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.