Press Rewind’s Matt Rivera on Guitar, Confidence, and the Temecula Music Scene

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 CablesGreat 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.