When The Carlos Rock Experience plays Winston’s on Sept. 7, it will only be their third gig, but it’s the culmination of a life in music for guitarist Carlos Rodriguez. Perhaps best known to date as a founding member of Southern rockers, Stone Horse, Rodriguez recently left the band. “It was time to do my own thing,” Rodriguez said. A graduate of La Jolla High School, 1974, Rodriguez has been playing guitar since he was 14. “It gave me some focus,” he said. “I was a juvenile delinquent when I was a kid, but once I got to eighth grade, I really got into music. So, it was live a life of crime or play guitar. I chose the latter.”
The band’s set list is split 50/50 between originals and covers. While his previous group specialized in the Southern rock sound, The Carlos Rock Experience is influenced by the British blues rock of the 1970s, including The Faces, The Rolling Stones and pre Buckingham / Nicks Fleetwood Mac. “That music still feels vital,” Rodriguez said. “Audiences really respond. Some of these songs are decades old, but really, they’re timeless.”
In addition to Rodriguez, the band includes band co-leader Mindy Torgl (vocals), Kevin Ring (guitar), Al Venditti (bass), Jeffrey Bloom (drums), Sandra Herrera (vocals) with special guests Zachary Cole (harmonica) and Greg Wadsworth (guitar). “I’ve known most of these people for decades,” he said. “Except for Al, who is originally from Bensonhurst New York, everyone went to La Jolla High and everyone’s part of the scene that built up in Bird Rock, so it’s all old friends and I love it,” Rodriguez continued. “Gigs and rehearsals never feel like work. They remind me more of those great house parties with bands that we used to have back in the day, only on a larger scale.” Rodriguez’s work with Stone Horse helped earn the band nominations in 2014 and 2018 at the San Diego Music Awards in the category of “Best Rock Album,” and he has high hopes for this project as well. “I’m hoping to have an album ready to go early next year,” he said. “Mindy and I are working on new songs as we speak, but I also have a lot of songs that I’ve written over the years that I’m taking another look at, coming up with new arrangements and so on. There’s no shortage of material.”
The band is happy to be back at Winston’s for this show. “It’s kind of a home away from home,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve been booking my bands for 30 years and a whole lot of good things have happened there.” Beyond gigs and socializing, notably, Stone Horse taped their first video at Winston’s, for the song “Look What I’ve Done.” “(Booker) Ted Wigler is one of the biggest local music supporters I know. I’m always happy to be back in OB,” Rodriguez said.
Does Rodriguez still get the same joy from playing music that he felt as a teenager? “I love playing guitar and being on stage, emulating my heroes. It doesn’t matter the place or crowd size. When I play, it feels to me like I’m at Madison Square Garden.” Though he has now been performing at local clubs and parties for almost 50 years, Rodriguez considers age to be no barrier to rock ‘n’ roll. “I remember seeing the Beatles and the Stones on Ed Sullivan,” he recalled. “That had such a huge effect on me. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days, but when I get to make music, whether it’s onstage, in the studio, or just hanging with friends, at heart I’m still that little kid,” Rodriguez said.
The Carlos Rock Experience: Saturday, Sept. 7 at Winston’s, 1921 Bacon St. 2 to 5 p.m. $5. 21 and up. winstonsob.com.