Music is often used as a metaphor for love.
The cliché of making beautiful music with a lover is literal with Mates of State.
The married duo of Jason Hammel, 28, and Kori Gardner, 30, have been creating upbeat, dreamy indie-pop for almost a decade. Their fourth and latest full-length offering, "Bring It Back," is characteristically harmonious.
During a recent phone conversation from a tour stop in Cologne, Germany, Hammel had another reason to smile. He was glad to see the Democrats take control of Congress in the Nov. 7 election.
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
As for the music, it's hard to see how it can get any brighter.
Take "For the Actor" on "Bring It Back," which blends sunny atmospherics with harmonies telling you to "put your life on hold" and which begins with "Oh, you and me on a fantasy. This is what's it's like, this is what it's like on a fantasy."
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It's tough not to imagine the couple singing these lyrics to each other.
Hammel acknowledges that the state of the relationship plays into songs by Mates of State — just not completely.
"Just because we are in a relationship, everyone thinks every song is about our relationship, but it's totally not the case," he said. "In fact, very few of the songs are actually about our relationship."
It's also hard to ignore the layered dynamics of a working marriage within a band, especially when the band only has two members and when we've seen such attempts at intraband romance dissolve publicly (what's up, Fleetwood Mac?).
To curb inquiries, the duo answer frequently asked questions on their Web site. First on the list: "What is it like being married and playing music together?" The answer: "Probably exactly how you imagine it would be."
Some of the material on "Bring It Back" has been described as also being inspired by the couple's 2-year-old daughter, Magnolia, who often travels along on tour.
Should the musical act Mates of State stick around long enough to see Magnolia grow into a woman, Hammel said it's highly doubtful they'd incorporate her into the band like other familial acts such as the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players.
Not that Hammel thinks Magnolia would be up for it, either.
"Usually you don't want to do what your parents do, because you think your parents are lame," he said.
Who: Mates of State.
When: Sunday, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
Cost: The all-ages event is $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
For more information, visit www.hotelcongress.com.
