The Firkins are:

Mark Delgado - Telecaster, Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Mandolin, Keyboards, Piano, Programming

Gloria Delgado - Bass Guitar, Fretless Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals

Jesse Godoy - Guitar, Lead Guitar

Charles West - Drums

Past Members - live gigs

Mark DelGuidice (Harpo) - Harmonica

Danny Ruiz - Acoustic Guitar

Maricar Ramias - Drums

Steve Folino - Lead Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar

Biography:

This Firkin experiment began in late 2005. I just got back from a trip to Columbia, South Carolina with my wife and my mother. We went to see my nephew Jon graduate Army boot camp.

I was inspired to write the song "Finally made it to Nashville". I was charting new territory writing a song that wasn't angry or complaining about something. My good friend Jesse Godoy had invited me to a xmas party that he wanted us to play a few songs. Jesse played in all my other bands: Negative Outlook, Green Fiend and People are Sheep.

At the xmas party we played a few Jazz Butcher songs, a couple other covers and then I decided, what the hell, I'm gonna play my new song. The Firkins were born. In the song I mentioned the Mackeson Stout I had at Robert's Western World in Nashville (Home of BR549) a month earlier.. (Note: we played to a room full of inibriated police officers)

After we played "Nashville" the guitar player (Steve Folino) from the Silver Devil Band came over and we started talking about country music, bluegrass and BR549. My old friend Mike Provident was the frontman for the Silver Devil Band, he invited me to their next gig, which I went to.

So there I was at Kelly's Pub in Arcadia, CA. There was nothing good on tap but I believe Gloria and I downed a couple 22oz IPAs in the parking lot before we walked in. The Silver Devil Band were about to start up and I see my old friend (Phil "the bass player" from my Hardcore Punk days. We start talking about old times and he walks away. A couple minutes later he hands me his phone and says "Charles is on the phone".

The Silver Devil Band starts up and I have to take the call outside. Charles says "I'll be there in 5 minutes". 5 minutes later Charles West walks in. Charles has been playing drums ever since I've known him (25+ years). We started Negative Outlook together with Jesse Godoy and Carlos Hernandez (RIP). I told Charles I wrote a few new songs and asked him if he'd be willing to play drums on them. He said yes, but that he still gonna play with other bands. No problem, I said.

Within a short period of time I wrote the songs: I Came Here for the Beer, Hamilton's Tavern, Naja's Place (now titled "A Few Rounds") and Pliny the Younger. We probably got together and rehearsed every month or so, until Mike Provident asked if we'd open up for them at Kelly's Pub.

I believe that imitation is the sincerest form of flatery. The idea to write & play beer songs only, is a variation on a theme. My old band Green Fiend recorded a song (Only a Rumour) on the Jazz Butcher Tribute CD "The Butcher is My Friend". That CD is when I first heard one of the worlds greatest bands. The Zambonis!!! Yes, THE ZAMBONIS!!! All Hockey Songs. Simply awesome, clever, funny, true. To this day I can't hear "Slap Shot Man" or "Referree's Daughter" without cracking a big smile. I thought, if The Zambonis can sing about what they love (Hockey) then I can sing about what I love (Craft Beer), besides I couldn't sing about my other love (Hockey) they already do that better than anyone else can. (Note: The Zambonis are Jazz Butcher fans, go figure).

Gloria and I have been going to beer festival for 10 years now and I always love the San Diego Real Ale Festival @ Pizza Port Carlsbad. I can't get enough of them Real Ales served from a Firkin. If I walk into a bar, brewery or resturant and they have Cask Ales well you know thats most likely what I'll be ordering....

5 years from The Firkins inception and 5000+ craft beers later, The Firkins are finally ready to release our CD "Drinking Beer to Make Music to Drink Beer to". It has been a long fun road with many more ales to be drank and more beer tunes to sing.