Fine arts

TOBIAS MUSIC AND GARAGE BAND U ARE CARRYING ON THE STRONG ARTS TRADITION OF FAIRVIEW AVE. IN DOWNERS GROVE.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLINA MENAPACE

on Fairview

Tobias Music and Garage Band U keep the groove in Downers Grove

BY VALERIE HARDY I f you’ve ever driven south on Fairview Ave. just past Maple Ave., especially at rush hour, you’ve likely had to stop and wait while a Metra, Amtrak or—on a particularly unlucky day—freight train crosses.

And if you’ve looked over to the east side of Fairview, you’ve also likely noticed someone with a guitar case strapped to their back walking into Tobias Music, or glanced at a group of young musicians and vocalists rocking out through the front window at Garage Band U.

These two music-oriented businesses not only jointly occupy the building located at 5013-5017 Fairview; they also share a role in furthering the rich fine-arts tradition of that short stretch of Fairview between Maple and the tracks.

Tobias Music has been in business on Fairview since 1978, and for many of those years, the guitar shop shared the building with the now-closed Midwest Ballet Academy. Garage Band U has occupied the space since the early 2000s.

Tobias Music

Ken and Margaret Tobias, longtime Downers Grove residents, originally opened their store as a way to provide guitar-related activities to their six children, if interested, and to potentially provide future income for their family. Ken played the guitar, and Margaret not only played guitar, but also taught the instrument at local high schools and the YMCA. However, their son Paul Tobias, current owner of Tobias Music, said they “both had 'real’ jobs too.” They picked the Fairview location for their small music store, because it was just a few blocks away from their Fourth Street home.

Initially, Margaret and a few of the Tobias children ran the business. Ken, at the time, had opened a Feebs Italian Beef franchise on Ogden Ave., where Scooby’s is now, Paul Tobias said.

“But Ogden was under construction, and the construction workers were on strike," he said. "No traffic could get through, so the customers couldn’t get to the restaurant.”

Ultimately, Ken Tobias had to close Feebs.

“Dad began coming into the store, because the family typewriter was there, and he wanted to work on his resume; but he never left,” Paul Tobias said.

Over time, Tobias Music and Ken as lead guitar repairman became very wellknown and trusted.

“We are the go-to place for guitar and amp repair in the suburban Chicago area,” Paul Tobias said. “Guitar is a part of them, these musicians. It’s like bringing a puppy to the vet: I’m not going to bring my dog to just any vet.”

Now in its 42nd year, Tobias Music’s longevity can be attributed to the business continuing to be family owned and operated, its welcoming environment and the unique experiences it offers. Paul Tobias described the store as having “a living room feel,” while he said his wife, Pat McCann, with whom he now co-owns the store and has “been hanging out with since high school,” described it “like hanging out in a '70s basement—but a lot fancier.”

"My dad says it has a barbershop feel," Tobias said. "You go to get a haircut, but you stay just to chat. ... [At Tobias Music,] people stop by just to hang out for a little bit. We always have flat-screen TVs on with the Cubs game, college ball, [etc.]”

But Tobias said a cool vibe and friendly owners aren’t enough to pay the bills, “especially in the guitar industry, where the Internet has changed the landscape.” “You have to be a unique experience, not just a generic store,” he said.

Tobias said their services include selling a vast array of high-end guitars, providing guitar (along with mandolin, banjo, and drum) lessons to 170 students per week, offering reliable repair services, and recently adding a performance venue onsite.

“These are the things that keep people coming in the front door,” he said.

And once in a while, the people coming through Tobias Music’s door are household names, like Kevin Bacon—who plays in a band with his brother—or Jim Peterik from Survivor, Ides of March and 38 Special, among other ensembles. But the real celebrity at Tobias Music just

“I wanted to start a program that gave the kids the experience of being in a band—the good, the bad and the ugly.”

—JAMES DIGIROLAMO

might be Ken Tobias.

“I bought the business, but you can guess who still runs the show," Paul Tobias said. "Dad is 83, and still works every day!”

Garage Band U

It’s no coincidence that Garage Band U is under the same roof as Tobias Music. James DiGirolamo, Tobias’s “least senior guitar teacher at 15 years,” is the creator and original owner of Garage Band U. DiGirolamo, who has been a professional musician for 40 years, started the business out of the now-defunct Beautiful Music store in Downers Grove right around the year 2000.

“I wanted to start a program that gave the kids the experience of being in a band—the good, the bad and the ugly,” he said.

DiGirolamo noted that the biggest differences between Garage Band U and its national competitors are the class sizes and quality of the instruction.

“Our classes are smaller—four to five kids in a class,” he said.

DiGirolamo still serves as Garage Band U’s musical director, but he sold the business to Jamie Curulewski last April. Curulewski’s background was in marketing, but he loved music his whole life.

“My dad was one of the founding members of the band Styx, and he did guitar lessons and owned a recording studio,” Curulewski said.

But it was Curulewski’s daughter who led him to Garage Band U.

“My daughter was taking guitar lessons elsewhere—she is phenomenal—but she stopped wanting to practice," he said. "She switched to Garage Band U, and a switch flipped.”

Because he loved what Garage Band U did for his daughter, giving her experience working collaboratively with others and boosting her confidence, Curulewski said he became interested in joining the business and helping it to "do the same for other kids.”

And the timing was perfect, according to DiGirolamo.

“I’m a musician and a teacher; I’m not a businessman," he said. "I don’t have that many good playing years left in me…so when [Curulewski] wanted to get into something in the music business, it worked out great.”

Garage Band U serves aspiring musicians from pre-teens on up.

“I thought it would be kid-oriented, but more and more, adults are reaching out," Curulewski said. "They’re wanting to fulfill that dream of being a rock-star.” And through Garage Band U’s 12- week programs, musicians who enter having taken ample prior lessons in their craft are matched up with a band and prepare two or three songs that, Curulewski said, “culminate in a real live rock performance with lights and sound, usually at Tailgaters in Bolingbrook.” ■