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As the lights beat down on the empty stage, musicians began lining up outside the building, guitars in hand. Beads of sweat formed on many brows. Was it the triple digit heat or a classic case of stage fright? No, this was not the latest round of American Idol auditions, but instead a closer-to-home performance put on by students of Mike’s Guitar World of Glendora. Months of planning, preparation, and of course-lessons went into the two shows that took place at the Renaissance Theater on Route 66 in Glendora. Watching the show come to fruition was a surreal experience for Mike. This was a long time coming. Mike has been teaching guitar and bass for years and enjoys performing on his own as well as with several of the bands he is involved with. He wanted to bring the same thrill and excitement of being on stage to his own students and allow them to get a taste of what it is like to perform and show what they have been learning.
He grouped many of the bass and guitar students together, allowing some students to learn how to coordinate and play with others. To add to the experience, Mike formed a house band that complimented many of the arrangements. A talented local family of musicians (A modern day Partridge family- Glen, Faith, Denver and Geoff Grant) backed up the students with drums, bass, vocals, as well as monitoring the sound board. The theater seats were filled with friends and family as the students rotated on and off the stage, each bringing a different flavor to the show. The first show was mainly made up of Mike’s younger students, while the second show brought in many of the adults that take lessons with him. From the youngest student, 8 year old Micaela Lamb, who donned a pink heart-shaped guitar and played the classics “Hey Good Lookin’” and “America,” to the hard rock tune “Seek and Destroy” performed by local teen Tino Madrid to the classical guitar act, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” of husband and wife team, Bob and Patricia Wagner, there was definitely something for everyone. Some other highlights included the father and son guitar duo, “Ball and Chain” perfomed by Fabian Valdez Junior and Senior and the amazing performances put on by another local teen Caitlin Walsh, who not only played guitar, but sang all of her songs at the same time-all the while showing her true passion for music and her instrument.
The second showcase ended with five adult students performing the classic Eagles tune, “Hotel California,” blending their guitars together in a finale that left the audience stunned. Nobody was as stunned, however, as the man that made this all happen-Mike Kinney. “I knew my students had the talent, but they literally knocked my socks off. I had no idea that so many of them could perform at this level.”
Passing the torch never felt so good.
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