GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Dylan Miller was so focused on playing his guitar he didn’t notice how many people were in Spring Park last Friday for Food Truck Friday.

It wasn’t until the band, Shopping Mall Guerrillas, finished its opening set ahead of Duval County Line that he learned thousands of people blanketed throughout the park. He realized the four high school students from Keystone Heights had just played their biggest gig.

“I didn’t comprehend how many people were there until the car ride home. I was seeing photos of the crowd,” he said.

Just a sophomore, the guitarist is likely to play in front of bigger crowds in the future. But Friday’s show was a big first step for everyone in the band.

“It sure was the biggest crowd,” said drummer Austin Girouard. “It was very awesome to just play for such a large crowd and have them hear our music, but I was having a good time. I was having fun.”

Like Miller, Girouard is a sophomore at Keystone Heights.

Other members of the band are guitarist Henry Carter and bassist Matthew Hallowell. All are students in one of David Golden’s Guitar 1, 2 or 3 classes at the school. Another band that originated from Golden’s class is called Bad Decision.

A day after playing in front of thousands, the Shopping Mall Guerrillas played at the Melrose May Faire and Music Festival on Saturday, May 4.

“Before I went on stage, I took a deep breath in and a breath out, and I just started playing,” Miller said. “After that, I just wanted to be on stage.

“After the show (on Friday), I went out in the crowd and saw two young girls. It was amazing to see their faces light up. That’s what made the show more me.”

The band will travel to Atlanta in June to record two songs.

“I’ve been dreaming about something like this for a long time,” Miller said. “It will be my first time stepping into a recording studio. I’m so grateful I grew up in Keystone.”