“We just got back from a mini tour up the coast,” said Cheeky frontman Shant Salakian after a 2006 road trip. “We went as far as San Louis Obispo. It was a new experience for us. It’s the first time we’ve been on the road for more than a couple of days.”

Shant was born and raised in Zimbabwe, then moved to San Diego and hooked up with local natives Andy Jensen (bass), Chad Slaughter (lead guitar), and Gabriel Johnston (drums).

They describe their instruments:

Shant: “Taylor T5. It’s an incredibly versatile guitar and lets me get both acoustic and electric sounds. I just bought it and don’t know how I’ve lived without it up until this point.”

Gabe: “Yamaha 13-inch brass snare. I had been eyeballing it for months, then I went into the store and I didn’t see it anywhere. I thought I had lost my chance, but a salesman pulled it out from behind the counter just as I was beginning to sulk. I bought it on the spot. Not that I had the money for it, but I knew I wouldn’t get another shot.”

Andy: “Cort five-string bass. Bought it sight unseen on eBay, and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Chad: “ ’70’s Les Paul XR1, bought in ’93 or ’94. It was my first real guitar. I recently gutted and sanded the paint off of it so as to make a super axe. It’s still a work in progress.”