The Eight Gates may be one of the only acts in our little scene this year to have to get to a gig by airplane. The band was formed after a couple of married grads from the college on the hill—Danny and Joanne Gates, who shared Suite 8 in the American Hall dorm, get it?—founded a software development company in town. Sounds cushy, but they say they’re still “a ways away” from profitability.

The gig is a birthday party for a classmate of the Gates whose ship HAS already come in. “She insisted we play just as we did five years ago, even the same instruments if possible. We’re not the only nostalgia trip at this party, so we’re going all out. Found clothes we wore then, turned up the original lyric sheets…”

A lot of bands around here wouldn’t find it troubling to dig up T-shirts they wore at gigs 20 or 30 years ago, let alone five. It’s a cross-country flight, however, so the equipment’s proving to be a problem. “The keyboards couldn’t be picked up somewhere else if we tried,” says Joanne the technological sorceress. “They were a prototype to start with, but then I modified them beyond recognition.” So they have to come as is. Insured and specially packed, at excessive cost. But when they told the party’s sponsor, all was cool.

“This is what you expect if you’re some huge band, right? And we’re this little electronics duo who never made more than a cassette demo.  We feel like royalty. Except, I guess the keyboard’s getting treated BETTER than us. But hey, we’re getting treated like ladies in waiting!”

While the Gates are gone, another keyboard duo hits the Bullfinch: For Free City, with an opening set by Himno IStemno… Land of the Brave keeps the covers flowing at Hamilton’s… Dance trio Erta Erta Erta at D’ollaire’s with about eight DJS earlier on…