November 16
Mates of State
The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St.
9 p.m., $13, onepercentproductions.com
Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel have grown together as their long-running band Mates of State as grown up. The drums-and-organ duo started by cranking out highly-caffienated full-throated indie pop just as the two started dating. In about four years, the duo were married and Mates of State started its steady rise. During the past decade the band has evolved from the shout-along organ-slathered early days, without trading in their shared harmonies and the pure joy that pumps out from their songs. On their latest album, Mountaintops, the duo crosses those fast-tempo romps from their earlier days with a more polished swing. “Total Serendipity” starts out running, but breaks for piano and horns. It’s that ability that allows the band to break from the upbeat to knock a few ballads out of the park too.