Rick Hildebrandt has been gigging in Southern California since 2011, when he traded 54 years of upstate New York for a place in Menifee. After retiring from an IT career at Loma Linda Hospital in 2018, music became the full-time job. Today he plays solo, performs as half of the K-Ray Acoustic Duo with Kelly Ray, and hosts two open mics: Thursdays at The Hive and the second and fourth Tuesdays at Roney's West in Murrieta.

In this episode, Rick walks through the philosophy behind his approach (he treats every gig as a partnership with the venue, not a performance), the gear and software that lets one guy sound like a full band, and the song-selection formula he's used to keep dance floors full at Lorimar, Stone Church Brewing, and Lady Yard Bistro. We also get into his influences (Allman Brothers, Brian Setzer, Albert Lee), his Telecaster setup, and why he hasn't brought an amp to a gig in years.

What we cover:

• Rick's path from upstate New York to Menifee, and 35 years playing with his brother in law Michael Yockey
• Why he picked up the guitar at 12, and the influence of his mother's sight-reading piano
• First electric: a Gretsch country gentleman bought after selling a 1972 Bultaco Pursang motocross bike
• Today's rig: Telecaster, Boss GT-1000, no amp on stage, plus the custom 5-way switch Tele he's currently building
• How he builds backing tracks in Studio One from MIDI files, tailored to a consistent band sound
• The 4-fast, 1-slow song formula (and why "B-side" deep cuts don't fill dance floors)
• Why he plays three hours straight with no breaks
• The K-Ray Acoustic Duo with Kelly Ray, and why finding a singer with an ear for harmony is harder than it sounds
• The mindset shift that changed his career: musicians as partners in the venue's business
• Open mic logistics, including the on-screen queue system Rick's wife Rinda runs
• Influences, slide technique (metal Dunlop, pinky finger), and why he's on 10-46 strings

Where to find Rick:

• Website: rickhildebrandt.com
• Open Mic at The Hive: Thursdays, 7 to 10 PM
• Open Mic at Roney's West (Murrieta): 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 6 to 9 PM
• Upcoming: Lorimar Winery (Wednesday, 12:30 to 3:30) and Wilson Creek Winery for Mother's Day with Kelly Ray (Sunday, 1 to 4 PM)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rick_hildebrandt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rick.hildebrandt.9

In this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, I sit down with Richard Wetherington - guitarist, songwriter, and frontman of the country-rock band Raw Fire.

Originally from New Jersey and now in Southern California, Richard shares his journey into the local music scene.

We discuss the power of networking, including how offering value through photography and gear support helped him build relationships with established musicians like John Demps. Richard also breaks down how Raw Fire came together - using Facebook, open mics, and some hustle to find the right lineup for his band.

We also talk about the “science” behind a great live show, including why pacing and giving the audience breathing room can make or break a set. We also talk gear, from his Taylor guitars to his Blackstar tube amp, and how his sound comes together on stage.

Finally, Richard shares what’s next - transitioning from a strong cover set into original music and building a distinct identity for Raw Fire.

Follow Raw Fire on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/rawfiremusic/

In this episode of SoCal Soundcheck, Brian sits down with Temecula saxophone player Cole Weber, who spent most of his life resisting the very thing he's now built a career on.

Cole grew up in Lake Elsinore surrounded by music (his dad is a working sax player), but wanted nothing to do with it. He chased competitive soccer instead, making a team ranked fourth in the nation, until two knee surgeries rerouted his path. Even through years of school band and a stint studying music production, he kept one foot out the door.

The turning point came when he found himself at his girlfriend's parents' house with no job and no plan. She pushed him to give saxophone a real shot, his dad handed him some starter gear, and within three months he was booking full-time income.

From there, the conversation gets into the realities of making a living as a working musician in Southern California: why Instagram outperforms every other platform for bookings, how word of mouth drives the Temecula scene, and the honest math behind solo gigs versus band splits. Cole also shares his five-year plan to move away from live performance and into producing and releasing original music, inspired by artists like Russ, Honest AV, and Nick D, who built audiences by dropping a song a week.

Plus: the heartbreak songs that shaped his writing, and the life motto that changed how he approaches networking ("it's not a flex to be busy, be available").

Connect: ColeWeberSax.com | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kolewebersax/