Playground magazine

Rebecca Gates has played an essential role in the development of American indie-rock, although ultimately her fame has shrunk in light of the popular acceptance of other artists who have ended up shaping the canon of the genre. From 1991 to 2000 she was on the Sub Pop label at the front of The Spinanes, where she sang and played the guitar, along with Scott Plouf, who played the drums. The Spinanes were a raw, direct duo that helped to increase the prestige of Olympia (Washington), still today one of the important cities in independent rock geography. In 2000, the band split up and Rebecca crossed over into other branches of art, from organising exhibits to publishing, while still being involved with music: since the end of The Spinanes she has collaborated with The Decemberists and Willy Nelson, as well as embarking on a solo career. Her latest album is called “The Float”, was recorded with The Consortium (a band with members of The Decemberists, Quasi and Tortoise) and released by her own label, Parcematone, in the United States and La Castanya in Spain.

Today, Rebecca Gates begins a long European tour – along with Ted Leo – that will take her from Madrid to Barcelona, as well as to Paris, London, and Berlin. In honour of the kick-off of the tour and the release of “The Float”, she has decided to give us an update on her tastes; making a list of ten guitarists who have left their mark on her. From here on out, the words are those of Rebecca Gates. An honour.

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Choosing just ten of anything in music is difficult. The only easy list for me to write is ‘Great Moments of Cowbell in Rock Music’. In my opinion there are only two; that's for another conversation.

So here I offer “10 inspiring guitarists”. While they are all my favourites, it is not all my favourites—that list is too long. These are folks who made and make me want to pick up the guitar and play, and who provide context to think about playing. I’ve always formed chords and approached the instrument in a slightly strange fashion. These guitarists use it in a way I understand and/or incite the will to learn, especially when I first started playing live.

Attention: Only two ladies!! I know, there are many amazing lady axe-slingers in the world, (again, for another list) but I’m being very specific here. Some of the guitarists I’d like to include aren't to be found on the video internets, including many of those ladies and the players rocking it before there were cameras everywhere. And yes, I see, about half the names listed are gents associated (for better or worse) with the 1990s. Awkward. I guess as I started to attend shows and tour, they were who I saw live, and were part of the scene I travelled in. I note they all continue to play to this day.

Also, if you want to know more about those I’m listing, please look and listen, in record stores, on the web. It’s a challenge for me to talk about guitarists and why they’re great, other people do it well.

Everyone listed here taught me somehow; in dark clubs, house parties, small town theatres, or on living room stereo systems. I've been fortunate to learn about and hear hundreds of great guitarists, current AND olden days, but for here, for now, these ten giants of inspiration.

Kathy was in a band from Austin, Texas called Glass Eye. I had weekly shows on local radio stations when they released their first records. “HUGE” is an incredible album to this day. The songs and her guitar parts are unique, sparse, angular and still, strong-spined but with a light touch. When I saw the band play live, her fingering made sense to me in a way that basic bar chords and stinging leads did not. Seeing her made me think I could play in a band onstage.