When Olivia Mancini was a little girl in Washington, DC, she dreamed of being a rock and roll star. If not a rock and roll star, at least she would like to play in a rock and roll band. "Drum set" and "electric guitar" topped her Christmas list for years, but never appeared under the tree. As soon as she was old enough to drive herself to the music store, she bought a guitar. Then she started a band. Then she played bass in the Washington Social Club. Then she started her own band again, and they called themselves the Mates. The Mates just released their third album with producer Brian McTear (Burning Brides, Matt Pond PA), blending pop and rock with the oldies that inspired all of them growing up. Olivia tours solo and with the band, finding her childhood dream to be very quite nearly realized.