Previously available only on limited-edition vinyl, the Mates of State EP, re-arranged: remixes volume 1, which features four songs from their most recent album, re-arrange us, remixed by noted remixologists, is now available in digital format, with one bonus track!

Starting tomorrow, Mates of State and Black Kids kick off a US trek that runs the length of April. In celebration of the double-barreled coast-to-coast barnburner, DJA of Mad Decent has created a Black Kids vs. Mates of State mash-up, premiered by the folks at RCRD LBL Monday. Mates’ re-arrange us and the Kids’ look at me act as source material for the bass-heavy mixture.

And if news of Mates mixes piques some interest, you'll be overjoyed to learn that this is not the only reworking you'll get to hear in April. Indeed, The Mates will be releasing re-arranged: remixes volume 1 on April 14th. This limited-edition 12" vinyl features four reinterpretations of tracks from Mates of State's 2008 release, re-arrange us, with contributions from noted remixologists DJ Sega, Flosstradamus, The Mae Shi, and RAC. Packaged in a classic DJ white sleeve, this 12" EP is limited to 1000 copies worldwide and will be available exclusively on vinyl several weeks before hitting digital retailers.

Barsuk staff and many of our bands will down in Austin later this month for the annual SXSW music festival, playing parties, doing DJ sets, and having a good ol' Texas time. Our official showcase with Merge Records, March 21 at the Parish, will feature Ra Ra Riot, Say Hi, and The Wooden Birds, as well as Merge bands Telekinesis, Lou Barlow with Imaad Wasif, and The Rosebuds, and special guest DJ Jason Hammel from Mates of State spinning records between sets. Due to tour routing logistics, Viva Voce will have to hit the road before our showcase Saturday night, but they'll be down in Austin earlier in the week playing a few parties in their new four-piece lineup.

This coming Sunday night, the ABC World News show will air a short piece about Mates of State, focusing on their life on the road with children. Check your local listings for the air time of this show, but it's generally on at 6 or 6:30pm. There will also be a longer piece about the band airing on Good Morning America Sunday at some point in the future.

UPDATE: Video from this news piece can be viewed online here (or read about the feature here).

Having kicked off their fall tour schedule with an appearance at Austin City Limits that elicited raves from the Austin Chronicle ("an act that's matured both personally and professionally") and The Onion ("the duo continues to save itself by producing albums that are better than the previous ones"), and currently on tour with Santogold, the indefatigable Mates of State have added a November series of headline dates to their Re-Arranger tour. The new dates begin November 7 in Asbury Park NJ and run through November 23 in Baltimore MD. All dates will feature LA hip-hop duo Brother Reade as main support.

Mates of State recorded a couple of intimate performances for the KUT Retread Sessions at the Driskill Hotel while they were at the Austin City Limits festival — watch them online here.

Kori and Jason were recently interviewed down in Austin for the ACL Festival by Roxwel/101XFM, and you can watch the video online here. It's a nice piece with clips from their video (for my only offer).

Having come off a summer playing to pleased crowds at music festivals across North America, Mates of State have confirmed an upcoming tour supporting Santogold this fall, with select headlining dates scattered throughout. Before the tour kicks off, the band will be performing on the Nickelodeon TV show, Yo Gabba Gabba on September 23.