Phil Gates Blog

Switzerland 2

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:50:48 +0000

Had the first show tonight. It was a cool outdoor show at the Hotel Alter Banhof in Gossau.
It was a fun show, and as it was the first show, we as a band got to really play a set, and figure out some of the kinks. It was fun to finally be performing in Switzerland.
So much time has been put into the arranging of things and set up. Most all of that being done by Nucci Solazzo and Werner Sprenger. Without them, literally none of this would have happened.
Tomorrow is another day and we’ll actually have time to rest. Nice.

Switzerland 1

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:27:12 +0000

On my way to the UK on the first leg of my trip to Switzerland. A long, ten hour flight from Los Angeles. Then a shorter one to Zurich.
My buddy Nucci is the bassist for this tour is already there and getting the other musicians rehearsed. He says things are going well, which is good news, as I recently had another situation where a band was put around me that didn’t rehearse, and weren’t ready.
I wasn’t able to bring my band on this trip. I’ve got a really good band. For this trip though, it’ll be Nucci on bass, and local Swiss musicians Ernst on drums, and donmax on keys.
We have one day of rehearsals then we hit it. I’m looking forward to this. It should be a lot of fun. These local guys are great players, so I’m psyched.

Monterey

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:25:52 +0000

Blog 1 Monterey
It is incredible to me how some things come to pass. As a kid and aspiring guitarist, I used to watch Jimi Hendrix footage at the Monterey Pop Festival. It was his first big festival in the States under his name. You know, it’s where he burned his guitar.
As I would watch, I would, as many kids do, imagine myself playing the same festival, under the lights with my own band. Playing my music as he was his.
Last Saturday, June 26th, I did. I played the Monterey Blues Festival at the same fairgrounds where Hendrix played. It was awesome.
I’m still buzzing from it. I’ve attached a couple if pics from it, with better ones to come.
The arc of life can be amazing. I’ve done lots of gigs and local festivals. And I’ve toured over fourteen countries with other groups. But this one was special. And now, 48 hours later, on the heels of that-my first national festival performance, I’m on a flight to my first international tour in Switzerland under my name.
You could say it was a good weekend.

We’rs on the charts!

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:54:26 +0000

Thanks to all of our fans, and the very cool radio stations, The “Addicted To The Blues” CD is currently #22 on the Roots Music Report for Blues. Thank you so much!!

http://www.rootsmusicreport.com/index.php?page=charts&name=blues

And #11 on the Roots Music Report for California.

http://www.rootsmusicreport.com/index.php?page=statechart&state=CA

Uh-oh

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:49:11 +0000

You know, airplane flights and me are always fun. Except for my back. It is on fire right now. Thankfully I have something to take for it. Looking forward to getting to Memphis, just not the second leg of these flights.

Starting the trip

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:33:02 +0000

5:30am, waiting at the airport the plane to get here. Looking forward to the trip. I was up late last night, so I’m going to seriously going to sleep on the plane!

What have I forgotten?

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:52:42 +0000

Trying to check my list twice as I get ready for this weekend. Guitar? Check! Clothes? Almost. Some are still drying. My favorite shirt wasn’t ready.
Everyone will be at this event. Gotta be sharp.
Thanks to you all that have the app. Now if you could go to my sites page (via this app)for either facebook, Twitter, or reverbnation and post about this iPhone app, the music, and this blog, it would be awesome!
You can also reply to tweets via this app @philgatesmusic or hashtag #PhilGatesBand
Stay tuned!

Getting Ready

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 07:49:21 +0000

Taking a trip to Memphis to the Blues Music Awards this week. Should be interesting. I’m actually performing Friday night at the Rum Boogie on Beale Street in the Blind Raccoon/Earwig Music Showcase at 5:30 for those of you in town this weekend.
I’m going to blog/tweet the experience, so stay tuned!
Phil

The search for the truth

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:27:50 +0000

Staying connected. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Staying connected?

Connected to friends, family, social groups, and in my case, all of those, plus fans. In the music business, you have to stay connected to your fans. They are the lifeblood of the industry. This means you. The reader of this blog, the person that comes to the shows, downloads songs, and support the artist, and the arts. How cool are you? The best I say!

So I made a survey today to stay connected. to keep in touch with how you feel about my band, my music, and in some ways, myself as a person. The search for the truth. So that I can be the best at what I do.

If you’d like to take this short 15 question survey, just email me through my site, or through facebook. I’d put the email address here, but then I’d get a whole new set of web bots sending me things in my email.

Let’s stay connected.

Phil

Thanks!

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:16:47 +0000

The new iTunes/Iphone app for the band is going very well thanks to all of you fans! This week’s inside scoop is the trip to Switzerland this summer. I’ll be headlining a the Gossau Blues Nights festival in Gossau Switzerland July 3rd 2010. It should be a lot of fun. So I’m already getting things prepped. I’m excited about this gig.

We’re also at the Monterey Blues Festival the week prior here in the States.

This week, it’s all about the Biscuits and Blues gig we have this Thursday in San Francisco. This should be a very cool gig. If you live in the Bay Area, or know lover of fun uptempo Blues there, please let them know! Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St San Francisco CA 94102 on Thursday March 25th at 8PM. Reserve for the first or second set for this high energy blues event! (415) 292-2583

Phil