The Spinanes formed in Portland Oregon in 1991 when Rebecca Gates guitar/vocals started playing with Scott Plouf (drums). In 1993 they released their first album with Sub Pop, the acclaimed disc "Manos". In 1996 "Strand" followed, and after the departure of Plouf, who left to handle drum duties in Built to Spill, Rebecca relocated to Chicago and issued "Arches and Aisles" which received glowing reviews in Rolling Stone, SPIN and Entertainment Weekly, and best of 1998 on Amazon.com.

In 2001, Gates invited Chicago musicians John McEntire (Tortoise), Noel Kupersmith (Brokeback), Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco) and Brian Deck to contribute to the recording of Ruby Series.

There’s nothing contrived about her genuine ability to balance love and lust on the striking "Lure and Cast." Gates' newfound depth as a singer and arranger is evident on the sadly soulful "Doos," the reflective, set-ending "The Seldom Scene" and "The Colonel's Circle." - Billboard

Since releasing "Ruby Series" Gates has toured opening for Stereolab, The Decemberists and Califone, composed music for films and sang on Willie Nelson’s recent "Songbird" album. She is also co-editor of The Relay Project, an audiomagazine.