Needless to say, I didn’t end up there by accident — Tony MacAlpine has been one of my all-time favorite guitarists since the '80s. Back then, I collected almost the entire Shrapnel Records catalog — and naturally, every Tony MacAlpine album I could get my hands on. So seeing him live again, up close, was a total must-have moment for me.
We had to hit the road early that morning — the drive to Hollywood took about an hour and a half. My buddy and driver Hal overslept, so I did what any responsible musician would do: I cranked my amp and started shredding through some exotic scales to wake him up. It worked like magic. About 20 minutes later, he stumbled into the kitchen, still half-asleep, and yelled, “Best alarm clock ever!” He’s a huge Joe Satriani fan, so I guess my impromptu wake-up jam hit the spot. LOL.
As we rolled into the heart of Hollywood, I guided Hal through streets I used to know like the back of my hand. Even after 27 years, not much had changed. When we got to the entrance of MI, I ran into one of my favorite former instructors — Daniel Gilbert. He looked almost exactly the same, like we’d just wrapped up a class on the third floor last week. The only thing that had changed was his hair color. It’s amazing how music keeps people young — we both laughed about the fact that it’s been 27 years since I was a student there! Naturally, we snapped a few photos — some serious, some totally silly, complete with rock 'n' roll faces and hand gestures.
The clinic took place in the main concert hall on the ground floor — a space packed with memories for me. Back in the day, I spent countless hours on that stage under the guidance of Paul Hanson, performing with the best drummers and bassists the school had to offer. Entering through those familiar street-side doors (which used to be the main entrance) added an extra layer of nostalgia.
We grabbed prime seats — dead center in the second row. As I wandered over to check out the sound booth, someone called my name — it was the event organizer I’d been corresponding with beforehand — Carolann Mota, Director of Artist & Career Services at MI, who helped coordinate the event. We had actually first met last year at the OC Guitar Festival. The MI team is still doing a great job — just like in the old days!
And then it began. The full band hit the stage — including the legendary Tony MacAlpine, a titan of shred and fusion guitar known for his insane technique and collaborations with the likes of Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore, Derek Sherinian, Billy Sheehan, and Virgil Donati. Alongside him was the rising Brazilian prodigy Luis Kalil, whose blistering solos and mature musicality have already made waves across the global guitar scene.
The clinic was both intimate and electrifying — packed with jaw-dropping performances, gear talk, audience questions, improvisation tips, and personal stories from the road and recording sessions. The crowd — a great mix of students, alumni, and fans — was fully tuned in from start to finish.
ABOUT Tony MacAlpine
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Tony MacAlpine is one of the most acclaimed names in the world of guitar, and for good reason. His technical prowess, signature sound, and extraordinary recordings have inspired millions of music aficionados and guitar players for four decades. Versatility is a trait that has drawn many to MacAlpine’s music, fusing classical, jazz, rock and heavy metal into his distinct sound.
From his 12 solo records to his legendary partnerships with the likes of players like Rudy Sarzo, Mike Portnoy, and Steve Vai, MacAlpine’s influence and musical footprint is cemented into the halls of rock’s finest guitar players.
ABOUT Luís Kalil
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Hailing from Bagé, RS, Brazil, the 25 year-old LA-based Luís Kalil is the guitarist of Red Devil Vortex. The artist has recorded/performed with artists such as Steve Vai, Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Stone Sour, Marco Minnemann, Kenny Aronoff and also had Dirk Verbeuren, drummer of Megadeth, on his latest EP.
Featured in magazines, awards, endorsements, clinics and shows around the world are some of the achievements Luís has accomplished in the last few years. With two solo albums and one EP under his belt, in may of 2018, Kalil was awarded in Vienna, Austria, for writing two songs off his first record "Insight". The award was given by the legend Joe Zawinul's Foundation Of Achievement.
The new Red Devil Vortex self-titled is out now featuring what the guitarist quotes as "the sound I've always wanted to create".
Founded in the heart of Hollywood in 1977, Musicians Institute (MI) is a College of Contemporary Music built on the idea that musicians should teach—and learn from—other musicians in a creative, supportive environment.
Musicians Institute offers a complete education in every aspect of the music industry, including instrumental performance, DJ & producing skills, composing for video games, audio engineering, guitar building, music business, and training in the latest music technology.
Through real-world experience and guidance from working professionals, students can earn a variety of degrees and certificates, while taking advantage of networking opportunities at its state-of-the-art Los Angeles campus.
