I’ve worked as an educator for most of my adult life. One of the great pleasures of tutoring and teaching is watching students grow in skill and confidence. That joy was on full display at Carmine’s Bar, Grill and Stage in East Hartford on mercifully cool Thursday night.
It was Open Mic Night at Carmine’s, and when I arrived the band had just finished setting up. I grabbed a drink and sat down as three man opening act launched into a set of funk and pop music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Ron Pinney did triple duty, playing guitar, providing vocals and hosting the open mic. Edmund Peart kept the crowd’s feet tapping with his drumwork and vocals, while John Grenier provided the smooth bassline throughout the set. The three took a moment to honor the passing of the great Sinéad O’Connor with a raw cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” followed by more Prince and Bill Withers and Tim McGraw.
Next came the main event, as three young men hit the stage. Their youthful energy had the crowd rocking and clapping along with them. Luke Preuss made his guitar look like an extension of himself. Ryan Skoog’s bass play reverberated across the room, each note rumbling like thunder. Chris Allinson’s fingers danced across the keys on his saxophone. The 16-year-olds were giving the veterans a run for their money.
In fact, there was a reason for their talent. All three are Pinney’s students. He’s a former teacher who worked at Manchester High School and Manchester Community College, and has transitioned in recent years to private lessons. He had the boys come down to Carmine’s to get the experience of playing live.
I was surprised to learn that this was their first performance. He stood off to the side of the stage, beaming as his kids tore through their set of classic rock covers. He turned to me, smiling. “These kids are pretty great, huh?” he yelled over the riffs.
Yeah, they really are.
I spoke to the boys after their set, and their stories were as dynamic as their sound. For Luke, playing the guitar was like destiny. He’d been strumming on a toy guitar since he was 3 years old, and when he turned 6 his parents got him the real deal. Ryan began his music career on the drums, but after his father suggested he try bass instead, he fell in love with the instrument. Chris was essentially chosen by his instrument; when he was testing out different instruments to play, the saxophone was the only one he could get to make a sound.
All three have their hearts set on careers as musicians. They dream of putting their names alongside the musical legends they covered. With Pinney as their teacher and Carmine’s as their launching pad, it looks like their futures are bright indeed.
Carmine’s recommends checking its Facebook page to track upcoming events.
Next: Jamil is headed to the Wadsworth Atheneum to learn more about one of his heroes, Frederick Douglass.
