Keith Stickney of Tsunami Cables Talks Tone, Reliable Gear, and Why It’s Important to Be Nice

Keith Stickney of Tsunami Cables Talks Tone, Reliable Gear, and Why It’s Important to Be Nice

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/ [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 [http://TsunamiCables.com]. Offer valid through May 29, 2027.

Hunter Webb of RoseLine Band on Bass, Groove & the Temecula Music Scene

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/ [https://www.instagram.com/rose_line_band/]

Kyle Hudson of Those Guys on Becoming One of SoCal’s Favorite Local Bands 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/ [https://www.instagram.com/kvlehudson/] Those Guys on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoseguysbanned/ [https://www.instagram.com/thoseguysbanned/] Those Guys Website: https://thoseguysbanned.com/ [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 [http://TsunamiCables.com]. Offer valid through May 29, 2027.

Woody Garcia on Chasing Tone, Reading the Room & Bringing People Together Through Live Music

“The goal is to make people feel something.” On this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Brian sits down with longtime Southern California musician Woody Garcia, frontman of Woody and the Harrelsons, for a conversation about the long road from childhood guitar lessons to becoming one of the most recognizable live performers in the local music scene. Woody traces his story back to growing up in San Dimas, learning guitar around age 11 or 12, and being shaped by the music of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots, and the alternative explosion of the ’90s. He talks about early bands, reconnecting with childhood friend Eugene at a Save Ferris show, recording original music, playing punk shows with Cry Havoc, and eventually finding his way into the project that would become Woody and the Harrelsons. What started as a leap into playing covers became something deeper. Woody shares how performing songs people already love taught him to see music as an emotional bridge -something tied to memory, people, and moments in our lives. For him, doing those songs justice is part of the responsibility. The conversation also gets deep into the craft of live performance: reading the room, choosing songs in the moment, building a set without a setlist, and learning how to serve both the crowd and the venue. Woody explains why the band evolved from mostly ’90s rock into a broader mix of ’80s alternative, classic rock, hip-hop, R&B, soul, and funk - and why the goal is never to give people the exact same show twice. Of course, there is plenty of guitar talk. Woody breaks down his Friedman Small Box amp, his his journey through guitars, amps and various pedals, the role of his hot pink gear aesthetic, string gauge, picks, and why an unforgiving amp can make you a better player. He also talks about the influence of David Gilmour, Prince, Radiohead, and how the musicians in his band are his biggest inspiration. But the heart of this episode is bigger than gear. Woody opens up about taking better care of himself, learning how to sustain the physical demands of singing and performing for hours at a time, and trying to be his best self so the band can be its best self. Toward the end of the conversation, he reflects on seeing how music brings people together, helping people tune out the noise of the world for a moment, and remind us that we are more alike than we are different. This is a conversation about guitars, gear, cover songs, and the grind - but even more than that, it’s about connection, presence, gratitude, and the kind of musician who wants every show to mean something. Listen to this episode if you’re into: Southern California live music, guitar tone, cover bands, ’90s rock, Pink Floyd, Prince, Radiohead, local music stories, and honest conversations with working musicians. Woody & The Harrelson's Website: https://www.woodyandtheharrelsons.com/ [https://www.woodyandtheharrelsons.com/] Woody on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodyandtheharrelsons/ [https://www.instagram.com/woodyandtheharrelsons/] 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 [http://TsunamiCables.com]. Offer valid through May 29, 2027.

Meet Tristan Bowls: From Guitar Hero to East Lake Studios

Tristan Bowls picked up the guitar at 11 because Guitar Hero 2 and 3 made him want to play a real one. AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Slash. That was the foundation. Now he's 29, runs Eastlake Studios on a private property in Lake Elsinore, plays guitar in Eastlake Rhythm Section, and tests amps at Suhr during the day. In this episode, Tristan and Brian get into: - Learning guitar by jamming with neighbors and best friends down the street - The hard rock and heavy metal foundation that started everything (AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses, King Diamond) - Branching into jazz fusion, R&B, and funk in college and beyond - How Eastlake Studios came to be: getting invited to jam there in 2021 after COVID, finding the studio empty, and revamping it into his own space - Why he prefers being behind the console listening, rather than recording himself - Recording Hypno Sapo live at Eastlake and what made the band's theory knowledge stand out - His mic setup for guitar cabinets: Sennheiser 421 paired with an SM57 - Why a Warm Audio U47 clone became his go-to vocal mic - Working volume and tone knobs on the guitar instead of just relying on pedals - His current rig: a Suhr Bella head, a Fender Princeton, and an Engl head he's borrowing for a punk project - His pedalboard: Polytune, Vertex boost, Cornerstone Gladio overdrive, Boss delay, Strymon Flint - Why he sold his SG Standard to pay for his Suhr Tele-style guitar - The Eastlake Rhythm Section origin story: 14 years of friendship and multiple bands before landing in one project in 2021 - Why playing covers your own way matters more than copy-pasting the original Memorable moments from the episode: When Brian asked if Tristan ever pushes back on a band's tone in the studio: "If I'm really hearing something, I don't have a problem with being like, hey, can you turn down your treble on your amp? Because I'd rather do it that way than have to go and do it after I've recorded it." On why comfort in the studio matters: "If you're nervous when you're recording, it's never going to come out like how you want it to. You could listen back to it. It could be good, but there's going to be little things where you're like, oh, that could have been better." On guitar tone, sharing something a mentor told him early on: "You can control a lot of the tone just through your volume, your tone knob." On how Eastlake Rhythm Section approaches covers: "We're going to play what we want to play. And we're going to play it good enough or just tight to where people are like, yeah, that's good." Where to find Tristan and Eastlake Studios: Eastlake Studios: recording, mixing, rehearsal space, music and video production. See Eastlake's and Tristan's credited work: https://linktr.ee/eastlakestudios [https://linktr.ee/eastlakestudios] - East Lake Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlake_studios_/ [https://www.instagram.com/eastlake_studios_/] - East Lake Rhythm Section Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlake_rhythmsection/ [https://www.instagram.com/eastlake_rhythmsection/] - Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristan_bowls/ [https://www.instagram.com/tristan_bowls/] 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 [http://TsunamiCables.com]. Offer valid through May 29, 2027.