AN AMIABLE IMAGE

Rosemary Gates Focuses On Friendships

By Gloria Diaz
Staff Writer, Whatz Up Magazine
April 22-28, 1999

Even though the theme to Friends grates on my nerves, I couldn't help but think of it when Rosemary Gates talked about their relationship with Legends Sports Bar. Their name is frequently on the marquee, the staff treats them well, and they even go there when they aren't playing. Most bands would kill to have that kind of treatment from local clubs. But that's not all; what will probably stir up more envy among bands in the local scene is the fact the former manager (owner) of Legends has set up a gig for Rosemary Gates they couldn't possibly refuse.

But more about that later.

The five young men that are Rosemary Gates - Christian Schult, Fish, Michael Archbold, Jerry Foust, and James Stocks - came together through an introduction by a mutual friend (Jim Thornton) and Jeremy Carpenter. The current lineup is one of several incarnations of Rosemary Gates, one of which was an all- acoustic lineup. The drums drowned out the rest of the band, changing their status from unplugged to plugged.

"Before I joined the band, I was a distant fan," says Archbold, guitarist, who was in a band called Lost Cause. "I thought it was a good opportunity (to join)." Archbold, however, wouldn't come without Fish, also a member of Lost Cause, who plays bass and sings background vocals.

Besides the mutual friend both bands shared, both had written a song about Carpenter, who had died in a train accident. Both bands knew him but didn't know each other.

"The whole fate thing came together," says Archbold.

In a sense, Carpenter had united them from the great beyond, and Legends has provided a welcome venue. And the band has great fans to boot.

"We've been the luckiest band in the world," says Archbold. "Legends has really gone out of their way for us. We've never been pressured to play all covers."

"The hospitality is great," adds Schult.

And the former manager (owner) of Legends, Chris Hoeppner, remembers them too. Moving to Nashville, Tennessee for an opportunity he couldn't resist, he offered Rosemary Gates the same thing. April 18, they will be opening for Blessid Union of Souls, at Players, Chris' Piere's-type club in Nashville.

"Once we landed that gig … we got some people interested," says Archbold. "It's a big gig and we're excited about it."


It's not necessary to trek down to Nashville to see Rosemary Gates, but that's just what some of their fans are doing.

"Our fans are very, very loyal," says Stocks, guitarist.

"When we played at Ball State, they came down," says Foust, drummer for the group.

Wherever people go to see them, they will get what Archbold describes as "pop-rock, good old-fashioned rock n' roll … ear friendly music."

They don't like the word "alternative," even though at first listen, "Shining Rain" is reminiscent of Matchbox 20. It's a thoughtful blend of electric and acoustic guitar. The lead vocals, however, are more balanced and lack the quirky warbling of Matchbox 20's lead singer, Rob Thomas. Schult wrote the lyrics based on a friend's observation that it always rained in Washington (state). Taking an optimist's view, Schult told her to imagine the sun shining while it was raining.

A lot of people like that image. Rosemary Gates brought 50 copies to a show, figuring if they sold 20, they'd be doing great. To their surprise, all 50 sold and several names are on a waiting list for the EP, which contains "Shining Rain" as well as two live tracks, "Proud" and "Rewind." "Shining Rain" is also the most requested song on Extreme's original music show aired on Sunday nights.

A full length CD is in the works, with a very optimistic schedule of having it finished and released by summer's end. Fish says, "I think we're all waiting on a big writing process to happen." It helps that Schult's sung different verses every time he's performed "Shining Rain," but he admits, "I don't just like to throw words down with no meaning." Cutting down on covers helps, too. "It's much more relaxed now that we are doing our own music," says Foust.

"The past six or seven months have been a blur," admits Archbold. Adding more venues, which the band wants to do, might keep them even busier than ever. Legends has been very, very good to them, but understandably, Rosemary Gates wants to spread their talent as far as they can.

And they'd like the support of other bands, which Rosemary Gates will reciprocate. Since getting back into music, Archbold wanted to network with other bands and make a few friends in the process. Instead, he and others in the group sense a separatist mentality they feel doesn't work and isn't necessary.

"Everyone's in their own little clique," says Fish. "Our town isn't big enough to be doing that."

Foust admits, however, "we can't really be too negative … we've (the local music scene) come a long way." One local group, Fawn Liebowitz, earned raves from the band, admitting, "they just blew us away."

Rosemary Gates next Fort Wayne date is April 30 at Legends. They will return May 21.