GATE

Henry Brennan, Ben Brier, Dylan Fox, Jesse Herman, Josh Price, and Jared Rowland. Known for the live music that shakes its basement, as well as the social space of the house’s first floor and patio, Redgate is made possible by the passion and ingenuity of its residents. The guys have been friends since their freshman year. Scattered throughout each floor of Flint Hall’s

A-wing, the boys spent their first year meeting and growing closer to each other. But it was in their South Campus apartment the next year that they began their foray into show business. Southdaze, a family barbeque/music festival/clothing swap, was the first official musical brainchild conceived, birthed, and raised by the six of them. Headlined by some mainstay campus acts such as Froggies and Studio89, Southdaze managed to capture the attention of the students who found themselves on South Campus that day. Whether they were chowing down on grub from grill master Dylan’s menu, watching the acts, or dancing, good vibes were plentiful that day. “It [was] a really good way to combine passion and fun into one thing,” said junior Jared Rowland.

The guys’ eagerness and dedication to their craft is on clear display in the form of what the roommates refer to as “the fucking manual,” a Google Doc created by Dylan, a junior finance major, and sent to the home’s residents over the summer, laying out the do’s and don’ts of a show. Dylan prefers to call it a handbook.

This morning, the guys begin what they consider the most boring part of the process: making the crib look presentable. The tuning of finer details is vital to having a successful night, according to Dylan,“When it’s all added up, organization is key.” By the time counters have been wiped down and the objects in need of hammering have been hammered, it’s mid-day. He sets up the venue’s sound system, which is funded entirely by money straight from the guys’ pockets. Speakers hang on the walls next to the drum set, bass guitar, and mic stands purchased to make the stage more easily accessible for performers. “We had to go with the expensive equipment because this shit gets put through hell,” said Dylan.

Upstairs, the rest of the guys gather around the living room TV. With everything set up and ready to go, they wait as the clock approaches opening time. The Pixies’ song “Here Comes Your Man” fills the room as the guys play each other in NBA 2k23. It feels as if they are in their zen states, relishing in the calm before their beautifully selfmade storm.

At 8 p.m., two hours before opening, the house fills with shop talk as artists come in and perform their sound checks in the basement. No one bats an eye as the ringing of drums and reverb-heavy guitars fill the air, they just bob their heads to the beat. The show’s acts are found on their Instagram, @ redgatecuse.

“Last semester it was a lot of us reaching out to people ourselves, mostly friends. This semester we put out an Instagram post asking people if they want to play here, they DM us and we decide from there. It’s better than booking a band last second,” said junior Bandier student Jesse Herman.

There are only 10 minutes left until the doors open and the crowd has already begun gathering outside the entrance. Redgate’s audience, according to Dylan, is “a mix of people who love live music and want something beyond frat parties.”

At 10 p.m., the show begins. The guys working the door are bombarded by eager bodies and Venmo payments. Less than 30 minutes pass before the house is packed. Downstairs, Dylan runs the soundboard, keeping track of the on-stage band’s sound as their performance rips the basement apart.

“Redgate feels more intimate,” said Cribulis, one of the night’s performers. This is a statement that reflects itself in the clear sense of unity found throughout the house: at Redgate, there is no such thing as separate; everyone stands around united by sound and good times. People who have never spoken to each other experience connection as they dance together in the basement, getting the words to songs wrong in unison rather than alone. By 1 a.m., the party shows no signs of slowing down, and Jesse observes, “it’s usually not this packed this late... this is rare.”

The Redgate regulars have a multitude of reasons that keep them coming back.

“It’s a fun environment. Plus I get to dress up, plus I get to meet cool people, plus sometimes Studio89 performs,” said Madi Christiansen, a freshman attendee. Walker Pasalis, another consistent guest, said “I really enjoy the ability to have multiple scenes within a single party. You can chill on the patio, meet new people in the living room, or go to the basement and dance with your homies for a bit.” In the middle of a dancing crowd and unable to control the adrenaline running through his veins, Adrian Berger conveys his feelings towards Redgate when he yells “I LOVE IT!”

As the night winds down, the organizers jump into the crowd and dance with those who remain. By 2 a.m., the people who had remained in the basement have fully trickled out. Dylan shuts down the music. Jared lets out a satisfied, “That’s a wrap.”

In the kitchen, the guys gather around the crooked island to begin what they call the “debrief.” Despite their sloshed heads, tired bodies, and the strange mix of smells that linger around the house, the guys laugh their way through stories until 3 in the morning. Midrecap, Dylan unknowingly summarizes the essence of Redgate, “It’s perfect for what it is, that’s how we do things around here.”