The G8 Band: Sounds from the Gump



Two old-favorites of Gumpers everywhere together at last!


As you know, you are currently reading the number one blog in the world dealing with food, booze, books, politics, music, football and hair cuts in Montgomery, Alabama a/k/a "The Gump." Although we do not like to brag, one of our lesser-known areas of expertise is local music. One or two of our Gumpheads have even been known to pick a Martin D-28, twinkle a Fazioli or honk on a Hohner when sufficiently lubricated with personality sauce. In full throat, they might even remind you of a barn full of foaling mares. So we have street cred in the Gump when it comes to music.


If you are a true Gumper or have more than a passing acquaintance with local music, I need say no more than G8 and you will instantly know who I am about to discuss. G8 can only refer to the Gump's own "Gate Band." There are two reasons for LITG reviewing the Gate Band at this time: One, the just finished a very successful benefit concert for our local treasure of an independent film theatre: The Capri Film Society (see poster below) and two, if we don't mention them soon some of these old geezers may kaack on us and destroy the Karma (just kidding Ham).

Seriously, the origins of the Gate Band run very deep. They can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s when almost everybody in what was then referred to as Montgomery, went to public high schools and the coaches hit you with boat paddles when you mentioned The Grateful Dead. It was back when Pappas was so lazy he used to say "gate" to mean "great" so he could avoid pronouncing or writing the "r" (just kidding Greg). What was really funny (and frightening at the same time) is that so many people thought Pappas was cool they copied him and a "great" local band had a name that stuck: The Gate Band.

I won't bore you with the details, Mitch can manage that if you have time to drink a six-pack (just kidding Mitch), but over the years The Gate Band has played almost anywhere anyone would listen a set list of songs that most of us old-Gump types have committed to heart. The G(r)ateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil;" Willie Nelson's "Whiskey River;"and that Van Morrison song Tabor always thinks he can sing (Whoa Domino!) all bring back fond memories of good times getting pleasantly crunk to the sound of good music played and sung by "gate"  local musicians and our friends.

Actually, these guys are a local treasure like the Capri. Someone should be congratulated for coming up with the idea to match them up together so we could enjoy them both on this past February 19th where they played to a large crowd of enthusiastic fans and some "noodlers."

The band played all their best songs including one of my favorites: "There Stands the Glass."  The only complaint I heard were that the concert did not last longer....

The G8 Band in the Green Room before getting whiskeyed up for the show at Workplay.