Bring it Back is Mates of State’s fourth album and first release on Barsuk Records and, unfortunately for me, my first exposure to the band which seems a shame because if Bring It Back is any indication I’ve missed out on a lot of wicked music.

Mates of State are the husband and wife duo of Kori Gardner (keyboards and vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums and vocals.) Because of their marital status, and like The Submarines, the unfortunate label of “cute” has been applied to them. Cute is beside the point, the point is the music. Mates of State craft wholly unique music that somehow manages to be greater than the sum of the parts.

That’s what is phenomenally intriguing about this band, despite the lack of instruments (only two voices, a set of drums, and keyboards), they manage to craft wholly textured soundscapes, sonic changes, and tempo changes that make each song completely different from any of the others. And here’s the kicker, I always thought Rock’n Roll was all about the guitar, yet I’m not missing it in the least!
My favorite track on the album is, without a doubt, “For The Actor”. It exemplifies the magic that Mates of State are capable of producing: exceptional lyrics, beautiful harmony, awesome tempo changes, and unexpected sonic changes. I absolutely love this song, and if you are new to Mates of State, I recommend that you check this track out first. If you do, you will succumb to the beautiful world that Kori and Jason have created. Other standout tracks are “So Many Ways” with Kori’s sing along melody “Nothing! And Everything!”, the decidedly Beatley “What It Means”, and the 80’s synth & drum sounds of “Fraud in the 80’s”.

Mates of State are harmony and melody packaged together in a pleasing sonic soundscape. From what I’ve read, they are also an avid touring band. Have to love a band with a solid work ethic that, I imagine, would sound as good, if not better than, they do on their studio recordings.

- David Morley

Mates of State Website
Mates of State on Myspace

At what point during the shooting of Skid Row’s ‘Under the Skin’ did you and Fabio decide to make the film ‘Waking Up Dead’?

We didn’t really know what we had till a couple of years later.. Fabio had an idea of putting a movie trailer together to see if there was any interest.. Once we knew there was, him and I started the editing process, to piece together this story.. We used my personal tour footage , along with Fabio’s footage, and then we interviewed fiends and family to tie it all together.

Are there any plans to release ‘Waking Up Dead’ on DVD? If so, when can we expect it (and where can we order it)?

The DVD will be out in 07 for sure.. It will be available in all the stores, as well as online…

I have not had the pleasure of seeing ‘Waking Up Dead’ yet. Is there a moral to the story?

I guess it’s just be care full what you wish for, and if you do get your dreams, be aware of everything around you.. Your money, your friends, who you trust to handle you.. There are a lot of scum bags in the world, and they seem to surface when they can get something from you..

What advice would you give a kid with stars in their eyes? What have you learned about the great rock n roll cliche?

You will never tell a kid who want to be a rock star to stop.. It was dream of mine, and I say always try for your dreams.. Just know that statistically, you have a better chance of winning the lottery then becoming rich and famous with music.. Especially these days.. The business has changed, and radio is controlled by one company.. I remember when having a monopoly on something was illegal.. But I guess that was when we didn’t have the most corrupt government in the world ..

When did you finally realize your drug use (lifestyle in general) was a means to an end? What were the initial steps you took to get on the right track?

I just woke up , and had enough.. I called a doctor friend of mine, and he called a treatment place for me, and I started my journey… I live everyday like I can fall back to it.. You have to respect the power of drugs to say on the right path.. We are only human..

I recently read that you’re a comedian these days. Have you noticed any similarities in the backstage antics of comedians that rock n rollers are best known for?!

Oh there is no back stage antics right now.. I’m just trying to make people laugh.. I can care less about trying to get girls these days.. I did enough fucking for ten life times.. This time around , I’m staying focused on my goals, and not getting sidetracked.. I have to say, comedy, is a fun world to be in.

Tell us something about Phil Varone, that you’d like to share, that we can’t find on Google.

I wish I could but google is too good!!!!!! I will say that I’m putting my SEX STAND UP AND ROCK N ROLL SHOW on tour in 07, so look for us in a city near you..

Philip Dickey and I have been exchanging e-mails for a while now. When I sent him a link to Rock Sellout, one of the first things that became evident was my love of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana…the story/article we had been working on shape shifted over the course of our next couple of exchanges. Here are the results:

If you were to cover one Nirvana song, which would you choose and why?
We covered Been A Son on our September tour…it’s half-punk rock and half-beatles. We don’t have any recordings, though.

Suppose you met someone who was unfamiliar with Nirvana…what 3 songs would you turn them on to?
A couple months ago I wanted someone to like Nirvana, so I wrote a huge paper and made a mix CD to go with it. I wish you could do stuff like that in school. It had a thesis and everything. I think I can remember the track list…

Negative Creep
About A Girl
Lounge Act
On A Plain
Sliver
Molly’s Lips
Son Of A Gun
Serve The Servants
All Apologies
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
Drain You (live in Italy..2 months before he died)

Courtney Love claims that one of the songs on ‘Nevermind’ was written about her? Which song do you think it is?
I have no idea. I mostly think about Tobi (his ex) when I hear Nevermind.

Philip snapped this photo of Kurt’s Mom’s house this past July

Why do you think people connected so much with Kurt?
Actually, I think that’s the whole problem…no one really connects with him. And then he sorta becomes a religious figure…you can adapt to your own ideas and that’s who he becomes. I think people want to connect with him because he sounds so angry and he was a badass. But he’s really just like every other person in the world who gets angry…anger is so internal and jumbled. His lyrics aren’t like journal entries…he gives you clues and you can try to figure things out. He was a character. That’s why I like thinking about him. Sorry, I know that’s a little incoherent.

Do you think Kurt Cobain wrote the album ‘Live Through This?’ Do you think the rumors that Nirvana recorded it in its entirety are true?
Another thing I’m really not sure about. Will (our guitarist) doesn’t think so.

Ever meet Kurt? Ever hear any stories from anyone who has?
Nope. We met a bunch of people on tour who knew him. Lori, the drummer from Babes in Toyland, had the coolest stories. We met her in Minnesota.

On XFM, a British radio station, in a 2006 countdown of the 140 best songs ever written, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” finished as number 1. What are your thoughts regarding this?
That song is so good on so many levels. To me, the coolest thing about it –and about a lot of Kurt’s writing—is that it doesn’t use any minor chords. It’s so angry, but it’s all happy chords. It would sound so pretty if an orchestra played it.

Truth or rumor: Before his death, Kurt disbanded Nirvana and was in the process of divorcing Courtney.
If they didn’t disband, it sure sounds like they were going to. I’d like to think that Kurt was going to take a break, get excited about something other than heroin, and then make new art. Oh, and dump Courtney.

Using a song title or lyric, what Nirvana reference would make a great band name?!
I’m awful at naming bands.

Download: Philip was also kind enough to send us a cover of Nirvana’s “On A Plain” performed by their guitarist Will’s cousin Grace Bentley.

Get it while you can by clicking here.

Two things in life are certain…death and taxes. One thing that has grown increasingly as certain: when a band’s music is heard on The OC, their stock is bound to rise. Such was the case for Springfield, MO’s Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin when their song “Oregon Girl” was played in a spring episode of the hit show.

Their debut album Broom was originally self-released in March 2005. A series of lo-fi mp3s posted on the band’s website was enough to initially draw attention to them. Soon after becoming darlings of the blogosphere and the OC exposure, the band signed to Polyvinyl Records. A re-mastered version of the album was released in October (the LP includes three bonus tracks not on the CD).

Broom isn’t going to change your life, but it will definitely make the time spent with it more enjoyable. The effort is solid from start to finish. Songs like the opener “Pangea” and everything that follows ooze
enough sappiness to warm the blackest of hearts. This is pure chewing satisfaction that doesn’t lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight, folks. Enough silliness.

While it’s hard to deny several of the comparisons I’ve seen made about the band’s sound (The Shins, Elliott Smith), I don’t feel obligated to add to the list. What’s important to mention is that this is a young band with more upside than down. Their focus seems more genuine than most their age. Success and fame isn’t at the forefront, they honestly seem to enjoy spending time together and perfecting their craft. I think that in itself speaks volumes about them. Time will tell if it’s all smoke and mirrors, but if I was a gamblin’ man, I’d lay money that they’ll be around much longer than the majority of the “flavor of the month” bands who are receiving media attention.

From the Someone Still Loves You Boris YeltsIncesticide Department: Philip Dickey was recently kind enough to answer a few questions, share a photo, and turn me on to some local talent…I’ll share that in the next day or so.

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MySpace

Download: “Oregon Girl”

- Kip Gasparick

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?

Max: Deerhoof - “Scream Team”, Cat Power - “The Greatest”, Wilco - “At Least That’s What You Said”

Lush & Howard: Oasis - “Supersonic”, Girls Aloud - “Love Machine”, Boston - “More Than A Feeling”

Gavin: The Sleepy Jackson - “Tell the Girls”, Whiskeytown - “The Ballad of Carol Lynn”, Lo-fi-fnk - “Change Channel”

What do you consider the most essential album in your collection?

Max: Blonde on Blonde - Bob Dylan. A boring but undeniable choice.

Lush: Earthtone 9 - Off-Kilter Enhancement

Howard: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland

Gavin: Demolition - Ryan Adams

Using lyrics from a song or two, what are some words you live by?

Max: “What kind of animal needs to smoke a cigarette?”, ” Sometimes a pony gets depressed”

Lush:
The hammer of the gods
Will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying:
Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
AHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHH!!!

Howard: Ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn’t've fallen in love with?

Gavin:
Old dirt farmer
bar city baseball player
Texas nomad and a fisherman
i lost my mind it was blowing in the wind i did all of this for you Sleep in the winter, have fun in the summer Tonight he’s gone wont you stand by the man … your like the morning rain
i never ever have to say when i go away
your like the morning rain when i dont see you
it reminds me of the
morning rain

You pick…perfect first date album or song to fall in love to?

Max: “Being There” - Wilco

Lush and Howard: Song: Lionel Ritchie - Hello, Album: Burzum - Filosofem

Gavin: ‘NoahsArk’ by Coco Rosie

What new music are you currently listening to?

Max: The new Jarvis record. A new band called Alterkicks - check them out.
Howard: The Grates, The Idle Lovers, Team Mega Mix
Lush: The Wombats, Zombi, Venetian Snares (not really new sorry), Buttonhead
Gavin: Coco Rosie

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Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead

Oh No! Oh My! - Lisa, Make Love (It’s Ok!)

Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

I know there’s an answer.. I know now but i had to find it by myself”- The Beach Boys

You pick…perfect first date album or song to fall in loveto?

The Beatles - Revolver

What new music are you currently listening to?

We’re all excited about Islands’ - Return To The Sea, and Oh No! Oh My!’s self-titled debut is the most frustratingly addictive loop in my life at the moment! I’m also enjoying The Young knives’ ‘Voices Of Animals And Men’ for driving.

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The Tacticans are one of my favorite new bands. If you’d like to hear them, drop by their MySpace and stream their songs. Download some “Hardcore Porn” while you’re there (it’s a song, pervie)!

What new music are you currently listening to?
A few new albums bought recently and enjoyed: Sufjan Stevens; Gogol Bordello; The Research

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
You’re The One For Me Fatty by Morrissey
No Place To Fall by Townes Van Zandt
Days by The Kinks

What do you consider the most essential album in your collection?
That’s an impossible question! One of them is Astral Weeks by Van Morrison

Using lyrics from a song or two, what are some words you live by?
“it’s a town full of losers and I’m pulling out here to win” Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen and some days simply…”a wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom” Tutti Frutti by Little Richard

You pick…perfect first date album or song to fall in love to?
“Let’s get it on” Marvin Gaye & “Carmina Burana” by Orff

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?

#1 LOS LOBOS - Saint Behind the Glass
#2 STEVE EARLE - Transcendental Blues
#3 THE POGUES-Love you till the End

What do you consider the most essential album in your collection?

Man…I always return to Paul Simon’s Graceland for some reason.

Using lyrics from a song or two, what are some words you live by?

“It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock and roll” :)

You pick…perfect first date album or song to fall in love to?

Ya know, that Magnetic Fields record has some gems on it…just really playful and dramatic scenery.

What new music are you currently listening to?

Super into The Clash and Husker Du at the moment.

Would you consider yourselves what people call indie rock or do you hate to label yourselves?

I remember 10 years ago when I first heard the word. It sounded like people with horn-rimmed glasses and thrift store shirts living very far away in middle America…Now it sort of seems like a moniker, like “grunge” or “goth”. I was laughing when somebody told
me about the new radio station in L.A. called “Indie 105″. How hilarious, we all know how much that helps the record people push their product…but I’d say up their arse with their stupid titles! :)

You guys have a unique sound – but I’d still like to know what the bands musical influences are?

It’s a funny one….I would say we are just floating around listening like anyone else. I’d say we get excited about a band’s spirit more than anything..

Are all of your families supportive of the band? And do you guys all have other jobs/what are you involved in?

Family was the people that bought us our first instruments and they have enjoyed many of our bad bands and shows over the years. So I think they are proud these days. Yes we work. Pour drinks, pour coffee, wood work and install speakers…Dirty work but that’s the state of affairs these days with the record folks. Many touring musicians these days would have had record deals 10 years ago that would have allowed them to not work (and have debts they couldn’t pay back to the labels). The new model is really just touring, touring, touring and getting your music on T.V. and movies. It’s the good and bad of internet piracy…but hey lots of touring bands!

Has anyone ever told you how much they love your guitar playing? (the Cavalry video explains it all!)

We hear the sweetest stuff you could imagine from people. It really makes you feel great to know people are getting what you’re doing. Ha! I wish my high school music teacher could read
this…I was kicked out for passing notes to the ladies. See Mrs. Davidson…I’m somebody!

What do you guys love most about New York?

For me, the freedom…..You could work at the U.N., a soup kitchen, or be a nun. You could also disappear into your head for months at a time and walk on the dark side and sort of fight your way out of it, and it is sort of accepted. Just show up to practice is my motto.

Where do you see the band going in the next couple years?

I would like to see us leaving the country for overseas tours.

Tell me something about each – Billy, Nate, Eric & Tom. Anything exciting or funny.

Tom sort of looks like the priest in The Exorcist to me sometimes…I tease him. Tom and his Dad used to play weddings when Tom was little. That shit is funny because I’ve played with his Dad as well…that man can rock some accordion.

Eric can put a pint of beer away in a nano second. He is our secret weapon…We are training him for our Ireland tour. We will out drink the lads any day with him on our team. He also adopted a rather wild cat. He gave it an african name and it is seriously fucking his furniture up.

Nate is narcoleptic. I worry sometimes when we are on tour. He also is the guy to buy the expensive water at the gas station…the ones that have the silly arty packaging. The bottled water you ask “Who buys this shit?” He also does not own an acoustic guitar and shows up with a mandolin at the weirdest times.

I am the proud owner of really ugly flinstone feet. I hate seafood. I can’t play piano for shit and I wish I was raised in Mexico.

Band
MySpace

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be
the first three songs you’d select?

My “Fav. John’s Mix”:
1.John Fahey “When the Springtime Comes Again” - Beautiful
2.John Hartford “Don’t Leave Your Records In the Sun” - Good Advise
3.John Coltrane “Ogunde” - Frightening

What do you consider the most essential album in your collection?

Ozzy’s “Speak of the Devil” Japanese Import, just because I spent over $75.00 on it for some reason. Oh the power of eBay…

Using lyrics from a song or two, what are some words you live by?

“A banjo will get you through times of no money, but money won’t get you through times of no banjo” - John Hartford

You pick…perfect first date album or song to fall in love to?

“Storms” Fleetwood Mac

Stevie always seemes kinda dirty to me, like those girls one might pick up on at the carnival at the state fair, so let’s just say “first time”

What new music are you currently listening to?

I just bought that new TV On The Radio record, really great. Also this group The Bird and The Bee, my friend Inara is the singer and she’s great. Also Jose Gonzalez, I was a little late behind the blog world to hear him. And John Hartford…everyday…

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The best pop artists play God in big bang fashion. They create universes where their personae alternately come apart at the seams and assault the heavens with larger-than-life ambition. From D. Bowie to N. Cave to N. Case we become inhabitants and voyeurs of their worlds. Perth Australia’s Luke Steele satisfies many pre-requisites for next pop godhead. On Personality, his band The Sleepy Jackson paints sonic murals that skirt heaven and scrape hell. The album’s acoustic guitar-driven “The Devil Was in My Yard” surrounds Steele’s tortured tenor with dervish swirls of shimmering voice and steel guitar while he recounts Beelzebub’s most recent incursion into his personal space. On mini-epic “God Lead Your Soul” Steele banishes his “sleeping dragons,” resolving to “keep (his) head up!” “You Needed More,” “Work Alone,” and “Higher Than Hell” pull you further into The Sleepy Jackson’s sonic snow globe—a zero gravity paradise where sleigh bells soothe while diaphanous strings and female voices caress. Personality is not without excess, though. Sometimes you have to swim through song arrangements to find the actual songs, but with an otherworld this inviting who cares if we get a little wet?

- Eric Anthony White

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