BIG BALLS: bagpiper sizes up to play with AC/DC cover band

Who's got big balls? I've got big balls. I also play a large size bag so suck on that newbs!

In an act of complete randomness, Oregon Piper is going to play a track with a Portland AC/DC cover band known as "Shoot to Thrill" at the Roseland, Friday, January 17th.

Before you start thinking "cover band = cop-out band" consider the fact that you may just simply have a bad taste in your mouth from all the probably realistic awful number of cover bands out there who were too lazy to write their own music.

NOT THIS ONE. To be completely honest I've never been a die-hard AC/DC fan, but when I heard this band play I was instilled with the drinking power of three consecutive hangovers (instead of just one, normally). 

We'll be playing the tune "Long way to the top if ya wanna play rock n' roll" - for a refresher check out the original youtube video here.

And remember: "it's a short way to the bottom, if you wanna play smooth jazz." Special thanks to Dan Delmain (Portland bagpiper) and Claudine Hemingway (of McMenamins) who both agree that nothing is sacred.

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Reformation Sunday = bagpiping at Portland's hippest, old church

Above: picture of my secret gaming lair on a typical Sunday morning. Except NOT. (I would post an actual picture of my Sunday morning gaming lair but then the internet would see me laying in bed wearing my bathrobe and drinking scotch)

           I had the great pleasure of playing at First Presbyterian Church (that one right downtown you've walked by a million times but couldn't enter because you couldn't figure out the ancient doorknobs) for Reformation Sunday. As you can see from the picture the interior of the sanctuary is incredibly awesome, and will probably make you dream of putting on your powder wig and holding your next mock-trial meeting inside. The staff and congregation alike were extremely nice and generous, and thank god because WOW WAS MY HIGH A FLAT! So flat!! My good God!!!

           PS: Special thanks to Greg H. who is probably the nicest and most accommodating client I've ever met and who agrees that 1) bagpipes and full organ are probably the best instruments ever made in the history of man, and 2) God made the bagpipes before he even imagined that cutting off your foreskins would be a good idea. SNIPPITY SNIP. SCOTLAND THE BRAVE.

Bagpiper riles up patrons; causes massive amounts of beer to be gulped

Nothing like surprising your average beer drinker mid-gulp by suddenly striking up some pipes behind him! Juuuust kidding- I don't generally sneak around restaurants wearing my bagpiper get-up hoping to surprise some unsuspecting gentleman who may or may not have a pacemaker. DAMMIT MAN I'M A BAGPIPER, NOT A DOCTOR!

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Portland Brewing Co. held their (2nd?) annual release party of the "Noble Scot" ale at their brewery in NW Portland. In addition to having me regale folks with the pipes the celtic rock band "New Shilling" played some smokin' Irish tunes. Their bassist/bagpiper (sweet combo btw) Rob Barrick was my teachers teacher, so in a way he's basically the Godfather of bagpiping in Portland. Check out their website, they are DEFINITELY worth seeing!

In an event of complete luck I ran into an old friend (and former piper with Portland Metro) Travis Nelson who, in an event of complete randomness, also somehow happened to have his pipes in his car. I'm hoping the event staff weren't too confused when suddenly one bagpiper turned into two! 

While Portland Brewing may not be on many peoples "favorite brewery" lists, I found their selection to be more drinkable than some other large breweries in Portland, and hey if all else fails it's just a quick jaunt up SINNERS RD to Casa Diablo! 
PS: No, you didn't hear that from me, and yes, I always carry around this many two dollar bills in my wallet...

Bagpiper entertains guests at neighborhood block party WITHOUT riding a unicycle

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I swear to the bagpiping gods someday I'm going to tackle that unicycle-riding, Darth-Vader-helmet-wearing, bagpiper right onto the moist Portland pavement. I mean I've got to give him (or her!?) props for the amount of crazy multitasking it must take to do all that at once, and it just so happens that the way I give props is by performing a sneak attack critical hit from behind. 

In other news, I was extremely honored to play at a celebration of life in North Portland that later evolved into a block party. I couldn't have played for a more humble, friendly, and generous family. And this wasn't some weak-sauce coffee hour after church party- we're talking street blocked off, rock band jamming out, and nearly every person residing on the street coming out of their homes and enjoying the September sun. 

Special thanks to Cheryl M. who was also curious to see how many rum and coke's it would take for me to make a mistake in Scotland the Brave (answer: 3).