Owner John Kenny recently escaped a high-tech job in the fast-paced Bay Area and is adjusting well to the charms of the Central Coast. He and his wife Patricia moved to Paso Robles in 2003 with their 8-year-old daughter, and this month he opened his own music store.

After riding out the boom and bust of the Silicon Valley dot-com bubble, the Kenny family decided it was time leave Redwood City and find someplace new. They traveled all over California, and when the arrived in Paso Robles, they just fell in love with it.

Although his professional background emphasizes information technology and computer programming, Kenny's real passion has always been for music. So the decision to switch from high tech to hi-fi was an easy one. Kenny started in high school and played in rock bands throughout college.

"With my interest in music, it was hard to find [the equipment] I like, what I expected to see," Kenny explained. "I felt there was a void in the North County that needed to be filled."

Once he decided to open a music store, Kenny spent about a year and a half working out the business plan and negotiating with distributors to stock his shelves with the top-of-the-line gear.

"I wanted to bring in the best vendors that make the best gear from the get go."

Faultline Music features a complete line of instruments, recording equipment, and accessories for professionals and beginners of all ages. And as a parent, Kenny appreciates the community's commitment to its youth.

Faultline Music has already agreed to sponsor the Paso Robles Youth Task Force "Battle of the Bands," and the shop also offers lessons in guitar. They also plan to teach keyboard, vocals, and other instruments. Eventually, Kenny will offer "Mommy or Daddy and Me" lessons, where parents can take lessons alongside their children at no additional cost.

"It's a way of bringing music into the house that can involve the whole family," Kenny said. "They can support and encourage each other."

Temporarily located in the Albertson's shopping center on Niblick Road, Kenny looks forward to moving into his permanent location across the street, adjacent to Kohl's, as soon as the construction is complete. For more info, call 226-7400, or visit www.faultline-music.com.

Fast Facts

The Vines to Wines club at Cal Poly is presenting its third annual An Afternoon Amidst the Oaks wine tasting fund-raiser at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch on Saturday, April 30 from 3-6 p.m. More than 50 wineries from throughout California will be participating in the event, and 10 local restaurants will provide the food. This event is entirely student run and all proceeds benefit the Cal Poly Viticulture Program. For tickets or additional info, call Molly Strobel at (209) 601-8220, or visit www.anafternoonamidsttheoaks.com. ...

... World Rhythm & Motion Studio at 150 South St. is now offering some of the most competitively priced yoga classes in San Luis Obispo. Jessica Cheda hosts Yoga For You every Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and charges just $5. The open-style classes are accessible to all levels, and students are encouraged to bring their own yoga mats. For more info, call 596-0609 or visit www.worldrhythmandmotion.com. ...

... Montaña de Oro State Park will be hosting one of several Earth Day celebrations taking place Saturday, April 23. The statewide Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup is an annual event held in conjunction with the California State Park Foundation and PG&E, bringing together thousands of volunteers to plant native trees and community gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitat, install recycling bins, remove trash, and make overdue repairs. For more info, contact Michael Beauchernin with the California State Parks, at 722-4006. ...

... Cal Poly recently announced that an already popular product has now been certified as Fair Trade Chocolate. Fair trade products are also offered at a number of UC campuses, but Cal Poly Chocolates is the only university-based Fair Trade certified chocolate business in the U.S. Fair trade cocoa beans are grown on certified farms and co-ops in Central and South America. To learn more, contact Professor Tom Neuhaus at 756-2240, or visit www.transfairusa.org. ³

Staff Writer Jeff Hornaday compiles New Times' Strokes & Plugs. E-mail him at [email protected].