Images: Mates of State November 11, 2011 at the Book and Stage

11/11/11 is, quite literally, a once in a lifetime event.  The more superstitious of us used the day to take a risk that might not normally be taken. The romantics flooded chapels, wedding halls and anywhere else with an available minister to get married. But for about 30 or so music fans, 11/11/11 was the day to catch one of 6 free residency shows from indie rock band Mates of State.

To say the crowd was eclectic is an understatement. The band, which consists of husband and wife duo Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, have toured with everyone from Taking Back Sunday to Santigold and as a result they’ve been able to draw in a variety of fans with their catchy beats and ace harmonies. At the Book and Stage inside of the Cosmopolitan, they got to be the stars, playing a mix of originals like “The Re-Arranger” and “Goods” and covers from their recently released cover song album Crushes. I was particularly happy to hear the song that turned me on to Mates of State in the first place, “Ha Ha,” live again.

The band was the tightest I’ve seen them, no doubt bolstered by the fact that they were about halfway through the residency at this point. Unfortunately, despite the fact that Book and Stage bills itself as a bar with live music always on tap, the stage is basically hidden by the bar itself. Couple that with the fact that the servers and bartenders were becoming visibly angered at fans who continued to squeeze into a small crevice that gave attendees a slightly better vantage point and it made me wish the band could have just been booked at one of the bars downtown.

Mates of State was set to play two sets that night but after being shoved multiple times by angry employees I didn’t stay for the second show of the night. It’s a shame since I really do love the band, but that kind of hostile environment for staff is not the best way to experience a band.

-Emily Matview | https://www.flickr.com/photos/holdfastnow/