HomeAbout ShipeContactPressVideoMerchandise – Music & T-ShirtsCalendarMusicPhotosDonateTicketsGrrrlz Rock @ Girls Rule (by Ophelia’s Place)Yesterday was my first contribution as a volunteer to Grrrrlz Rock.Ophelia’s Place hosted an umbrella event called Girls Rule.  Our idea (actually Matrisha’s idea) was to conduct a pair of “Sample Rock Camps.”  Two distinct sessions of 50 minutes apiece, wherein we would school a group of young ladies, in about 10 minutes, on drums, bass, guitar, ukelele, keyboards, and vocals.  Then we would all get together and jam on The White Stripes’ “We Are Going to be Friends.”Naturally, we had mild doubts that we could pull it off in such a short time.  But the kids hit it out the park.  In fact, they did so well, that we had them all switch instruments and nail the song a second time — in both sessions!It’s inspiring and moving when things like this happen.  I’d like to attribute the success to Matrisha’s ingenious unbridled enthusiasm and her impeccable preparation, not to mention the focused talents of my fellow instructors (and myself!  …I got to work with Sean Brennan & Barbara Healy for the first time)…  But really, it’s the kids.  I always say: It’s not that difficult to teach kids something when they actually want to be there learning it.Now I’m REALLY looking forward to this year’s Rock Camps.Tags: Barbara Healy, Eugene Oregon, Girls Rule, Grrrlz Rock, Lane Community College, LCC, Matrisha Armitage, Music's Edge Rock Camp, Ophelia's Place, Rock Camp, Sean BrennanAid & Comfort, Gig Re-caps, News from Shipe |  shipe |  March 16, 2014 11:00 am |  Comments (0)Sittin’ in on Lap Steel @ Bend Roots Fest (Sunday 9/29)An entire weekend of sitting in with friends as a side-man!  What better way to kick myself back into gear?  This afternoon was my third guest spot in as many days.Friday night I was at Ninkasi in Eugene, perched on my Fender Twin wearing a strapless stratocaster for The Stagger & Sway.Yesterday afternoon (Saturday), at the Bend (Oregon) Roots Festival, my old friend Brad Tisdel spontaneously invited me to accompany him on lap steel.  It was an hour of sweet, sublime, rainy-day folk music, on which I trod delicately. (Mostly swells, paddings and eerie, moody melodies.)And this afternoon, third and final day of the festival, again I was on lap steel.  Sean McGowan let me wade sonically through a diverse dozen-song-set of originals.  (In case you’re asking what a few others have asked:  No, this is not “Shane MacGowan” from The Pogues who used to give drunken interviews and was in the news for having his rotten teeth fixed.)Sean McGowan, is a Eugene songster colleague.  And like Brad, he is a longtime friend going all the way back to high school in the 80’s.  He’s also the Radio Americana DJ at KLCC.I did have solo slot of my own, after playi