Country-rock artist Chris Lozano didn’t come from a music industry family. He grew up in Paonia, Colorado, a small coal mining town where his graduating class had just 40 people - and where hard work wasn’t a slogan, it was a way of life.

In this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Chris shares the story behind his journey: singing Motown and classic country as a kid, getting pulled out of middle school detention by a choir teacher who heard something in his voice, meeting the woman who would become his wife, serving in the Marine Corps, and eventually finding his way into country music.

Chris also talks about how his military background shaped his songwriting, especially on songs like “Boots on Sacred Ground,” written for the Marines, military members who never came home, and the Gold Star families who carry that loss every day. In one of the most emotional moments of the conversation, Chris explains that he doesn’t write to impress everyone — he writes so the people the song is meant for can feel seen.

The episode also goes deep into Chris’s Nashville recording experience at Historic RCA Studio C, working with producer Eddie Gore, and learning from the kind of session musicians who have played with major artists across country, rock, and Americana. Chris shares stories about walking the same halls as legends, tracking with Nashville players, and learning how small changes in songwriting, phrasing, production, and performance can turn a song into something that connects.

Chris also opens up about the grind of booking, building a band, getting rejected, and staying persistent:

“For every yes I’ve got, I’ve gotten probably like 20, 30 no’s. So don’t take the no’s as you’re a failure.”

That mindset runs through the whole conversation - from Paonia to the Marine Corps, from karaoke nights to Nashville, from local shows to national stages.

In this episode

• Growing up in a small coal mining town in Colorado
• How Chris first discovered his voice
• Meeting his wife in middle school
• Serving in the Marine Corps and learning guitar while stationed in Hawaii
• Writing songs with emotional weight and personal meaning
• The story behind “Boots on Sacred Ground”
• Recording at Historic RCA Studio C in Nashville
• Working with producer Eddie Gore
• Nashville takeaways, session players, and songwriting lessons
• The reality of booking shows and hearing “no” again and again
• Building the Chris Lozano Band and taking country-rock on the road

Featured/mentioned: Chris Lozano Band, Eddie Gore, Historic RCA Studio C, Bekka Bramlett, Tim Buppert, Steve Mackey, Dane Bryant, Tyler Cain, Jared Kneale, Erik Peterson, Toby Keith, Jason Aldean, Billy Gibbons, Eric Clapton, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson.

Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrislozanocountry/

Website: https://chrislozanoband.com/

SoCal Soundcheck is sponsored by Tsunami Cables.

SoCal Soundcheck is proud to be sponsored by Tsunami Cables. These are high-quality, dependable cables built for working musicians, serious players, and anyone who values gear that performs night after night.

When your signal matters, your cable matters.

Use promo code SOCALSOUND at checkout for 10% off your order at TsunamiCables.com.

“I have three hours to convince everybody in the room that they love country music.”

That line says a lot about Brian Gaylord.

On this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Brian Gaylord joins the show alongside Eric Davis of the Brian Gaylord & Country Star Band for a conversation about country music, rodeo grit, original songs, Nashville recording, and the standard behind building a serious live band.

Before he was fronting a country band, Brian was a professional rodeo cowboy — traveling, competing, and living inside the culture that would eventually shape his sound. Country music was always there, playing on the radio, becoming part of his voice, his style, and his identity.

After knee surgeries and being told he might never ride again, Brian had to figure out what came next. Music became more than a side passion. It became the next arena.

That same competitive mindset carried into his recording career. Brian talked about flying to Nashville, working with high-level musicians, recording at the home studio of a Rascal Flatts member, and building songs with players connected to artists like Morgan Wallen and Tim McGraw.

That standard also defines the Brian Gaylord & Country Star Band. Brian is intentional about the musicians he brings onstage — players who can deliver a polished, full, real country sound.

With Eric Davis on guitar and a lineup that includes top-tier players, pedal steel, multiple guitarists, and backing vocals, the band is built to sound big, professional, and unmistakably country.

The episode also digs into the challenge of bringing country music into Southern California venues, especially rooms that may not think of themselves as country audiences. Brian’s goal is not just to entertain the crowd. It is to win them over.

Brian and Eric also performed live in the studio, giving the episode a stripped-down look at the musicianship behind the stories.

In this episode, Brian Gaylord and Eric Davis talk about Brian’s rodeo background, the knee injuries that tested his determination, trading a saddle for his first guitar, recording original music in Nashville, working with top-level producers and session players, building the Brian Gaylord & Country Star Band, winning over non-country audiences, playing original songs live, Eric’s guitar approach, and live in-studio performances.

Brian Gaylord on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brian_gaylord_music/

Brian Gaylord & Country Star Band on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangaylordcountrystarband/

Eric Davis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericdavissd/

SoCal Soundcheck is sponsored by Tsunami Cables.

SoCal Soundcheck is proud to be sponsored by Tsunami Cables. These are high-quality, dependable cables built for working musicians, serious players, and anyone who values gear that performs night after night.

When your signal matters, your cable matters.

Use promo code SOCALSOUND at checkout for 10% off your order at TsunamiCables.com.

Matt Rivera’s story starts with a box of cassette tapes.

Growing up in Southern California, Matt discovered bands like Van Halen, Aerosmith, Stryper, and Scorpions through his dad’s music collection. His dad played guitar, the songs hit hard, and somewhere in that mix of classic rock riffs and cassette-era discovery, Matt found the thing that would stick with him for life.

In this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Brian Jensen sits down with Matt Rivera, guitarist and backup vocalist for Press Rewind, a SoCal dad rock cover band playing classic rock, ’90s, and 2000s alternative rock around the Temecula Valley.

Matt talks about growing up in the Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, and Temecula area, starting on piano before switching to guitar, learning early songs like Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” and Papa Roach’s “Last Resort,” and forming his first band with longtime friend Chris Merchant.

The conversation also gets into the story behind Press Rewind, playing with a live band at local open mic nights, learning songs on the fly, and the musicianship that comes from being able to support different singers, players, and requests in real time.

Of course, there’s plenty of guitar talk too. Matt breaks down his EVH guitars, PRS Custom 24, LTD George Lynch model, Martin acoustic, 5150 amp, DigiTech Drop pedal, EVH effects, noise gate setup, and why tube amps still have a sound that’s hard to replace.

But at the heart of the episode is something every musician can relate to: confidence.

When asked about the hardest obstacle he’s had to overcome as a musician, Matt said:

“Believing in myself and enjoying what I do. If you’re having fun doing it, that’s all that matters.”

That’s the thread running through the whole conversation - from a kid digging through cassette tapes to a guitarist still chasing that same feeling on stage.

Follow Matt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicnerd/

Follow Press Rewind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pressrewind_band/

SoCal Soundcheck Sponsored by Tsunami Cables

Great tone starts with great gear, and great gear has to be reliable. Whether you’re on stage, in the studio, or setting up for a podcast, your cables are the last thing you want to worry about.

That’s why SoCal Soundcheck is proud to be sponsored by Tsunami Cables. These are high-quality, dependable cables built for working musicians, serious players, and anyone who values gear that performs night after night. When your signal matters, your cable matters.

Use promo code SOCALSOUND at checkout for 10% off your order at TsunamiCables.com.

Offer valid through May 29, 2027.

In this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Brian sits down with Apollo Spalding, guitarist and songwriter for the psychedelic alt-rock band Hypno Sapo.

Apollo’s approach to music is anything but one-dimensional. His sound and technique are shaped by a wide range of influences, from Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, the Sex Pistols and Prince to Chicago blues, Delta blues, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Skip James, Celtic/gypsy jazz, Russian composers like Shostakovich, Eastern sounds, reggae, funk and more.

But what makes Hypno Sapo stand out is not just the range of influences. It is what Apollo does with them.

The band’s music may feel psychedelic, unpredictable and strange, but it is not random. Apollo talks about writing with different modes, tunings, voice leading, tone, dynamics and the details that make each song feel alive. His guitar parts are built with intention, helping give Hypno Sapo a sound that feels original, creative and uncompromising.

Apollo also shares how Hypno Sapo came together, what it is like writing and performing original music in a local scene dominated by cover bands, why recording the band live mattered, and why supporting local original artists is so important.

Meet Apollo Spalding of Hypno Sapo.

Follow Apollo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fwrad_radikal/

Hypno Sapo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypno.sapo/

Listen to Hypno Sapo's self-titled debut EP on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htNcyLahWDA&list=PL8KM0L4kq-n_pZVkDHiZ4tPr0t168J-Cz

SoCal Soundcheck Sponsored by Tsunami Cables

Great tone starts with great gear, and great gear has to be reliable. Whether you’re on stage, in the studio, or setting up for a podcast, your cables are the last thing you want to worry about.

That’s why SoCal Soundcheck is proud to be sponsored by Tsunami Cables. These are high-quality, dependable cables built for working musicians, serious players, and anyone who values gear that performs night after night. When your signal matters, your cable matters.

Use promo code SOCALSOUND at checkout for 10% off your order at TsunamiCables.com.

Offer valid through May 29, 2027.

Charli Brewer Was Born to Rock

Charli Brewer didn’t casually pick up the guitar. Once it clicked, it became a daily obsession.

A SoCal guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Charli has built a large and engaged online following through rock and metal guitar solo covers, performing with the kind of energy that makes it clear she is not just playing the notes. She is living inside them.

In this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Charli talks about growing up surrounded by music, from Jerry Lee Lewis and The Beatles to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Megadeth, Metallica, Motörhead, System of a Down and Pink Floyd. She shares how a dusty, out-of-tune guitar with old strings eventually became the instrument that pulled her in for hours a day, every day.

Charli also breaks down how she studies guitar players, why she often goes beyond tabs and tutorials, how live performances help her understand a guitarist’s feel, and why learning songs by ear can be so satisfying.

The conversation also gets into her gear, including Jackson King V guitars, EMG pickups, Floyd Rose systems, her Gibson Les Paul, Blackstar amps, her Boss GT-1000 setup, and the artist relationships she has built with Blackstar Amplification and EMG. Charli talks about becoming a Blackstar Amplification artist, being endorsed by EMG, playing NAMM, and how tone, feel and versatility shape the way she plays.

Beyond the guitar talk, Charli opens up about building her Instagram audience, staying consistent, engaging with fans around the world, and treating social media as a modern version of the gig: every post is a chance for someone to stop, listen and connect.

She also shares where she wants to go next: original music, a real band, collaboration, gigging, and eventually releasing a catalog of songs she has been writing for years.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Growing up as a SoCal musician with Texas blues influence
• The Beatles “light bulb” moment
• Discovering Sabbath, Zeppelin, Van Halen, Megadeth, Metallica and System of a Down
• The old guitar, dead strings and System of a Down song that pulled her back in
• Learning guitar through YouTube, tabs, live videos and ear training
• Why Charli studies guitarists instead of just copying solos
• Practicing three to four hours a day
• Guitar as therapy, outlet and creative fuel
• Jackson King V guitars, EMG pickups, Floyd Rose systems and her Gibson Les Paul
• Becoming a Blackstar Amplification artist
• Being endorsed by EMG
• Playing NAMM and connecting with the music gear community
• Using Instagram to build a worldwide guitar audience
• Why consistency, authenticity and engagement matter
• Her unreleased original music and future band plans
• Why she wants collaboration, chemistry and a real band behind her next chapter

Follow Charlie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charli_b_music/

Follow Charlie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CharliBrewerMusic

SoCal Soundcheck proudly sponsored by Tsunami Cables

Tsunami Cables are built for musicians who care about clean signal transfer, lower noise, reliable tone, and gear that can handle real wear and tear gig after gig.

They’re made by musicians, for musicians, proudly built in SoCal, and backed by a lifetime warranty.

Visit TsunamiCables.com and use promo code SOCALSOUND for 10% off.

Keith Stickney of Tsunami Cables joins SoCal Soundcheck for a conversation about tone, reliable gear, musicianship, and why being easy to work with still matters.

Keith is the owner of Tsunami Cables, a drummer, and a longtime audio/video professional. His story starts with music. From learning drums in middle school to marching band, gigging around San Diego, studying at Musicians Institute, and working in recording and live sound, Keith has spent decades on both sides of the stage.

In this episode, we talk about how his background as a drummer shaped the way he hears music. Keith breaks down pocket, groove, dynamics, tasteful playing, and why a drummer’s real job is not just playing fills, but making the entire band feel comfortable and locked in. As he puts it, one of the best compliments a drummer can get is, “You made it easy for me to play.”

From there, the conversation turns to the gear most musicians use every gig but rarely think about: cables.

Keith explains how Tsunami Cables started while he was learning to solder and repair cables at Musicians Institute. What began as a side hustle selling handmade cables to other musicians eventually became a company built around a simple idea: musicians should not have to choose between studio-quality tone and road-ready durability.

We get into what separates a cheap cable from a high-quality cable, how cables can affect tone, why bad cables can make your rig sound muffled, what braided shielding does, why cable memory happens, and how wrapping your cables the right way can help protect them. Keith also explains why reliability is not just a convenience. For working musicians playing wineries, churches, clubs, corporate events, and festivals, unreliable gear can hurt the show, the client experience, and whether you get called back.

But this episode is not just about cables. It is also about community.

Keith talks about the Tsunami Family, his artist program, and why he values real relationships over chasing big names. For him, supporting artists is not just about getting a product into someone’s rig. It is about working with people he respects, musicians he can grab coffee or a beer with, and players he genuinely wants to see succeed.

We also talk about custom cables, the Tsunami Custom Shop, the upcoming V15 tube preamp, and Keith’s biggest hill to die on when it comes to music, sound, and gear: attitude matters. Gear can be fixed. Cables can be replaced. But being kind, prepared, and easy to work with can open doors that talent alone cannot.

Follow Tsunami Cables on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsunamicables/

SoCal Soundcheck is proudly sponsored by Tsunami Cables.

Great tone starts with great gear, and great gear has to be reliable. Whether you’re on stage, in the studio, or setting up for a podcast, your cables are the last thing you want to worry about.

That’s why SoCal Soundcheck is proud to be sponsored by Tsunami Cables. These are high-quality, dependable cables built for working musicians, serious players, and anyone who values gear that performs night after night. When your signal matters, your cable matters.

Use promo code SOCALSOUND at checkout for 10% off your order at TsunamiCables.com.

Offer valid through May 29, 2027.

In this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Brian sits down with Hunter Webb, bassist for Rose Line Band, to talk about his musical roots, growing up around music, discovering bass, and finding his place in the Southern California live music scene.

Hunter shares how moving to Murrieta helped spark his musical journey, why bass lines from artists like Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, Cliff Burton, and Geddy Lee shaped his style, and what makes a great rhythm section work.

The conversation also dives into the story of RoseLine Band, how the group came together through the local open mic scene, the role Somerset Winery played in their formation, favorite songs from their setlist, gear, tone, karaoke go-tos, and why the Temecula music community continues to mean so much.

Follow RoseLine Band on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rose_line_band/

Kyle Hudson, lead singer and guitarist of Those Guys, joins SoCal Soundcheck for a fun, wide-ranging conversation about growing up in Murrieta, learning guitar, starting out at open mics, and accidentally building one of the Temecula Valley’s most entertaining live bands.

Kyle shares how School of Rock inspired him to pick up guitar, how Those Guys came together for a one-off St. Patrick’s Day show at The Cove, and how that single gig snowballed into a packed local calendar.

The conversation also digs into what makes a great cover band work. Kyle talks about choosing songs that fit the band, why performance matters more than simply picking popular songs, and why some crowd favorites become permanent setlist staples while others disappear after a few tries. Brian and Kyle also talk about Bailey’s, The Cove, Old Town Temecula, live music noise issues, Rage Against the Machine closers, dirt bikes, gaming, and the community that keeps the local music scene alive.

Topics covered:

• Kyle’s Murrieta roots and musical family
• Learning guitar after watching School of Rock
• Starting out with open mics and original bands
• How Those Guys began as a one-off St. Patrick’s Day gig
• The Cove, Bailey’s, Wine and Beer Garden, and the local venue circuit
• Why cover bands need to read the room
• Song selection versus song performance
• Why “Play That Funky Music,” “Mr. Brightside,” and Rage Against the Machine work live
• The story behind Those Guys’ original song “Rain Lucky”
• Old Town Temecula’s live music and noise ordinance challenges
• Dirt bikes, injuries, gaming, and Kyle’s offstage personality

Follow Kyle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kvlehudson/

Those Guys on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoseguysbanned/

Those Guys Website: https://thoseguysbanned.com/

Sponsored by Tsunami Cables

SoCal Soundcheck is proud to be sponsored by Tsunami Cables. Use promo code SOCALSOUND at checkout for 10% off your order at TsunamiCables.com.

Offer valid through May 29, 2027.