The surprisingly fertile music scene in Lawrence, Kan., has produced many a worthy act, not the least of which the often sweet and spastic Mates of State. Shifting bases to San Francisco and a growing following brought more joyfulness and honesty to the work of Kori Gardner (keyboard/vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums/vocals). Their fourth and possibly strongest most intriguing album to date, Bring It Back, has kept the married couple on the road for much of this year — but we put Kori in the mtvU Hot Seat long enough to answer our probing questions.