Mates of State Pictures

Feist Performs on "Letterman" With a Choir of Indie-Rock All-Stars: Members of Broken Social Scene, Grizzly Bear, the New Pornographers, the National and More

Tue, Aug 28 2007 07:46 PDT Late Show with David Letterman on August 27, 2007 in New York City. The recruited singers include members of Broken Social Scene, Grizzly Bear, the New Pornographers, Mates of State, the National and Nicole Atkins and the Sea. Photo"> Letterman's tiny dressing areas, a Winnebago was brought to the studio to provide rehearsal space. Photo"> Letterman band leader Paul Shaffer and Feist talk shop during rehearsal. Photo"> Late Show With David Letterman. Photo">

Published: 2007-08-29 Provider: Rolling Stone

On the Breaking Blog: Hype Monitor Featuring Mates of State

Over on the Breaking blog, this week’s Hype Monitor takes a look at some of the bands picking up the most buzz in the blogosphere this week. Click below for the lowdown on Mates of State, Bodies of Water and Sigur Ros. • Hype Monitor: Mates of State, Bodies of Water and Sigur Ros [Photo: Crackerfarm]

Published: 2008-06-05 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Grizzly Bear’s Tour Blog: Grilling Burgers for Radiohead and All Points West

All Points West festival had been getting tons of bad press about it being a dressed up Radiohead show, or overpriced, and aside from a crew member carelessly destroying Dan’s amp (the festival reimbursed us for it), I had a really great time there. The setting was gorgeous with the NYC skyline behind us. The grounds were clean. People seemed relatively sober thanks to a five-beer maximum policy and the shows and sound were on point. Highlights for me were watching pieces of Andrew Bird and CSS and the raucous party set by Girl Talk, complete with toilet paper guns (not very green of them, but we’ll just look past that). A special treat for me was getting to see Underworld whom I’ve loved for a good decade or so but never seen perform. They were quite the amazing band to come on before the main event of Radiohead, who played one of my favorite tracks “You and Whose Army.” During that song there was a great fish eye lens directly on Thom’s face while he played the piano that was edited and modulated across dozens of screens. Have I mentioned how insanely amazing their light show is? I was talking to some of the band about it and they said this is definitely their biggest production yet and they were really happy to hear how enamored we were with the lights (and music of course). Our own set at APW was surprisingly great. As I’ve mentioned before we aren’t exactly a festival band, and so when it was raining during the Mates of State who played right before us we all got a bit doomed about the prospect of playing to a wet crowd (having just done so in Montreal) but the sun cleared right before our set and a gorgeous dusk light came out and we plowed through our new songs to a really really great crowd. Probably one of the better festival experiences we’ve had. Of course I can’t not mention our hometown show the following night at the Williamsburg Hall of Music, which was truly incredible for us. We’ve never been the type of band to sell out a show in a few hours but t

Published: 2008-08-13 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Re-Arrange Us by Mates Of State

The fifth album for the married duo from Kansas. [Rock, Indie, Pop]

Published: 2008-05-23 Provider: Metacritic

Feist On “Letterman” With an Indie-Rock All-Star Choir: The Backstage Report and Photos From Rehearsals

Last night Canadian singer-songwriter Feist and a choir of indie-rock all-stars hit a Winnebago in midtown Manhattan to rehearse for their performance of “1 2 3 4″ on Late Show With David Letterman. For photos of the crew — which included members of Broken Social Scene, Grizzly Bear, New Pornographers, the National, Mates of State and Nicole Atkins & the Sea — singing The Reminder track onstage, hanging with Paul Shaffer and learning how to clap together, click here. Rock Daily asked Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste (our Coachella correspondent) for a report from the set, and he told us it was “super-fun,” even if nobody got to chat with guest Susan Sarandon (”Visual contact was made,” he jokes). And while the last time Grizzly backed Feist on television (for a performance on Conan O’Brien’s show) the choir was outfitted in baby blue, Droste says he prefers the white robes they sported last night. “The sparkle armbands I could go either way on ’cause they kind of itched a little bit. Last time there was a wardrobe person who had to bring powder blue for everybody ’cause no one has powder-blue pants. Of course,” he adds, “we’re so far away, honestly it doesn’t matter. We could have been wearing no pants.” Working with Feist was wonderful because “She’s a charmer,” he says, “Everyone wants to please a charmer.” And despite his criticsm of the refreshments as “a little mayonnaise-y for my taste,” he hopes his band gets invited back to Letterman’s freezing-cold studio real soon: “Hopefully my comment about the sandwiches won’t deter them. My bandmates were eating the sandwiches and they were loving it. It’s just my own thing. It’s just a mayonnaise preference.”

Published: 2007-08-29 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Tour Tracker: Ne-Yo, Girl Talk and Black Kids

Photo: Wargo/Wireimage Ne-Yo makes sure 2009 will be an extension of the Year of the Gentleman, Girl Talk gets ready to make college kids dance to rap samples and Black Kids pair up with Mates of State for a spring tour. Full dates for all three treks, after the jump. Ne-Yo February 5 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl at the Palms February 6 - Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theater February 7 - Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia February 11 - Miami, FL @ Waterfront Theater February 13 - New Orleans, LA @ Uno Lake Front February 14 - Houston, TX @ Reliant Center February 15 - Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Live February 18 - Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall February 19 - Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Theater February 20 - New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall February 21 - Orlando, FL @ Universal Studios February 22 - Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre February 25 - Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre February 26 - Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theater March 1 - St. Louis, MO @ Fox Theater Girl Talk January 9 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown January 10 - Des Moines, IA @ Peoples Court January 16 - Bloomington, IN @ Jake’s Nightclub January 17 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall January 18 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall February 12 - Little Rock, AR @ Revolution Music Room February 13 - Oxford, MS @ The Lyric Oxford February 19 - Missoula, MT @ University of Montana Ballroom February 20 - Bozeman, MT @ Gallatin Co. Indoor Arena March 3 - Pensacola, FL @ Sluggos March 4 - Gainesville, FL @ The Venue March 5 - Tallahassee, FL @ The Moon March 6 - St. Augustine, FL @ Harvest of Hope March 7 - Orlando, FL @ Club Firestone March 8 - Miami, FL @ Langerado Music Festival Black Kids March 8 - Miami, FL @ Langerado Music Festival 2009 April 2 - Richmond, VA @ The National April 4 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club April 5 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg April 6 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall April 7 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues April 9 - Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire April 10 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre Apr

Published: 2009-01-09 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, On Tour

Tour Tracker: John Legend, The Eagles and Mates of State

Photo: Cattermole/Getty John Legend lines up his Evolver tour, the Eagles fly into Philadelphia on the wings of victory and the Mates of State extend their autumn concert plans. Follow the jump for the full set of tour dates for all three treks. John Legend November 19 - Minneapolis, MN @ Northrup Auditorium November 20 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre November 24 - East Lansing, MI @ Wharton Center for Performing Arts November 26 - Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre November 28 - Toronto, ON @ Roy Thompson Hall November 29 - Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre December 1 - Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre December 2 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre December 5 - Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theatre December 8 - Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Theatre December 9 - Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall December 10 - Greenville, SC @ Peace Center December 12 - Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium December 13 - Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center The Eagles November 8 - Omaha, NE @ Qwest Center November 9 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center November 11 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center November 13 - Springfield, MO @ MSU Arena November 15 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center November 16 - Memphis, TN @ FedExForum November 20 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center November 21 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mellon Arena November 25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center November 26 - Worcester, MA @ DCU Center December 1 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center January 26 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Bank Atlantic Center January 29 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum January 31 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Arena Mates of State November 7 - Asbury Park NJ @ Wonder Bar November 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero November 9 - Morgantown, WV @ Mountainstage November 10 - Lexington, KY @ The Dame November 11 - Washington DC @ Black Cat November 12 - Charlottesville VA @ Gravity Lounge November 13 - Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre November 14 - Lexington KY @ The Dame November 15 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners November 16 - Asheville, NC @ Gre

Published: 2008-10-09 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, On Tour

Tour Tracker: Buckcherry, Against Me!’s Tom Gabel and Mates of State

With their new album Black Butterfly out tomorrow, Buckcherry announce an autumn tour. Plus, Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel goes the solo route and Mates of State support Santogold. Follow the jump for the complete set of tour dates. Buckcherry September 13 - Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center September 14 - Dayton, OH @ Montgomery County Fair September 16 - Moline, IL @ IWireless Center September 18 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Canaries Stadium September 19 - Bonner Springs, KS @ Sandstone Amphitheatre September 20 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre September 22 - Lincoln, NE @ Pershing Auditorium September 23 - Valley Center, KS @ Kansas Coliseum September 24 - Tulsa, OK @ River Parks Amphitheatre September 26 - Huntsville, AL @ Big Spring Jam September 27 - Memphis, TN @ Mud Island Amphitheatre September 28 - Knoxville, TN @ Knoxville Civic Coliseum September 30 - Clemson, SC @ Little John Coliseum October 4 - Mobile, AL @ Bayfest October 8 - Charlotte, NC @ Grady Cole Center October 9 - Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle October 11 - Kinston, NC @ NC Lenoir County Fairgrounds Against Me!’s Tom Gabel October 31 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House November 1 - Hollywood, CA @ The Knitting Factory November 2 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah November 4 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Beauty Bar November 5 - Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse November 7 - Lubbock, TX @ Tequila Jungle November 8 - Dallas, TX @ The Door November 9 - Austin, TX @ Waterloo Park November 10 - Houston, TX @ Walter’s on Washington November 13 - Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s November 14 - Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone Café November 15 - Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theatre November 16 - W. Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern November 20 - New York, NY @ The Knitting Factory Mates of State September 28 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues September 29 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe September 30 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall October 1 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre October 4 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo October 5 - Portland

Published: 2008-09-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, On Tour

On the Charts: 3 Doors Down Wind Up at Number One

The Big News: 3 Doors Down, they of “Kryptonite” fame, topped the charts as their eponymous fifth album sold 154,342 copies in its debut week, marking the band’s second consecutive album to reach Number One. UGK rapper Bun B scored the Number Two as his second solo album Il Trill sold 97,597 copies. Nineteen-year-old country singer/Dancing With the Stars contestant Julianne Hough won the bronze with her self-titled debut album, while Frank Sinatra’s Nothing But the Best and last week’s winner Death Cab for Cutie’s Narrow Stairs rounded out the top five. Debuts: Jesse McCartney’s Departure entered at 14, Donna Summer’s first album in 17 years Crayons appropriately debuted at 17 and Green Day offshoot the Foxboro Hot Tubs bowed at 21 with Stop Drop & Roll! On the indie front, Mates of State’s Re-Arrange Us took 140 while Islands’ Arm’s Way just snuck in at 200. Finally, Scarlett Johansson’s Tom Waits tribute disc Anywhere I Lay My Head scored 126th place. Last Week’s Heroes: Outside of Death Cab and the Chairman of the Board, Jason Mraz’s We Sing We Dance We Steal Things fell three to 11 and Duffy’s Rockferry dropped from four to eight. All three divas remained in the Top 10, though, as Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey and Madonna clung to six, seven and nine, respectively. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-05-28 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Chart Roundup

Single Minded: Foxboro Hot Tubs, Dresden Dolls, Mates of State

Foxboro Hot Tubs, “Stop, Drop & Roll” [MySpace] It’s Green Day. OK? It’s Green Day. I mean, surely you figured it out by now. Was anyone fooled? It was like going to a masquerade party with a mask made of Scotch Tape. Bun B, “I Love That” [MySpace] One year after the awful, untimely death of his UGK partner Pimp C, Bun B returns with a squelching club track that itemizes the virtues of a Trill girl. Turns out, they’re really good at molecular physics. Who knew? Dresden Dolls, “The Kill” [MySpace] Dresden Dolls write the kind of songs we imagine the devil’s teenage daughter would write: big and hooky and full of both malice and hurt. If S-M had gone to high school with Satan’s teenage daughter, we finally could have put that mixtape of Depeche Mode rarities to use. Mates of State, “Get Better” [Official] The video for the Mates’ latest sunny charmer is built around a woman in an ominous rabbit mask riding a bicycle through a suburban neighborhood. Which should spare you the agony of ever having to watch Donnie Darko. Killah Priest, “I Believe” [MySpace] Someone’s been cruising the dollar bins: Priest nicks the Alan Parsons project for the hook to this marvelous new song. This may be the one instance in history where the sampled ought to mail the royalty check to the sampler. BONUS TRACK: Orchestra Baobab, “Pape Ndiye” [MySpace] We usually only do five of these, but how do we not acknowledge a new record by the magnificent Orchestra Baobab? That would be like not lining up at midnight to see Indiana Jones on Wednesday. Which we’re totally not doing. We don’t even have our tickets yet. And we definitely didn’t buy them, like, a month in advance.

Published: 2008-05-20 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Single Minded

Obama’s Potential Running Mates: A Who’s Who

Photo-illustration: Everett Bogue; Photos: Getty Images With two months still to go before the national conventions, amid all the initial media buzz about vice-presidential candidates, one thing is clear: Barack Obama has an unusually wide array of possible running mates. Obama is as starkly unusual a presidential contender as the country has ever seen, which means he can choose either to amplify or offset any of the characteristics that define his own candidacy. As a young, African-American, midwestern outsider with little executive and no military experience, maybe he needs to balance his ticket with an older person and/or white person and/or Southerner and/or Washington hand and/or governor and/or general — or maybe his wants to build his own brand of national Democrat from scratch. That’s a lot of variables, and as a result, there are at least 25 Democrats whose names have plausibly been mentioned as potential veeps. Here’s your guide to the top dozen, in order their chances of being picked. Note: “Google Meter” means the number of hits you get if you enter the candidate’s name, “Barack Obama” and “vice-president” into Google. — Peter KeatingGovernor Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas) Google Meter: 84,000 Age: 60 Religion: Roman Catholic Education: B.A., Trinity Washington University; M.P.A. (Public Administration), University of Kansas Pros: Effective governor who has masterfully exploited the split between moderates and right-wingers among Kansas Republicans; so popular that the former chairman of the state GOP switched parties and ran as her lieutenant governor in 2006; attacked by Robert Novak as a “pro-choice poster girl,” though abortions in Kansas have declined 8.5 percent since she took office. Cons: Lack of foreign-policy experience; response to Bush’s 2008 State of the Union address was a rather severe dud. Bottom Line: Obama-Sebelius would have great heartland appeal. The bi

Published: 2008-06-30 Provider: New York Magazine

Heilemann on Obama’s V.P. Conundrum

Photo: GettyWho will be Barack Obama’s V.P. pick? With the Democratic primaries now blessedly in our rearview mirror and the party’s convention still two months away, the short-list season is upon us, a time of rampant speculation and multitudinous proffers of advice, solicited and not, to the nominee and his people regarding potential running mates. But until last week, because of the Obama team's consistent adherence to a kind of political Taoism — it was Lao Tzu, the father of that creed, who coined the timeless aperçu, “Those who know, don’t speak; those who speak, don’t know” — the nominee’s thinking about the veepstakes has been entirely opaque.That changed last week, though not a whole lot, when Obama’s campaign chief, David Plouffe, gave a 90-minute presentation followed by a press briefing at Democratic National Committee HQ in Washington. Asked if the ability to help carry a state was among the criteria his boss would employ in selecting a No. 2, Plouffe replied, “I don’t think that’s going be a factor.” He added that Obama’s pick would be “qualified to be president and someone who’ll be a partner in governing,” citing both Dick Cheney and Al Gore as running mates with no electoral-map impact (Bill Clinton would’ve won Tennessee anyway in 1992, Plouffe argued; ditto for George W. Bush and Wyoming in 2000) that still worked to the nominees’ advantage more broadly. Plouffe’s answer, by design, made the big choice facing Obama seem simple — but, of course, it’s not. In fact, the degree of difficulty inherent in the decision is unusually, confoundingly high. On the one hand, nobody in Obama’s inner circle disputes the notion that opting for a V.P. with major foreign-policy/national-security chops would be extremely desirable given the nominee’s lack of experience in that area. On the other, everyone agrees t

Published: 2008-06-30 Provider: New York Magazine