There's no such thing as an "unknown" band. If you're a band, and you play out, then someone must know you. I've played gigs where it was us and the bartender and two drunk people who left after awhile. So…

I like the early Rolling Stones, they were rowdy and innovative, but the Mick Taylor period is my favorite. I was a teen, discovering music and girls, and guitar just as the Stones were maturing into a great band. Time…

When making setlists, I imagine each set as a one act play where each song is a character or an event. In this context, a song has a role and a personality. The opening song is vivacious and engaging. The…

I saw a facebook post today which said... "What about changing the name of the group to ... No Strictly Surf Music Appreciation Society?". Right away I started thinking about what makes a musical genre. I realized that in any…

Once when I was a kid, my brother and I made a lion's mane out of construction paper and taped it to the dog. Then we got a hula hoop and did a lion-tamer circus act. Our mom was unimpressed. 

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I have been an afficionado of surf music for 4 or 5 years now. I spent this time becoming familiar with the repertoire, reading about its history, and above all, learning to play it. To play and write music in…

Some bands are famous, we all know about them. Some bands are only known in their locality or genre. This second kind interest me more than the famous ones. A few  of these groups actually make a living at it…

One of my favorite scary stories from middle school English class was "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs. A creepy talisman from an exotic land causes badness. Imagine my delight when a Tiki Bar opened in Springfield called... Yes…

It finally started raining here. I hope it rains a lot. We need it. As the leaves begin to fall, I practice guitar and look at the kids playing at the school across the street. They don't mind the weather…

Two El Borko Shows this week. The first is at Covered Bridge brewing in Cottage Grove TONIGHT! Tue, Sep. 21 7:00PM. Covered Bridge is on the corner of 9th and Main in Cottage Grove. This will be just a trio…

I put a new song on the website music player, down there... at the bottom of the screen... called "The Zoo". I wrote it a few years back with completely different lyrics, which I decided weren't that good. Here is…

Sensible people recognize that we as individuals are insignificant. We hope that we matter to those we care about, but in the big picture we are nothing. 

Nonetheless, this is our life, and it means a lot to us. Not…

I have two shows this weekend, one with Miller Brothers at Friendly gardens Friday night and one with El Borko Surf! at Viking Braggot Brewery Saturday afternoon at 4:00. I say "I hope" because things are shaky here as in…

After I released Surf Monster five months ago, I felt like I had more to say. So I said it by making another El Borko album, Surficana. This new record has seven surfy songs and no singing. These songs explore…

I played two very different shows this past weekend. One was a full electric band at a brew pub and the the other was Sunday brunch solo acoustic music. At both events I saw friends who have been coming to…

I have two shows coming up this weekend: 

This Saturday July 17, 6:00pm — 8:00pm 
El Borko Surf! 
Viking Braggot Brewing Brewery & Taproom, 
520 Commercial St, Unit F, Eugene, OR 
Classic and modern surf including music from their album…

Looking for a cheap travel guitar in Guadalajara, I discovered what they called a requinto. Who wouldn't love a tiny classical guitar tuned up high like a ukulele? Mine was a "Tres Pinos" brand, and I carried it around in…