Mates of State Bring It Back to Phoenix

Contest and Promotions

It Happened Last Night

Mates of State Bring It Back to Phoenix

PHOENIX, AZ: The hubby-wife duo, along with Asobi Seksu, played the Rhythm Room.

By Spin Staff 11.28.06 4:00 AM

Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, the mates better known as Mates of State, know how to initiate the ideal dance party, even on a Monday. The side-banged, beer-in-hand fans at Phoenix, Arizona's Rhythm Room were more than ready to "get this shit started" as Hammel phrased it, when the duo did their own sound-check. Not ones to mess around, Mates kicked off with "Think Long" and "Goods," rocking like it was a Saturday night with no Sunday plans. A new one, Kori and Jason's favorite of the set, was filled with meows and perfect harmonies.

The chemistry between the married musicians was undeniably contagious and never more evident than when they invited the openers, Asobi Seksu, to cover "Danny's Song" with them. Who doesn't want to sing "And even though we ain't got money / I'm so in love with you, honey," with the cutest couple backing you up? Re-emerging to the M.O.S. chant for the encore, the pair finished with "Running Out" (a fitting finale, as the last track on their latest Bring it Back). Let's hope their daughter, Magnolia, who is not even two and already enrolled in music classes, will someday "bring it back" and make the duo a trio. KELLYN JOHNSON / PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CLAWSON

>> Listen to Mates of State on Napster

We asked: What musical duos do you dig? COMMENT

Name: Jordan Diller
Age: 20
Hometown: Tempe, AZ
Occupation: Coffee server
"I'm a big fan of Moldy Peaches. That guy and girl are just really awesome."

Name: Shayla Lovelis
Age: 19
Hometown: Coolidge, AZ
Occupation: Mother
"Billy Joel and Elton John were great when they worked together."

Name: Gretchen Finley
Age: 22
Hometown: Wickenburg, AZ
Occupation: Student
"Mates of State, of course! Fuck yeah, that's why I bought this ticket."

Name: Luke Burba
Age: 17
Hometown: Chandler, AZ
Occupation: Student
"Ben Folds and his piano. That counts as a duo, right?"

Name: Tara Lowman
Age: 24
Hometown: Peoria, AZ
Occupation: Health technician
"Quasi. The drummer in that band is amazing. She rocks and rolls."

Name: Shane Kennedy
Age: 36
Hometown: Phoenix
Occupation: Musician
"Lennon and McCartney, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Billie Holiday and Lester Young. I can't pick just one."

Name: Thursday Lovelis
Age: 20
Hometown: Casa Grande, AZ
Occupation: Tattoo artist
"Sonny and Cher are way up there for me -- that's what I was raised on."

Name: J.P. Popoff
Age: 21
Hometown: Buckeye, AZ
Occupation: Student
"Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. I've been listening to their music a lot lately."