Get in tune with electric guitars at Fat Cat clinic
By Amy Williams
Roaming Randall
Wednesday, November 08, 2006

He’s played the White House. He’s played on Leno.

And soon he’ll be playing along the Randall Road corridor.

Fat Cat Guitars in Carpentersville is bringing Ravi, a professional guitarist who’s played some of the most prestigious venues and who’s toured the nation with a number-one-selling band, to their store along the Randall Road corridor. On Nov. 17, “Instant Guitarification” is planned for this unprecedented event. Store owners hope to give the community a look into the world of electric guitar, as presented by Ravi.

Ravi’s appearance is the store’s first clinic featuring a professional musician from outside the store, said Kate Darling Bond, who owns Fat Cat with her husband, Scott.

“We want to be certain that the events we do at Fat Cat really provide a service to our customers and our community, so we've waited until we were able to offer something we really thought was special,” Bond said.

And this event should be special, she said, as Ravi walks attendees through the world of electric guitar. The clinic will feature Greg Bennett Guitars by Samick. As he showcases different guitars, Ravi will show how guitar designs and components create unique sounds. He’ll talk about how music can create life-changing experiences. And he’ll play, as well as help attendees find the type of guitar that suits their musical needs.

Ravi has appeared on David Letterman and Jay Leno, played on “Saturday Night Live,” “The Today Show” and “Good Morning America,” and appeared at Madison Square Garden and at a White House Christmas party. During his presentation on the Randall Road corridor, he’ll relive some of those experiences, as well as his time in 1997 playing with Hanson, the top-selling band in the world that year.

Bond said music enthusiasts of all ages are welcome to the clinic. As an independent and locally owned music store, Bond said, their goal is to bring local musicians together, and this event at Fat Cat should be a special educational and informative way to do that.

The event is free, but seating is limited. Interest is high, Bond said, so she’s asking people to call for reservations at (847) 844-8844.