Dirty Linen

This is an excerpt from the print edition of Dirty Linen #120 (October/November 2005).
The full article is in the magazine, available on newsstands, by subscription, and at the Dirty Linen webstore.

Albert and Gage

Albert & Gage

A Little of This & a Little of That

by Kerry Dexter

To work on songs for their upcoming album, Christine Albert and Chris Gage found that they had to book time ahead in their own studio. "We planned it in advance, to create a space to really work on writing. It was really exciting. It was like getting together with an old best friend and having to all still be there," Albert said.

It's been a good while since she and Gage have had the chance to concentrate on their songwriting. "We have so many other things that we've developed. We've been putting attention on all these other parts of our career: building the studio, creating an act together after years of being solo artists, and, in Chris' case, working with a band, creating a life together, doing all the business, booking, publicity, starting a record label..."

It's been almost 10 years to the date since the Austin, Texas-based couple met and began creating an act, and -- later -- a life and a business together. Albert was a solo artist continuing to tour regionally in the Southwest after a run at a Nashville career that was derailed by label politics. Gage was a talented sideman and bandleader for the likes of Roy Clark and Jimmie Dale Gilmore who was tiring of road life with a band. Albert needed a new guitarist; Gage had a short break in his schedule and agreed to fill in for several months.

"Christine heard me play with Jimmie Dale at a concert. I had seen her name around. Then she called me one day looking for a guitarist. Her guitar player was leaving her band. It was the typical Austin cold call: 'Can you do a gig?' I was at a point in my life where I needed to stay in town more," Gage said, "so I agreed to do two or three months with Christine. We basically met at a rehearsal, she hired me to play, and I showed up to rehearse for the gig. Who knew?" Gage recalled, smiling.

[cover #120]