Another band from the Emergenza Battle of the Bands has officially stolen my heart. And though they have not even hit the Quarter Finals, I think that San Francisco based Gates of Light has the potential to take the whole thing, at least on the national level. They may be seeing some serious competition from a couple German outfits that they will soon be competing against. The winners will be performing at The Great American Music Hall, and then could move on to a performance at one of the top 5 European music festivals. There are also opportunities to win recording sessions with major labels and top-of-the-line musical equipment, as well as the obvious exposure to the some of the premier talent scouts in the industry. Emergenza is one of the best contests an unheard of band can get itself into, and it’s not easy to make it as far as Gates of Light has made it.

Gates of Light is an eclectic prog rock band, lead by brilliant guitarist / vocalist / composer / lyricist Mike Welch and produced by local music god Paul Robinson. I was also fortunate enough to see Robinson standing in on bass for Clifton Bonney during the band’s performance at Bottom of the Hill, the venue that Rolling Stone called the best in San Francisco. Welch doesn’t compose alone though, the entire band contributes to most tracks. An obvious influence is Lebanese guitarist Ahmad Mazboudi’s musical upbringing. Some songs from their 2007 album, 'Angelology', sound like what would happen if Jimmy Page and the Rahbani brothers worked together. Mazboudi is a talented guitarist and has a magnetic stage presence that could attract a fourteen year old girl and an 85 year old man equally.

In fact, that is one of the best things about Gates of Light. They have a universal appeal that most bands can only aspire to. Their influences range from Seattle grunge to classical guitar to traditional Turkish and Lebanese sounds. They can play with almost any line-up and still keep the crowd involved. The strongest and most notable thing about the band though are their lyrics. Lyrical inspiration has been known to come from Scottish folklore, the Kabbalah, and even Freemasonry-related concepts (though none of the members are in the “secret society” of Ben Franklin and The Knights Templar). The first time through the album or performance, they can be almost hard to follow, even for the most skilled ear. The band has a strong spiritual base, and their lyrics are inspired, intelligent, and insightful. Some of the best songs on 'Angelology' include 'Swallowed the Mountain', 'Chillingham' and 'Path of the Name', but there is not a disappointing track on the entire album.

Drummer Andy Schneider and glam-rock style keyboardist Ryan Hill support the amazing guitar work and lyrics up front. Schneider is also a DJ with Pink Mammoth and has a fascinating grasp of rhythm, beyond the average banging around of most rock drummers. The next round of Emergenza (at least for Gates of Light - dates vary) is May 18. After that they should be well on their way to stardom.

Official Gates of Light
Official MySpace