The Gate Coffee House Dabek's first exposure to great live folk music came in 1964 from a small coffeehouse that coincidentally opened up across that street from where he and his family were living. Spider John Koerner played there and abolutely awed and amazed him with the way he made the 12-string guitar sing. Several other performers played there before it closed down after a short run, the most notable of which was Chuck and Joni Mitchell. They were playing all around the midwest at that time, doing a great mix of artists, but most of their best stuff was original. Dabek became a fixture at the place, listening for hours and hours to their great musicianship and Joni's wonderful voice. He got to know them both as they played there for nearly two weeks, and Joni would help Dabek with learning to play his first instrument, which was the tenor guitar. It was a shame it closed so soon, for it was a unique atmosphere of candlelit funky coffeehouse and great folk music.