Rock Camp for Girls... Day 1

So, today was Maddie's first day at RnRC4G (Rock N Roll Camp for Girls)

William and I went to the first ever RnRC4G showcase to see our favorite band (Sleater-Kinney) perform years ago...
During the showcase, everyone was seated at the Aladin Theater... no one was standing in the large open area just in front of the stage. The three of us (I think Scott DeAlvarez was with us) walked up and stood right at center stage - resulting in everyone else joining us in the 'pit'.
After the S-K set(they always deliver!)William said to me, "Mike you HAVE TO get Maddie to do this camp!"... well, I can't take any credit for her wanting to do it this summer - that comes from her friends at the Art School all deciding to start a band at rock camp... but she signed up. And today was day 1.

Due to a mechanical issue with our CR-V, Shelli and I both ended up driving down to Portland to pick up our little rock camper together - and am I glad I was there for the debrief during the ride home!

Maddie talked the entire way home (due to traffic it was about 45 minutes en route)
She described meeting a girl that was in camp last year, an accomplished guitarist from Eugene Oregon, and a "quiet" girl that played the drums like a 'loud' girl :) - a complete band was formed.

During their day, they noodled on some sounds and wrote several parts of their first original tune!
The band has a camp supplied 'manager' and a camp supplied 'band coach' - both were very helpful in guiding the girls through a discovery process to find a sound they liked... as well as other things.
Oh, yeah, and Maddie was using a distortion pedal! (woo hoo, my dream has come true).

Her excitement was electric - literally.

After her regular guitar lesson this evening, Maddie and I had a guy at Beacock Music help her pick out her very own distortion pedal - and we picked it up...

Later at home, Mads played us the parts of their song that they had worked out... and it sounded so great! I can't wait for the showcase this Saturday night!!!

The camp produces a DVD for campers of the experience - and a film crew was taping her band today... I'm definitely buying a copy when its ready!

I could not have dreamed of a better first day experience for Maddie - this camp sounds like a life changing event! Girls Rock!

Timbers Vs AC Milan (under 21)

We went to see the Portland Timbers play a friendly against the under 21 team from AC Milan last night at PGE Park.
Good game, great seats. The officiating was a bit off - one of the Timbers was red carded for screaming at the ref... a bit strange - must've said something really bad...

The game ended in a 1-1 draw - and we were treated to PKs...
I feel sorry for those young players from Italy... the first 3 missed their PKs... so the Timbers ended up winning the match.

It was our first Timbers game that we drove to, and it was so much better than the experience takin MAX from Gateway - that we'll probably drive next time (even though I'd really like to reduce our carbon footprint)

Go Timbers!

Back room with Carrie Brownstein

We planned to catch a family supper prepared by Naomi Pomeroy - with our good friends Doug and Toni.
Doug had found this special event in his inbox, and the words that caught his eye were, [...]live music by Carrie Brownstein (ex-Sleater-Kinney).

Turned out that Doug and Toni had double-booked their evening, which is too bad we were looking forward to a chance to talk...

Last week, when I mentioned to William that we were going to see Carrie, AND eat a family supper - he nearly freaked-out!
He was immediately online trying to get a reservation... but alas it had sold out. (I really should have sent him a link when I found out about it... he was my ripe "sire" (for those that don't know about ripe, here's a good read on that incredible phenomena that burned so brightly in Portland for a while)

So, anyhow...
William was ecstatic that he could accompany us to see Carrie, and enjoy a Naomi family supper meal... (thanks to Doug and Toni)

The back door

Interesting event. The theme was a discussion around the way a city writes itself - the ways that writing can shape the future of a city, and the marked differences between literature of Portland and Seattle.

but... honestly, we were here for 2 reasons... in order:
1. Carrie Brownstein
2. family supper

and neither disappointed!

wine was provided, fantastic finger sandwiches, then Carrie took the stage.
It was a very intimate setting, and she noted how nervous she was (isn't that funny to think how many fans she has played to in huge arenas...)
She played several covers - I don't remember them all, but a Ramones song, a S-K song (funeral song), and Bruce Springsteen (Dancing in the Dark) to boot.
Her set was short, and may have not been a direct hit with the authors attending (but those of us that are die-hard S-K fans were certainly very happy)...
after she was done, she simply walked over to her seat and enjoyed the family supper!

My favorite part of the evening was calling Doug while Carrie was playing - in part to get him back for his call to me during the Nirvana set at a Lallapalooza I had to miss many years ago... (we're even Doug)

Kaiser Chiefs Show in Portland

The whole family has loved the Kaiser Chiefs CDs - and when Yours Truly Angry Mob came out, we bought it via iTunes that day...

I saw that they were coming to the Crystal Ballroom, thanks to my new favorite website tourfilter! So I bought tickets for me, Shelli, Maddie and Maddie's friend Tovia.

The show:
Three bands played last night:
- The Little Ones
- The Walkmen
- The Kaiser Chiefs

The Little Ones...
Were playing when we arrived just after 9:00. This band had a great stage presence, and played an enjoyable pop sound. I quite liked their set - have to go get some of their music - the sound was well produced, lots of tight melodic guitar, and lots of reverb on the vocals...

The Walkmen...
were, in a word loud. I think I would like their music, but they were WAY TOO LOUD. I went scrambling to buy earplugs (I usually bring a pair to every show, but spaced it last night) they were sold out everywhere... my ears are still ringing.


Kaiser Chiefs...
As is customary any time I'm at a show with William (did I mention that Will joined us?) we provided a service to the teens of getting to the front. At one point I stopped, about 10 rows back, and William had to prod me to go further... so we pushed on.
We ended up getting Maddie and Tovia with only 2 people in front of them! perfect viewing!

At one point, the lead singer reached out to stand on the crowd barrier, and Maddie ended up holding his hand. She liked that :)

At one point, I told Maddie that she can't leave without the playlist.

After most of the set, William and I retreated to the back to find Shelli, she had a perma-grin from the show so far...

At the end of the concert, we heard, "Mike, Shelli!" - and up walks Carly with friend. It was good to see our niece, up from Corvallis for the show. She said, "I should have known you'd be here!".

We told her that Maddie was with us, and she was excited to see her cousin - whom at that moment was turned and waving her set list! We all got together and talked... what a night.