Kori Gardner is one of the best female singers in modern music (and husband Jason is also no
slouch). Their style is iconic – the effortless way their voices harmonize and volley back and
forth, the movements within the song, the way they move from upbeat to pastoral so fluidly
that you don’t perceive it happening. Their instruments and voices all move as one piece,
inseparable. Through the years, the textures have become more intricate, deeper. They’ve
begun throwing in the occasional trumpet or guitar, but it is still stunning how much they can do
with just keyboards and drums. They move so far within the limitations of the two-piece format
that you can’t even call it a limitation. It feels as natural as the standard rock-and-roll four-piece.
Mates garnered a rabid following beginning in 1998 and toured nearly non-stop for 15 years,
performing all over the world including runs with NPR’s This American Life, The Postal Service,
The Strokes, Jimmy Eat World, Santigold and Death Cab for Cutie. They’ve also been seen
on David Letterman, Coachella, Lollapalooza, Conan O’Brien, and Yo Gabba Gabba.
Mates’ have released 7 full length albums (on labels including Barsuk and Polyvinyl) while
simultaneously starting a family of 3 daughters(!) who travelled the world with them on tour.
The Mates’ paused touring from 2019-2024 to “give their girls a bit of an anchor through their
teenage years”, while continuing to write and explore to find their next musical phase. Then, in
the summertime of 2024, they resumed full-on with a 17-date tour (in 17 days!). A new album
will follow in 2025.