More than 500 people flocked to Mission Viejo Saturday to enjoy three of the finest solo acoustic guitar masters in the world during the Lord of the Strings special Guitar Masters Tour.
The event at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center featured a trio of guitar wizards – Eric Johnson, Andy McKee and Peppino D’Agostino- who captivated people from near and far with their innovation, talent and energy.
“By all accounts, from the capacity crowd of 500 plus, we are onto something big here in Mission Viejo,” said musician Tim Johnson, who launched the Lord of the Strings series with his wife Tina nearly a decade ago.
With standing ovations throughout the night, it was clear the audience was in awe of this trio of gifted artists. Grammy-winner Eric Johnson is one of the most respected and renowned guitarists playing today, celebrated for his electric six-string playing and songwriting gifts.
Andy McKee is an Internet phenomenon whose solo acoustic six-string performance videos and compositional flair have racked up an astounding 78 million-plus plays on YouTube, where he has also held the three Top-Rated Videos of All Time, according to reports.
D’Agostino is an Italian native and longtime California resident whose latest CD – “Nine White Kites” - is getting critical acclaim throughout the world.
“I really like Peppino … the stories he told before he played his guitar were very funny,” said 12-year-old Micah Conrad of Los Angeles. “My favorite part was when all three guitarists played together really fast at the end with an upbeat country song.”
Chad Amador, 24, of Orange said the concert “exceeded his expectations.”
“I was amazed that for a $45 seat I could see the guitarists’ facial expressions,” he said. “I have been playing guitar for 10 years and this concert has inspired me to practice more and get better.”
“The sell-out audience responded to the music with multiple standing ovations throughout the evening that made the Lord of the Strings staff feel validated for all the long hours they invested to put on a production like this one,” Johnson said. “We are looking forward to producing many more shows in Mission Viejo over the coming years.”
