Author Archives: Gates

350.org, Ladies, and DC

The next weeks are busy. The band is playing Doug Fir on 11/11 as part of the Siren Nation Festival, we’re working on a few new songs. I am honored to play as part of Bill McKibben’s 350.org Do the Math … Continue reading

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Sounds to Words to Sound

Bill Strickland is Editor-at-Large at Bicycling Magazine; author of several books (Ten Points, Tour de Lance, The Quotable Cyclist); and a celebrator of fine beers, local velodromes and the reveal of the ride. It is always a great pleasure to … Continue reading

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Christmas Party

We drove out of Barcelona, past the Montjuic cemetery, circling several roundabouts (one of them more than once) to the La Castanya Christmas fȇte. The label family is spirited and talented in the music and the hang. It rained, pouring … Continue reading

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Russians on the Costa Brava

My Catalan language skills are non-existent, Spanish weak, and my Russian is limited to ten words. We (Ted Leo + Joan from La Castanya and photographer Alberto Polo) are in the Costa Brava and I can finally start sliding in … Continue reading

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Madrid Day 1

Here are a few linxx if you speak Spanish or are just plain curious: Podcast of interview and songs with me and Ted on Radio 3 with Julio Ruiz Interview at El Confidencial and thoughts on a few guitarists: SPANISH … Continue reading

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The Float to The Float

I first encountered the writing of Jonathan Lethem when a friend recommended Motherless Brooklyn. Lack from As She Climbed Across the Table is a character that continues to randomly pop into my head, shape-shifting and present, and it’s been years … Continue reading

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Always the return

I’m writing a quick blog post for Playground, in advance of heading to Europe next week to tour with Ted Leo. Inevitably, there’s video links to include…came across these two. Music, offers context, of a moment, eternal…

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Tools of the trade

@thesonicyouth just posted that one of their guitars (stolen in 1999) has been found. Someone posted a query on the OffsetGuitars forum, looking for opinions and information regarding a guitar trade. A few guitars have been recovered already. The description … Continue reading

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Sounds for you

Two new items of note: The fabulous Daniel Ralston of the Low Times Podcast sat with me in NYC last month. We enjoyed a couple of beautiful coffees and discussed music, the biz and cycling. The only possible improvement would … Continue reading

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Half time

It’s a beautiful early summer morning in the NE. The band is asleep, except for Rebecca Cole, who just landed in NYC from Portland after playing with the Portland Cello Project this weekend. We will collect her later today. Between … Continue reading

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