By Annie Fehrenbacher
Gargoyle co-editor-in-chief
Posted Saturday, April 1, 2006, The OG, arts

Traveling in familiar territory, indie-pop duo Mates of State will dock in Urbana this Monday to perform at the Canopy Club in Urbana.

Although Kori Gardner (vox, electric organ) and Jason Hammel (vox, drums) found their voices in the burgeoning San Francisco music scene, the married couple found each other in the Midwest. Garner and Hammel became band mates in Lawrence, Kan., in 1997 before moving to California, where they became legal mates in 2001.

With a peculiar pairing of instruments and vocals that is both captivating and unnerving, Mates of State have established themselves as a genre-bending band. The versatility of the organ allows the Mates to produce a sound that is deceptively plump and mature, while the vocal tension emitted by Gardner, a forceful soprano, and Hammel, a straining tenor, gives them a pubescent resonance. This weird and wonderful contrast is precisely what has made Mates of State so magnetic.

Gardner and Hammel are notorious for putting their intimacy on display, often exchanging sidelong glances and carrying on personal conversations onstage. Their unashamed flirtatiousness is undoubtedly one reason why so many young people flock in droves to see Mates of State live.

With a new album, “Bring It Back,” just released on March 21, the Mates will be overflowing with fresh material and enthusiasm to spill over the Canopy crowd. Sadly, not all local fans will be permitted to see this show — the Canopy Club is an 18+ venue.

But do not fret … Mates of State will be playing Lollapalooza this summer, which will be held Aug. 4-6 in Grant Park, Chicago.

Tickets for the Canopy Club show are $12. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show begins at 8 with guest performer Maria Taylor.