Hear the Spicy Blues of Baja
Constructed mostly of wood, the Dobro guitar has the general look of a standard acoustic instrument.
Nevertheless, while its round curves resemble a classical Spanish guitar, its sound is something
completely different. The guitar?s metal, inverted cone covers the sound hole, creating a unique blend of
blues, country and soul. Plucking its strings, one ultimately creates a reverberating sound that literally
strikes a chord with audiences.
Today, variations of the Dobro guitar play integral roles in blues, country and bluegrass music. In the
1960s, however, one particular genre adopted the Dobro as its own. At the time, a new culture evolved
along the California coast. Displeased with the idea of living the average life of their parents, an
entire generation of surfers developed their own ethos. They were young. They loved surfing, and they
shirked authority. In the end, they created a unique form of music that embraced a certain kind of kinship
with the ocean. Along the way, the Dobro guitar took a leading role in this music, which quickly became
known as surf music.
The Dobro is not simply a musical instrument. Still heavily used in blues and surf music, the Dobro also
means something more to the people who hear its reverberating sound. Ultimately, this one guitar is part
of an ideal place and culture that embraces a no-frills kind of life. One can encounter this philosophy in
Baja, a place far from the unrealistic expectations of ordinary society.
Unsurprisingly, the Dobro is widely played on the beaches and in the laid-back blues joints throughout
Baja. In a way, Baja has adopted the Dobro, adding its own ingredients to its sound. The Dobro in Baja has
merged with the spicy sound of the region. It is a hot, steamy, bluesy sound. It is Dobro Adobo.