Stratford-based Husband-Wife Duo Mates of State Rock Elm City

Fans and supporters of local Stratford indie pop stars -- and spouses -- Mates of State filled the back room of New Haven’s BAR on Monday night for a special rehearsal set that kicked off the start of the band’s 41-show tour.

Mates of State took the stage at 11:25 p.m. after an opening performance by the band Snake Oil, who will not be joining Mates of State on tour.

Mates of State played a mix of old and new songs, opening with “Get Better," off of their fifth studio album Re-Arrange Us before moving into “Total Serendipity,” off of their newest album Mountaintops, released Sept. 13.

The band tore through their high-volume set, wasting little time on commentary and treating fans to an evening of upbeat, energetic indie pop music that featured male-female vocals, jangly guitars and interesting compositions.

And according to a Tuesday afternoon post on the band's Facebook page, the set list was the longest they ever played.

Mates of State has been performing since 1997. They are comprised of Kori Gardner, who plays the organ, sings and plays guitar, and her husband Jason Hammel, who also sings, plays percussion and synthesizer.

After the New Haven performance, the band headed south to Washington, DC to officially start the major fall tour, which will make stops all across America from Arizona to Boston. It has been about a year since Mates of State has been on the road.

There was no charge for the event, and merchandise was for sale during the performance. For more information on Mates of State, and for a complete schedule of upcoming shows this fall, please visit their website or their Facebook page.

Editor's note: The attached videos are not from the New Haven show.