Any band that regularly draws adjectives like “quirky” and “cute,” especially one comprised of a husband-wife duo guilty of shooting each other adorable glances during their show, is bound to raise the ire of the cynics among us. Yet I have never met anyone who could see Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, collectively known as Mates of State, and not walk away with a grin on their face.

The duo has been playing together since 1997, and their sweet but creative combination of drums, keyboard and close vocal harmonies has been winning them fans for more than a decade.
Though “sweet” and “cute” are not unwarranted descriptions, their sound is more than that, bearing a unique, off-kilter style of songwriting with shifting rhythms and sometimes-strange synth meanderings, bearing unusual titles like “Why You Little” and “A Duel Will Settle This” (two of my personal favorites).

Their most recent album, “Re-Arrange Us,” was released last May and features a slightly softer, more traditional sound than their previous albums, yet is still infused with that off-kilter songwriting and unbeatable musical synthesis.

I’ve seen a lot of shows in my day, but Mates of State still stand out to me as some of the best performers I’ve ever seen.

The king and queen of indie pop are currently touring with Black Kids, a more recent player on the scene but with buzz to spare. The Florida quintet formed in 2006 and has barely stopped to breathe since then. With one EP and one full-length under their belts, the band has been touring and winning fans all over the US and UK, finding themselves on Top 10 lists at the New York Times, The Village Voice, and the BBC.

Their music is the stuff parties are made of, blending everything from disco and funk to ’80s pop and early rock and roll. Gang vocals and shimmering synth over poppy dance beats made their first single, “I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You,” an international hit.

Get ready to dance your feet off and grin yourself into oblivion.