In the inaugural edition of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Newlywed Game, Mates of State were handed a crushing defeat by slow-core legends Low. We felt so bad for them that we invited ‘em back for round two. This time, Kori and Jason square off against Merge Records recording artists the Rosebuds. Now let’s see whose marriage is destined to end in a sloppy, sloppy divorce.

1. Which Wes Anderson character does Jason/Ivan most resemble
a) Max Fischer b) Richie Tenenbaum or c) Steve Zissou?

Mates of State
Jason: Richie Tenenbaum.
Kori: I think that Richie Tenenbaum is the hottest and therefore is the one whom Jason most resembles.

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The Rosebuds
Ivan: People say I look like Luke Wilson, so maybe that’s it.
Kelly: Was Luke Wilson Richie Tenenbaum? That’s who I’d say. Our friend used to say they looked alike.

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2. What is Jason/Ivan’s most commonly used pet name for Kori/Kelly?

Jason: Boo.
Kori: Jason calls me “Boo” or any variation of Boo (ie. Booberry, Koo, Baboo, Booey and the list gets cheesier the more I think about it)

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Ivan: Butterbean!
Kelly: Well, he would say, “Sugar Bear” or “Butterbean” but he uses these in a patronizing kind of way.

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3. If forced to do so, what song would Kori/Kelly cite as the best song ever?

Jason: ‘Downtown’ by Ida.
Kori: With a gun to my head I’d choose something off of Ida’s I Know About You. Jason and I used to sing “Downtown” together, which has the best harmony ever.

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Ivan: Maybe ‘Tainted Love’ or ‘Policy of Truth’
Kelly: I don’t have one. I think there can never be a best song ever. It’s too hard.

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4. What’s the dumbest thing Jason/Ivan has ever said on stage during a show?

Jason: “It’s been a long time coming but this song is finally getting out there..”
Kori: Jason has his high school band’s first show ever on video and during the set, he took the mic and said something like,”You might not have heard this song before, it’s a new one, hope you like it...” (Every song was new, it was their first show.) We had a good laugh watching. His drummer had a cage, also.

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Ivan: Probably “Sorry, you have to forgive us. We are not playing too good tonight. It will be better next time, I promise.”
Kelly: We were playing in Florida, and there was a guy shouting instructions like, “Play the good one,” and “Bring the rock!” Ivan said, “Everybody, I want you all to know something. This guy right here”. and pointed him out, “This guy was my best friend in the third grade.” Then that guy was quiet for the rest of the show.

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5. Whose side of the family got collectively drunker at your wedding?
Bonus point for naming names (and giving us his or her mailing address so we can send them a copy of this)

Jason: Kori’s.
Kori: My family consumed more alcohol but our friends were the most wasted. However, anyone watching would have guessed that Jason’s mother, Diane Hammel, was the most drunk. She danced so hard that she had to change her entire outfit halfway through the night. The best thing about that was, she wasn’t drunk at all.

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Ivan: Neither of our families drank at our wedding.
Kelly: Ivan’s side of the family doesn’t drink and the drunks on my side weren’t invited so I’d have to say our friends got the drunkest.

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6. Who would Kori/Kelly say would play her in the movie version of their life?

Jason: Reese Witherspoon
Kori: I would choose Drew Barrymore.

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Ivan: Pamela Anderson would play Kelly, and Steven Seagal would play me.
Kelly: We’ve never thought about this or talked about it, so neither of us will know this answer. That’s my
prediction.

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7. What would Jason/Ivan be doing if he wasn’t playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band?

Jason: Doctor.
Kori: Jason would be a doctor or do something in the medical field.

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Ivan: Lifetime student.
Kelly: He could have been a professional basketball player but broke both of his arms dunking a ball, and it ended
his career.

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8. If Kori/Kelly could get one new piece of music gear, what would it be?

Jason: Grand piano.
Kori: I really need another amp and we need a new P.A. for practice since the one we have cost me 25 bucks ten years ago and sounds like we’re singing into a toilet bowl.

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Ivan: A bass guitar and 8x10 bass cabinet.
Kelly: A good amp setup. It’s almost impossible to find what I need.

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9. You’re involved in a one-on-one game of Trivial Pursuit with your spouse. Who comes out on top?

Jason: Me.
Kori: Jason will no doubt say he’d win, so that’s my answer. However, tonight I will challenge him to prove
that I would win.

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Ivan: I bet I do. I watch more VH-1 than Kelly does.
Kelly: Me, because I am the towering monument of useless knowledge in this relationship.

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Speaking of being on top, um, you know, who’s, like, usually on top?

Jason: We mix it up.
Kori: Everything we do is 50/50.

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Ivan: Depends on how many people are involved.
Kelly: And give away the secrets of the scandalous sex tape that we’re getting ready to have stolen from our house? I don’t think so.

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Mates of State: 7

The Rosebuds: 4

And the winner is...Mates of State!