your least favorite word?
CALL (WHEN SAID WITH A NEW YORK ACCENT, "QWALL")

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
GREAT CHILDHOOD MEMORIES WHEN THERE WAS NOT A WORRY IN MY BRAIN, FUNNY PEOPLE, TELLING STORIES AND HEARING GOOD ONES, DEEP MOVIES, THE OCEAN, ANIMALS, KIDS, ESPECIALLY MY OWN, TRUE LOVE, STRANGERS HELPING STRANGERS

4. What turns you off?
TOUGH GUYS, TEMPERS, IGNORANCE, RUDENESS, AND MAGGOTS

5. What is your favorite curse word?
MOTHER FUCK

6. What sound or noise do you love?
I LOVE HEARING HEAVY, BELLY ACHING LAUGHTER. ALSO, FARTS ARE ALWAYS FUNNY TO HEAR.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
THE SOUND OF GAGGING AND BARFING

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I WOULD LOVE TO BE A DANCER, NOT BALLET, MORE LIKE IN LIVING COLOR AS ONE OF THE FLY GIRLS, OR A PRO SALSA DANCER.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
CORONER

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
WELCOME HOME ANGEL, YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN HAVE A STOMACH ACHE OR A WORRY IN THE WORLD. YOU WILL SEE THE ONES YOU LOVE DAILY, YOU WILL SING AND DANCE WITH THEM ALL DAY LONG AND NEVER TIRE AND WAR IS OVER FOREVER. LIFE RULES HERE.

I'm giving Kori an A+ on those answers.

Pitchfork was kind enough to list all Mates' upcoming tourdates with helpful punctuation.

07-31 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place *
08-02 State College, PA - Bryce Jordan Center #%
08-03 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub !
08-04 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza) #%
08-05 Lawrence, KS - Bleeding Kansas Festival #
08-06 Denver CO - Fillmore Auditorium #
08-07 Denver CO - Fillmore Auditorium #@
08-08 Orem, UT - McKay Events Center #
08-10 Veneta, OR - Secret House Vineyard #
08-11 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre #@
08-12 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre #@
08-13 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre #@
08-14 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre #@
08-15 San Diego, CA - Bayside #@
08-16 Los Angeles, CA - Amoeba (in-store)
09-03 Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09-13 Cambridge, MA - Middle East $
09-14 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street $
09-15 Montreal, Quebec - Main Hall $
09-16 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace $
09-17 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig $
09-18 Dekalb, IL - The House Café $
09-19 Ames, IA - The Maintenance Shop $
09-20 Duluth, MN - Kirby Ballroom $
09-21 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue $
09-22 Madison, WI - Orpheum Stage Door $
09-23 Notre Dame, IN - Legends of Notre Dame $
09-24 Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre $
09-25 Charlottesville, VA - Satellite Ballroom $
09-27 Falls Church, VA - State Theatre $
09-28 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom $
09-30 New York, NY - Irving Plaza $