Band on the Diaper Run: Down Under
Koalas stink; now we know.
by Kori Gardner of Mates of State
December 21, 2006
Part 2: Brisbane, Australia
As I waited in line to hold the koala, I noticed all the band photos on the wall. Every band that comes through the koala sanctuary is asked to leave a signed photo of the group holding a cute little marsupial. I realize that no one ever wants us to do that — leave a band photo. Not that I care; it's just another moment where I realize that we do not fit the mold. We don't look like a rock band. We don't act like a rock band. We're just this couple who makes music together. We tour around the world making this, I'm told, joyous music with an organ and a drum set. We sing really loud and look at each other because we want to make sure we are tight and people mistake that for lovey glances. We're dubbed as this cutesy pop band because we actually like each other. And here we are, getting ready to hold a koala as a couple, not as a band, even though you can't really separate the two. Anyway, who wants a normal American couple on the wall of pictures of hipster bands holding a furry beast?
Anyway, just so you know: male koalas stink. They emit a foul oil from their chest glands. It rubbed all over me. My koala was named Fabio. My entire suitcase smelled like Fabio for the rest of the trip. He certainly left his mark.
On the way to Australia, we filmed a video for the song "Like U Crazy." We basically got to play dress up and lip sync all day. By the time we were filming the last scene, we were supposed to be in the car on the way to the airport. I could tell Jason was stressed out about being late. You can tell by his face — at the end of the video, he's ready to go. In the scene, we're lost in space and we're still playing together with this lost-but-blissful feeling. Check out his expression. You can totally tell we're afraid we're missing our Australia flight and feeling threatened by the smoke machine. Watch the video. You can totally tell we're afraid we're missing our Australia flight.
Also in Australia: we played a few shows, played on a few radio stations, walked
over some bridges, went surfing, dug a piece of glass out of Jason's foot with
a needle for two hours, DJ'd at some dance clubs, and somehow lost my pillow,
my favorite jeans and our DVD player. And somewhere
in there, we fell in love with the whole continent.
We celebrated Magnolia's birthday when we got home. Her party was a "green party." Everyone
wore green, her favorite color, and we ate green beans and green cupcakes. She
got way too many presents and ate way too much sugar and threw her first full-fledged
tantrum in front of the whole party. It was her party and she cried 'cause she
wanted to, to the point where people said, "Oh, wow, I've never seen her like
that."
A week or so later, we had to put our seven-year-old cat, Shadow, to sleep. We sang "Amazing Grace" to her while she left this world. She was a sweet cat, never hissed at anyone. She had a tumor in her mouth and couldn't eat. She was in our video for the song "Fluke” — she's staring out the window in the living room scene. We'll miss her.
©2006 Mates of State and Nerve Media
About the Author
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Kori Gardner is the organ-playing half of the band Mates of State; her husband, Jason Hammel, plays drums. Known for their vocal harmonies and euphoric melodies, Mates of State has been described by critics as "unabashed joy", "honesty at its best", a "two piece with balls", and "a band that you must see live." Their daughter, Magnolia, was born in 2004 and started touring with the band at 10 weeks. Hear their latest album, Bring it Back, at www.matesofstate.com. |
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