Musically, former area residents Nathan Montgomery and Melissa Behring got a solid start during their days as students at Alpena High School.
After graduation, both went onto to study music at the college level and to embark on careers that have allowed them to make money and make music.
This Saturday marks a homecoming for the two when they and their fellow 7 Million Jigawatts band mates perform for the Thunder Bay Arts Council-sponsored Guitar Summit VI. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Alpena High School Auditorium, with their band signed on as the headliner.
"I feel really lucky to be coming back," said Behring, the front woman for this rock band that is well-known in the Detroit area and beyond. "There were good people there who supported me when I was younger and encouraged me to keep chasing it."
"Being a part of the high school band program, and people like Greg Adamus and my band instructor gave me a start," said Montgomery, a 1993 AHS graduate. "It's nice to come back to the high school, the place that got me going."
The unique sound of 7 Million Jigawatts is infused with rock and soul, and recently caught the attention of Ford Motor Co. Their song, "I've Got You Covered," is featured on the 360 view of the 2010 Mustang on www.the2010mustang.com. They also have had a successful release of a new CD, "Taking Flight," which is currently available online at ITunes, Last FM, Digstation and CD Band.
After graduating from AHS in 1992, Behring spent two years at Alpena Community College and then transferred to Central Michigan University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in voice performance and English. She relocated to the Detroit area in 1998 and worked in the corporate world full-time, all the while maintaining an active performance schedule. Last year, she decided to branch out and start her own company called Dream Town Media as a source for meeting the publishing, social and digital marketing needs of other artists.
"The music and the English were two extraordinarily useful things," said Behring of her college education. "In the corporate world, I was a better writer than everyone else and I was unique because of my music. It allowed me to engage in some really interesting conversations."
Montgomery, who plays guitar as well as bass and keyboards for 7 Million Jigawatts, received a jazz performance degree at Wayne State University. He currently teaches at the Arts Academy in the Woods where he has run the guitar program for the last six years. He also is half-way through a Master's Degree program in secondary education.
On the performance end, Montgomery has played for Taylor Guitar clinics and opened for the likes of John Fogerty and Brian Vander Ark.
Interestingly, he and Behring didn't really know each other while they were growing up in Alpena, other than by name. A mutual friend in the music industry reintroduced them several years ago, and Montgomery agreed to become a part of Behring's already established band.
Along with the two of the them, the group includes Jake Tobias on guitar, bass, keys and vocals, and Jon Vidal on drums and vocals.
Tobias, as a 17-year-old high school student, performed with local rock and pop bands who sneaked him into Detroit clubs. In addition to degrees in music and engineering from University of Michigan, his eclectic career has seen him on stage with many Detroit and national acts, including The Contours and The Marvellettes. He is also known as a writer, studio engineer, guitar teacher and producer.
Vidal has been drumming since he was 10, and playing guitar since age 14. A talented songwriter, he pens hits for 7MJ such as "The Way Down." His musical education has included stops at the Recording Institute of Detroit, Wayne State University and Berklee College of Music.
Both Behring and Montgomery expect a number of their family members and friends to turn out for Saturday's Guitar Summit, and they look forward to sharing their brand of music with Alpena area listeners.
"It's great to bring the downstate experience musically back up to Alpena," said Montgomery. "It's great to bring the Detroit influence up here."
In additon to 7 Million Jigawatts, Guitar Summit VI will feature the local youth band, Bobbing for Piranhas, the doctor duo House Call, and well-known local guitarists Wayne Kenjorski, Pete VanVlera and Larry Daoust.
Tickets to Guitar Summit VI are $12 for adults, with all students admitted free of charge. The tickets are available at Neiman's Family Market, LeFave Pharmacy, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union on Bagley, TBAC office or at the door.
