Singer/songwriter, best known for her band
The Spinanes, which she founded in 1991 with
Scott Plouf.
Before the Spinanes, Gates was in a band called The Cradle Robbers with Lois Maffeo. The Cradle Robbers briefly reunited to release a song, "Sotto Voce," on the Red, Hot + Bothered compilation in 1995.
Gates was also supposedly in Hazel for a brief time, and she's added vocals to recordings by Elliott Smith, Beck, and Ben Lee.
Recently, she has been touring and releasing music as a solo act. She recorded her first solo EP, Ruby Series, with John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake), Brian Deck (Califone, Red Red Meat), and several other Chicago musicians.
Solo discography:
Ruby Series - Badman Recording, 2001
"Move" Shanti Project compilation 2, Badman Recording, 2000
"Carnation Red" - Free To Fight compilation, Candy Ass Records, 1996