walkingparty.com

Ladies and gentlemen...

2008-08-01T13:05:00.004-04:00

...your Pro Football Hall Of Fame Class of 2008.

Darrell Green and Art Monk, two legendary players for the Super Bowl-winning Washington Redskins, will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame tomorrow. Green was voted in in his first year of eligibility, while Monk's path to the Hall was a long and winding road (and was filled with rallying cries from fans of the Burgundy & Gold year after year).

Regardless of how they got there, though, it's pretty damn awesome that they'll be inducted together. It's sure to be an emotionally uplifting day for Redskins fans, former teammates and coaches, and it couldn't be more fitting for two of the team's most important contributors both on and off the field.

Below are links to interviews with Green and Monk from yesterday and today's Washington Post. If you'll notice, both of them are quick to mention that they are always more proud of their accomplishments in the community than on the gridiron, which shows what kind of class -- pun intended -- that we're dealing with this year.

"It's Just Exciting for All of Us"

Quiet Star Takes Spotlight Once More

Congrats, #28 and #81.

Hail.

ESPN.com tries to be clever, fails...

2008-07-29T13:14:00.003-04:00

Check out the screenshot below, which shows ESPN.com's front page just a few minutes ago. The caption below the picture, in case you can't read it, says "The Red Sox might be weary of Manny Ramirez, but they still need his wicked bat, right?"

Based in Bristol, Connecticut, you would think that the people at ESPN might be a bit more in-tune to what their fellow New Englanders say and how they say it.

I'm not from the greater Boston area, but I've spent enough time there -- or with people from there -- to know that the people of Beantown typically use "wicked" in addition to another word to describe something, not just the word "wicked" by itself.

Manny's bat itself is not malicious or mischievous, nor is it prone to evil-doings. Therefore, it's not wicked. What it could've been, however, is "wicked hot," "wicked pow-ah-ful," "wicked dangerous" or "wicked pissah."

OAR at Merriweather

2008-07-28T15:13:00.004-04:00

A few months ago, I e-mailed a guy that I know that has some very good connections with OAR, asking him if he could put in a word for me regarding a photo pass for one of their shows. After a few back-and-forths, the pass was confirmed on Thursday and, despite some last-minute miscommunication at Will Call, I finally had said pass in my greasy little palm just in time to head into Saturday's show at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

Only able to shoot for the first 3 songs meant scrambling back and forth for approximately 15 minutes, dodging 2 other photographers as well as two cameramen, a few venue personnel and about 8 large bouncers / security guys... all within a gap between the stage and the crowd that couldn't have been more than 30" wide.

This was one of my first shows at a venue larger than the 930 Club, so it was great to get the experience of shooting a full band under the lights on an enormous stage. Even though the aforementioned conditions made it extremely hectic and unbearably hot -- I walked out to an open area near the lawn and had to sit for about 20 minutes just to stop sweating -- it was great times.

Some of my favorite shots are below, and the rest of the set can be found here.

Enjoy, and keep your fingers crossed -- Coldplay is coming to town on Sunday and I should find out later this week whether or not I'll have a pass for that show as well. Eek.

My life in music...

2008-07-22T16:31:00.003-04:00

I saw this on another website and thought it was a pretty good idea...

My mission was to choose my favorite album from each year of my silly little existence, so being born in 1979 meant picking 29 albums that I've either fallen in love with or, after doing some research, consider the best from that year. Turns out it was quite the challenge, took multiple visits to Wikipedia's Years in Music pages and much more time than I anticipated.

To make things even more difficult, I told myself an artist could not appear twice on my list. For example, Coldplay's "X&Y" could've easily been my favorite in 2005, but since I already used "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" -- the better of the two -- for 2002, I had to choose another for 2005.*

Get it? Good.

So if you have some time to kill, an internet connection and a love for music, feel free to comment with your choices (or to tell me part of my list sucks). Not that I should expect anyone to, but a boy can dream.

Without further ado, my life in music...

1979: Led Zeppelin’s “In Through The Out Door”
1980: Bob Marley & The Wailer’s “Uprising”
1981: The Police’s “Ghost In The Machine”
1982: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
1983: U2’s “War”
1984: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.”
1985: Phil Collins’s “No Jacket Required”
1986: The Smiths’ “The Queen Is Dead”
1987: Guns N' Roses' "Appetite For Destruction"
1988: R.E.M.’s “Green”
1989: Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique”
1990: The Grateful Dead’s “Without A Net”
1991: Pearl Jam's "Ten"
1992: Sublime’s “40 Oz. To Freedom”
1993: 311’s “Music”
1994: The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Ready To Die”
1995: Oasis’ “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?”
1996: The Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash”
1997: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “Let’s Face It”
1998: Outkast’s “Aquemini”
1999: Incubus’ “Make Yourself”
2000: Lifehouse’s “No Name Face”
2001: Remy Zero’s “The Golden Hum”
2002: Coldplay’s “A Rush Of Blood To The Head”
2003: Jack Johnson's "On And On"
2004: Keane's "Hopes And Fears"
2005: Death Cab For Cutie's "Plans"
2006: State Radio's "Us Against The Crown"
2007: The Shins' "Wincing The Night Away"
2008 (so far): Vampire Weekend's "Vampire Weekend"

* This also explains why "The Joshua Tree" was not chosen for 1987. It's obviously the best album from that year, but since I already used "War" for 1982 -- a much tougher year for me -- I had to nix it.

Semi-quick hits.

2008-06-26T09:34:00.007-04:00

01. Former roommate / friend (not former) / fellow blogger Nowak introduced me to a site the other day called "The Big Picture," a photoblog run by Boston.com. If you can dig really great photojournalism, do yourself a favor and bookmark it. I've only looked through the first few sets, but the pictures on there are simply amazing.

02. Living in downtown DC -- while I've only been there for about a week and a half -- is awesome. It definitely helps that the weather for the past 10 days has been pretty nice (i.e. very little swamp-ass-inducing humidity), but regardless, it's great. I took my bike out the other night for about an hour just to soak it all in, which I can already tell will be something I do quite frequently.

03. Near the Verizon Center, especially on nights when there is an event, a guy sets up various buckets, trash cans, shopping carts, etc. and plays his make-shift drums for the passersby, garnering much attention. Every once in a while, he'll bring his sons (presumably) out to get down with him, which they did the other night. After watching / listening for a few minutes, I threw a couple of dollars in one of the buckets and asked if I could take some pictures. One of the kids said "yeah, that's cool" and began essentially posing for me. See below...

04. As if I didn't already have enough going on, I constantly think of new ways to entertain myself and keep my creative juices flowing. My next project will take a few weeks, but I think the final product will be really cool. I don't want to give anything away, so just stay tuned. And yes, I am aware that I've said this on numerous occassions, but this one is most definitely feasible.

05. I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that my review of Coldplay's album didn't get any legitimate comments. It was also posted on Brightest Young Things (the site that I take pictures of occassionally) and nobody commented on it there, either. What's up with that? Do people not like Coldplay? Do people think it was poorly written or completely off the mark?

I don't get it. Not only are comments appreciated, but they are also very encouraging. Help me help you, for fuck sake.

Review: Coldplay's Viva La Vida

2008-06-18T12:05:00.002-04:00

As if Coldplay wasn’t already big enough. Millions upon millions of their albums have been snatched up by adoring fans since their 2000 debut, they have performed in sold-out arenas in countries most people have never considered visiting and, to top it all off, now star in a ubiquitous (and oh-so-trippy) iTunes commercial.

With three critically-acclaimed records under their collective belt, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Will Champion and Jonny Buckland didn’t have to do much tweaking to ensure themselves another multi-platinum-selling release. The lazy, everyday musician would’ve surely kept cooking with the same winning recipe, catapulted back to the top of the charts and -- voila! -- continued raking in the cash.

Thankfully for their fans, and surely their sanity, these guys are better than that.

The quartet from the UK, perhaps driven by a “we don’t want to keep churning out the same old stuff” attitude, summoned the aid of successful producer Brian Eno, the man behind nearly half of U2’s catalogue (including Achtung Baby and Zooropa, albums that “re-defined” the Irish rockers between the end of the 80s and the beginning of the over-the-top 90s).

What exactly Eno brought to the table in terms of overall influence -- and decision-making clout -- is hard to say. It’s quite obvious, however, that Viva La Vida -- Coldplay’s fourth studio release -- will undoubtedly re-affirm the band’s position as one of the most popular on the planet.

With their long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s X&Y, Martin & Co. do not hesitate to think outside the box on more than a few tracks, which is at times both refreshing and thought-provoking. At the risk of abandoning their previously-successful formula -- which, for the record, they most definitely did not do here -- they seem to reach within themselves (and surely Eno) in an attempt to channel a deeper, more intense sound.

Tribal-like percussion was added on “Lost,” Asian-influenced strings on “Yes” and a strong, almost choir-like vocal presence on “Death And All His Friends.” With these additions come a more inspired collection, and while these and others could’ve overshadowed the band’s core sound, the tracks that they accompany could’ve easily been featured on previous releases.

It’s pretty cliché to say that a band has “matured,” but unfortunately, most of the time it’s rather appropriate. Coldplay continue to do what they’ve done best since they gave the world Parachutes, but to fulfill their need to develop as artists, they’ve stepped it up a notch. The final result in Viva La Vida is pure, unadulterated alternative rock from start to finish, even at its most mellow... which, let’s be honest, is when Coldplay is at its finest.

Below are thoughts on each track:

“Life In Technicolor” -- Take an increasingly-audible piano and organ melody to start things off in the key of Sigur Ros, introduce a Robert Smith-inspired guitar track, throw in an anthemic drum beat and you’ve got a pretty impressive intro track.

“Cemeteries of London” -- The title itself invokes a dark image, and with Chris Martin’s haunting voice over a very subtle piano and bass, the first lyrics of the record are introduced:

At night they would go walking
Til the breaking of the day
The morning is for sleeping
Through the dark streets they go searching
To see God in their own way
Save the nighttime for your weeping

In typical Coldplay fashion, a seemingly-melancholy song turns quickly with the introduction of a strong drum track after the aforementioned vocals. The rest of the song, while still lyrically darker than most of their previous work, does well to set the tone for the rest of the album with its brisk pace and unexpected exit.

“Lost” -- Every once in a while, a band will surprise you with something a bit different. A strong, percussion-based track with straight-forward (yet powerful) lyrics and great four-part harmonies, “Lost” is perhaps the second-best track on Viva La Vida and one that has grown on me with each listen. As Martin begins the second verse, you can’t help but wonder what he may be hinting at:

You might be a big fish in a little pond
Doesn’t mean you’ve won
Cause there’ll only come a bigger one
And you’ll be lost

It’s quite obvious that being the “big fish” is metaphoric for something, but what? Is it the band’s place in the current world of music, knowing that perhaps they are taking over where U2 will eventually leave off, only to be surpassed by another up-and-coming group 10 or 15 years from now? Or is it about something entirely different, perhaps speaking generally to those who think they are better than everyone else? I would assume it’s the latter, but I will also assume that the band knows just how big they actually are (and seriously, isn’t the former a much more interesting -- although very unrealistic -- interpretation?).

“42” -- The simplest song on the album lyrically, “42” makes up for its lack of complexity in vocals with a healthy dose of solid instrumental choreography. Right before the halfway point, it drops the repetitious, hypnotic sound of the first two minutes and reveals a Radiohead-inspired, almost jam-like quality, only to come back down and finish on a softer note for the final 20 seconds.

“Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love” -- In my opinion, the strongest track on the album and arguably the most complete song the band has ever produced. The first half, “Lovers in Japan,” begins with an infectious guitar progression, rolling drum track and steady bassline. Quality lyrics and impressive overall composition make it an instant classic, one that rivals “Shiver” as the band’s most pure effort and one you might’ve heard during “Lunch at the Archives” on WHFS if it still existed.

The second half, “Reign of Love,” is a short-and-sweet ballad that may remind fans of “See You Soon,” a studio b-side that also made its way onto the band’s Live 2003 CD. While “See You Soon” was a rather simple guitar- and vocals-driven track, “Reign of Love” relies heavily on Martin’s piano and Berryman’s bass, creating a deeper sound, both literally and figuratively.

“Yes” -- In another departure from the band’s past, “Yes” dives into something more experimental than the typical Coldplay fare. The aforementioned strings are dominant from the start -- and especially so just before each chorus -- but they stop just short of being too much. Strong, deep vocals carry the tune, and its inclusion on the record does well considering its place (sandwiched between what I think is the strongest track and the album’s first single).

“Viva La Vida” -- If you haven’t heard parts or all of this track yet, you either a) never listen to the radio, b) never watch TV or c) live under a rock, in which case you probably aren’t reading this. And since we’ve established that you’ve most likely heard it, you’d be foolish to argue the band’s ability to market themselves well.

Like “Speed of Sound,” the title track of Coldplay’s latest release has a chorus so damn catchy and crank-able that you can’t help but appreciate it for what it is. Enjoy it while it lasts, however, as you can all but guarantee that, if there’s a candidate for mainstream overplaying, it’s this. In other words, you’ll be sick of it come September.

“Violet Hill” -- Available as an official free download about 6 weeks ago, this was the first track I heard from Viva La Vida. As a fan of the band since 2001 and someone who anticipates each new release with very high expectations, I tend to be overly critical and rely strongly on the first impression. Fortunately, “Violet Hill” sat very well after that first listen and continues to do so in the context of the rest of the album. With its distortion-filled electric guitar, it continues along the same theme, ratcheting up the complexity of what could be an otherwise standard Coldplay track.

“Strawberry Swing” -- One thing that continuously pops up throughout Viva La Vida is a more stripped-down drum track, which is never more evident than on “Strawberry Swing.” Much like Larry Mullen Jr.’s pounding of a single bass drum during the latest live version of “Desire,” Champion provides a steady, pulsating beat to an otherwise heartfelt, almost happy-go-lucky song. Only when Martin’s acoustic guitar kicks in for the final third, however, does the song seem complete, finishing with a perfect balance of vocals and instrumentation.

“Death And All His Friends” -- If life has taught me anything, it’s that you always have to finish strong. When the final track of Viva La Vida begins, you get the notion that the album will slowly fizzle out and fade away into the distance. After a not-so-brief introduction of soft vocals and an even softer piano track, “Death And All His Friends” kicks into high gear, culminating in a fully-orchestrated exit accompanied by choir-like vocals, a fitting end to the band’s most complete effort.

I'm thinking...

2008-05-22T12:03:00.005-04:00

... that the whole “Spygate” thing, regardless of what a bunch of sportswriters are saying, is far from over. The fact that Bill Belichick went on the CBS Evening News and completely dismissed everything Matt Walsh brought to the table is yet another chapter in his rapidly-expanding book of deceit. First he “misinterpreted” the rules, then he “apologized” for his wrongdoing, and now he is essentially saying “you know what? It never happened in the first place, and whatever Walsh tells you is nonsense.” I don’t know Matt Walsh from some random shmuck on the street, but I’ll tell you this: I would believe his words a thousand times before I’d believe Belichick’s once.

... that I’m excited for Coldplay’s new album, which hits stores in less than a month. I’ve been a big fan of theirs since Parachutes, and if the rest of the album is as good as the first single, it will be in heavy rotation throughout the summertime.

... that I’m even more excited for the slight possibility that I’ll be getting a photo pass for Coldplay’s DC show in July. It’s probably a 50/50 shot at this point, but I can’t really think of any bad I’d rather shoot than Chris Martin & Co. While the term “big break” is rather cliché, getting some good shots of an extremely popular, internationally-acclaimed band would be huge for my portfolio.

... that I love blogging (and writing in general), but I just don’t have enough time to really focus. I think that’s my problem. I’ve got so many “hobbies” that it’s damn near impossible to devote any significant amount of time to any of them. I want to be a photographer, a writer, a better architect, a graphic designer and a film editor all at the same time. I constantly look on Craigslist and on jobs.com and whatever other sites are out there for something to grab me by the balls and say “c’mon, MWP, let’s get you a new career!”, but it just ain’t happenin’. It kind of sucks, to be honest. I need a change of pace.

... that planning a wedding is a lot of work. After ironing out some major details in the first couple of months, I thought the spring / summer would be smooth sailing. Little things here and there, however, continue to occupy my nights and weekends... and while I am absolutely stoked for the finished product -- if you can call it that -- I’m also growing quite tired. There just aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week.

... that moving into DC on June 15th is going to be absolutely glorious. The fiancé and I signed a lease a couple of weeks ago on an apartment in Chinatown, arguably the hottest spot in our nation’s capital. It’s going to take some getting used to -- my car will be kept in the ‘burbs, for one -- but ultimately it’s going to be amazing. We’ll be a block from the Verizon Center and about 50 restaurants and bars (and about a 5-minute walk from the National Mall). As the always-eloquent Flava Flav once said, “YEEEEEEEEEEEAH, BOEEEEEEEEEEY!”

... that not going to Bonnaroo this year really blows. Last year’s festival was awesome, don’t get me wrong, but I think I’m a bigger fan of the bands in this year’s lineup. I still have yet to see Pearl Jam live, and it’s no secret that I’m a big O.A.R. fan. Throw in Jack Johnson, My Morning Jacket, State Radio, Sigur Ros, Metallica -- imagine hearing “One” along with 70,000 other people in the middle of a Tennessee field! -- and a slew of other awesome acts and I’m a pig in shit (almost literally).

... that aside from Pearl Jam, there are very few bands I haven’t seen yet but want to. One of them is the Red Hot Chili Peppers and another is the Beastie Boys. I had a ticket to see Ad Rock, Mike D. and MCA with Rage Against the Machine in 1998 (I think), but Mike D. took a digger on his bike a few weeks before the show and the rest of the tour was cancelled. Talk about disappointing.

... that I’m pretty excited for the warmer weather that’s surely headed our way, but at the same time, I know the 95-degree, 100% humidity days are not far behind. Summers in DC are absolutely brutal.

... that it’s almost time for lunch.

... that if you’ve read this entire post, you should leave a comment.

... that I can’t think of anything else to wri

More pictures...

2008-04-21T09:13:00.006-04:00

No time for much of anything today, so I thought I'd share some pictures that I've taken over the last few weeks. I hope you enjoy them, and as always, comments are more than welcome.

Also as always, the rest of my pictures can be found on my Flickr page.

O.A.R.

The one and only Chevy Chase.

Umphrey's McGee

Oatlands Point-to-point races.

Myrtle Beach.

Likes / dislikes

2008-04-11T09:12:00.004-04:00

LIKE: Waking up in the middle of the night and having to go to the bathroom.

I’m not talking about having to relieve myself more than once -- or having to rock a Numero Dos -- but waking up, knowing it’s only about 4:30 and then falling right back asleep is awesome. Strange that I think it’s awesome, yes, but it is.

DISLIKE: Cab drivers in DC. Not while I am in the cab, necessarily, but when I am driving my own car and have to deal with their shenanigans.

First of all, if someone isn’t hailing a cab, they don’t need one. Too often I am behind a cabbie as he drives down the street, slowing whenever he sees someone standing on the sidewalk. If they need you, they will let you know -- especially during the morning and evening commutes, as they are in a hurry just like everyone else.

Second of all, driving a cab does not mean you are exempt from the rules of the road. Stay in one lane, ass.

LIKE: The following 4 songs.*

Eddie Vedder – Long Nights
Paolo Nutini – These Streets
Ryan Adams – Two
Virginia Coalition – Sing Along

DISLIKE: My parents’ timeshare company not having any availabilities in Costa Rica during the week of December 27 – January 3. Seriously, what kind of shit is that?

LIKE: The Capitals making the playoffs after a 5-season hiatus. Tonight’s game 1 kicks off a series against Philadelphia that should be insanely entertaining. Let’s go Caps!

DISLIKE: The fact that I still live with my parents. I realize that I’m getting married in 7 months and it’ll all be over soon, but I just want a place to call my own. Is that so much to ask?

LIKE: Hitting the snooze button.

DISLIKE: The fact that I’ve been so busy lately.

* Sorry, but these 4 will have to suffice for right now. I realize that they aren't necessarily "summertime" songs, but they are ones I thought you might enjoy. See my final dislike for the reasoning behind not posting an entire TWS.

It's Tuesday, rainy and I can't think of a title... deal with it.

2008-04-08T12:01:00.006-04:00

Alright -- first things first. As promised, a few pictures taken last weekend with my new Holga are below.

Also as promised -- basically the story of this blog... a slew of mostly empty promises -- I plan on working on TWS in the next couple of days in between taking care of some wedding-related tasks.

Stay tuned for that, and also stay tuned for some more writing, as I feel like getting back into the swing of things. I’ve had a few ideas floating around that I’d like to get out there, so if all goes according to plan, they’ll grace the pages of walkingparty.com sooner rather than later.

One final thing, which I’ve said before but I’ll say again -- I don’t think many people read this site much anymore, but if you do, throw a comment or two out there. It’s always nice to get a bit of feedback, as it motivates me to keep putting some effort -- even if it’s minimal -- into writing. I also think comments have the ability to spark new topics and create conversation, so if you want me to keep writing, start letting me know how you feel.

That is all.

A couple of things...

2008-03-27T13:48:00.005-04:00

01. I just got back from meeting someone who attended the opening of DCist Exposed and who thought my photograph was good enough to hang on her wall.

I am now a money-making artiste, so get in line to snatch up the beauty that is my work. Surely it will be worth millions some day, so you should probably capitalize while its still relatively cheap.

Besides, if you purchase anything, you can be one of the proud to say "I knew him when..."

02. Via an anonymous comment, someone suggested I create a summertime TWS post in the near future, which I think is a damn good idea. I will do some searching through my files and try and come up with something for next week.*

For those unfamiliar, TWS stands for "The Weekly Shuffle." Every week (or every other week, inevitably) while this blog was a young buck, I would post 10 songs that tickled my fancy at that particular moment. They were available for download -- which is probably crazy illegal -- but I thought they were worth sharing.

So look for that in the near future, as it will be glorious.

03. If you aren't sick of all my photography posts recently, you will be soon. I just picked up a Holga Lomography camera last night at Urban Outfitters, so in the next couple of weeks, I will be doing some serious experimenting with 120mm film. The results should be interesting, but don't worry... I will definitely post them here.

That's it for now. Stay strong, little roots.**

* I am heading down to Myrtle Beach next Thursday morning, so it may have to wait... but I promise it'll happen.

** What movie is that from? You tell me.

VACO at The Hard Rock Cafe

2008-03-25T09:37:00.005-04:00

Virginia Coalition played a CD release show at The Hard Rock Cafe in DC on Friday night, and yours truly was there to photograph it. For a place that does not host shows on a regular basis, I was quite impressed. The lighting was the best I've had for a show so far, and the sound wasn't shabby, by any means.

Some of my favorite shots are below. The rest of the set can be found here, and the show can be streamed by using the player below the pictures.

Have a great Tuesday, knuckleheads.

Let the 'madness' begin...

2008-03-20T10:48:00.004-04:00

Generally speaking, I don't know jack-squat about college basketball. Every bracket that I've filled out for the past few years has been done so with very little knowledge, if any (which may explain why I never win).

There's something about the tournament, however fun is to watch, that is lacking for me. It doesn't hold a candle to the NFL playoffs and can't compare to the World Cup (although let's be honest... very few things do).

I enjoy the Cinderella stories, the mid-major triumphs and the big dogs strutting their stuff, I really do. I like watching the opening games, the Round of 32, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four for their unbridaled school spirit, but there's a connection missing for me on an emotional level.

Maybe it's the fact that I went to a tiny Division III school. Even though my alma mater won the National Championship in 2001, I can count on one hand the number of games I actually attended. Sure, I had other things going on, but the draw just wasn't there.

Anyway, I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. Originally I was going to say something about Ashley Judd and the fact that the media absolutely eats up the fact that she's a Kentucky fan -- did you know that? Seriously, it's true -- but I didn't think that was interesting enough.

Go (insert small school that has absolutely no chance here)!

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

2008-03-14T13:06:00.004-04:00

Jason Mraz has a damn good voice, even if he can be a bit cheesy. His new single, from an album due out in May, has "summertime" written all over it. Enjoy.

What's wrong with this picture?

2008-03-14T09:52:00.000-04:00

Matt Costa at the 9:30 Club

2008-03-06T23:03:00.008-05:00

Last night's show at the 9:30 Club in DC was definitely a good one, experience-wise, but I'll admit that it's far from my best work. I got a few pretty good shots -- see below -- but overall, I was a bit disappointed.

Many major venues / shows institute a "first 3 songs only" rule, and this was no exception. I had to do what I could in the first 15-or-so minutes, which meant there wasn't much time to experiment with different camera settings until I felt comfortable. As a relative newbie to the live music photography scene, this didn't bode well for the ultimate results. It was much harder than shooting a full set, obviously, but now I'll take what I learned last night and try and use it to my advantage next time.

As for the show itself, it was very good. Better than I expected, actually. Matt Costa has a great voice in-studio, and fortunately, it translates to his live show quite well. He's a solid guitar player, he's relatively charismatic and he did a good job of blending his saptastic love songs with his more upbeat fare.

If you have a chance to see him, I'd definitely recommend doing so. And if you've never heard of him before, you can check out a few of his songs on his myspace page.

Adios, muchachos. It's 11:10 and I'm heading to bed relatively soon. The opening of DCist Exposed is tomorrow night, and if all goes according to plan, I'll be partying like a rockstar.

(Oh, and if you're interested, the rest of the pictures from last night can be seen here.)

Stop! Or my mom will shoot.

2008-03-05T11:04:00.004-05:00

I don't think many people even read / visit walkingparty.com anymore, but sometimes it just feels good to put my thoughts out there.

I have been doing a lot of photography stuff recently, mostly shooting shows for a site called brightestyoungthings.com. It's been pretty good times so far, which was to be expected. I have always been a big fan of both photography and music, so this new hobby of mine has been a great way to marry the two.

Anyway, I am shooting my first show at the 9:30 Club tonight, a venue that I've been to probably 50 times and absolutely love. It's a legendary place, consistently recognized as one of the best in the country, and I'm excited to test my skillz in a new setting.

That's all for now... I will try and post a few shots from the show on Friday. For now, here are some of my latest:

I chose... wisely.

2008-02-27T11:33:00.005-05:00

So a contractor dropped off a small box of chocolates with their logo on the outside -- a little treat for our office and a way to advertise their company. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Interested in a piece of sweet, candy goodness this morning, I opened up the box to find about 10 pieces... but no chart indicating what was what. Most of them looked similar, so I went with my gut and picked up one and took a bite.

Its contents?

Caramel. Exactly what I was hoping for.

I'll tell you what, people... it’s the little things that make life worth living.

--

Indiana Jones fans will know that today’s title is an indirect quote from The Last Crusade, which I think is the best of the original three films. Indiana Jones fans will also know that a new installment is set to hit theatres on May 22, a release for which I am extremely excited.

Behold one of the most glorious trailers to ever hit the interweb...

I think I need a bigger box.

2008-02-15T09:49:00.007-05:00

A few quick thoughts / questions on a very slow and boring Friday morning...

01. Why do magazines pre-date every issue? I received my latest copy of Paste a few weeks ago -- seriously, like the last week of January -- and it was the March issue. What's the point?

For a magazine that comes out every month, I suppose it's not that big of a deal, especially if it arrives a week or two before said month starts... but for a magazine like US Weekly, that shit is pointless. Why wouldn't they just put the date of when the issue was sent to print rather than put a date that's four or five days in the future?

I don't get it.

02. I drove by Taco Bell the other day and saw a poster in the window that said -- in giant purple letters -- FOURTHMEAL.

This is not a new campaign by any means, but something about seeing it with my own eyes triggered a slew of thoughts.

Didn't America go through it's gluttonous phase a few years ago and decide that, perhaps, focusing on getting fatter was a bad idea? I thought the marketing world was beginning to wisen up after the release of Super Size Me on the big screen and Fast Food Nation on the bookshelves, but apparently not.

Sure, McDonald's got rid of the option to SuperSize -- at least around here... who knows what's happening in the heartland -- and Wendy's is now offering things like fruit and milk with value meals, but to promote eating Taco Bell at 1:00 in the morning is absurd.

I also see an advertisement on the sides of buses quite frequently for McDonald's breakfast. There is a picture of an Egg McMuffin, some hash browns, a fruit-and-yogurt parfait thing and, get this, a huge Dr. Pepper.

Seriously? Nothing like waking up and consuming 24 oz. of syrup and sugar with your pancakes. No wonder there are more obese people in the United States than anywhere else in the world.*

03. On the personal front, wedding planning is beginning to really take shape now that we finalized our reception space.

Last week we put together our save-the-dates, tomorrow we are beginning to look at hotels in the area and on Sunday we are going to dive into the Sea of Bridal Registration (which I've heard is one of the more time-consuming tasks we have ahead of us).

Good times, but it definitely seems like there are a million things going on right now and just not enough hours in the day. Couple the wedding planning with the desire to take photography more seriously and MWP is one tired little fucker.

Until next time -- which at this rate will probably be another couple of weeks -- I'm Chevy Chase and you're not.

* I do not have statistics to back that up and am too lazy to look, but I'm pretty sure it's true.

** Also, if anyone can tell me what today's title is from, I'll e-mail you a cookie (or at least a picture of a cookie). Hint: it has something to do with the contents of the post...

Ordering!

2008-01-30T15:15:00.002-05:00

I would say I get a cup of coffee from Starbucks a couple of times a week. Not very often, in the grand scheme of things, but often enough that I am quite familiar with their deal (i.e. how to order, the lingo that the hipsters use, etc.). With that having been said, I have something that I’d like to call to your attention with the hope that you’ll either pass it along or do something about it.

For a company that claims to be very environmentally friendly, I’ve noticed that the Seattle-based chain does something so anti-green that I can’t help but be bothered by it. What I’m talking about, for those keeping track at home, is the double-cup.

“What is the double-cup,” you ask?

It’s rather self-explanatory, but for those unfamiliar, please allow me...

You see, more often than not, my Grande Americano will be placed on the bar in two cups; one holding the beverage (obviously) and one holding the one that’s holding the beverage.

Seems like a waste, right?

If their concern is that the beverage I am about to enjoy is extremely hot and may burn my delicate hands -- which I’m sure it is -- that’s all well and good, but isn’t that what the cardboard sleeves are for? Sure, we’re encouraged to recycle our paper products, but how many people out there actually do? When Jane Q. Public finishes her Decaf Venti No-whip Double Skim Latte, does she scour the streets for a recycling bin, or does she throw it in the nearest trash receptacle?

If you answered “the latter,” you are quite correct.

Since the majority of the gourmet-coffee-drinking population is a) too busy to notice and b) too unaware to care -- I’m only being realistic here -- let’s encourage the source to minimize the waste. You don’t need two cups for your beverage, and for sanitary reasons, they won’t accept one of them back after they’ve already put it on the bar.

So next time you order a deliciously-overpriced cappuccino, inform Bobby Barista that you’re not down with the double-cup. If he doesn’t thank you, fret not -- Mother Earth will.

DCist Exposed 2008

2008-01-29T12:28:00.003-05:00

Though my readership is undoubtedly much lower than it used to be, I still feel obliged to share certain news as if millions of people read my ramblings.

You may notice a new banner in the sidebar of this site linking to a post on DCist.com regarding the 2008 Exposed photography show. The reason I am linking to it, in case you haven't figured it out, is that a picture of mine was chosen to be included in the show.

Taken at the Rock and Roll Hotel in DC in September, it is, to put it simply, a picture of a couch (and some lamps).

I thought it turned out pretty well, though, so I decided to submit it for consideration. Consider it the judges did, and now my picture will be matted, framed and hung at the Civilian Art Projects gallery from March 7-15, 2008.

Pretty cool, huh?

A larger version of the picture can be seen here.

Item!

2008-01-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

As the ~~great~~ mediocre Aaron Lewis once said, "it’s been a while."

Yes, that song was annoying, and yes, so has been my lack of posts. I would be lying if I sat here and proclaimed a full-fledged return, so I will not do that. I will, however, attempt to bring my readership up to speed on what is happening in the life of MWP.

Let’s see... what has gone down in the month-and-a-half since my last post?

01. At the beginning of December, I officially launched another website, this one geared towards my photography. You can check it out by clicking on the banner below or by visiting MJLphoto.com.

If you know anyone in the DC Metro Area that is looking to have some pictures taken for whatever reason, passing my information along would be much appreciated.

02. On December 15th, MWP became MWEP (Marty the Walking Engaged Party). Just shy of the 2-year dating mark, I decided it was time to make it official. To my delight, she said yes, and now we are in the midst of planning a wedding.

The planning process should provide some good / interesting blog material, assuming I stop being lazy and start writing on a regular basis again. Stay tuned, I guess.

03. My fiancé and I took a weekend trip to New York just before Christmas. We ate at a killer steakhouse called Benjamin, went and saw the 75th Anniversary of the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City and took in the many sites. Needless to say, it was quite the time.

A few of the pictures I took are on my photography website, and I hope to post a few more on my Flickr page in the next couple of days. In other words, check back.

04. I got an iPhone. Woohoo!

05. I went to two Redskins games, one against Buffalo -- the first after Sean Taylor’s death -- and the season finale against Dallas. They were very different experiences, to say the least, but absolutely worth the trip out to Landover.

The tribute paid at the Bills game was impressive, but the back-to-back timeouts called by JG were not. The Dallas game was incredible from start to finish, as we began tailgating about 4 hours prior to kickoff and had killer seats in what turned out to be a Burgundy & Gold shellacking of Tony Romo & Co.

Good times.

06. Pictures of mine have been published in both The Onion A/V Club (DC Edition) and OnTap Magazine, a local music and entertainment periodical. It’s pretty cool seeing my work out there, as any exposure is great exposure (even though my name wasn’t included in the OnTap article). Hopefully these two will be the first of many down the road...

If you care to see them, click here.

07. In other photography news, I submitted 3 pictures for the Second Annual DCist Exposed Photography show. Nearly 600 entries were received, so keep your fingers crossed that one of mine will be included in the 50 or so that are chosen for the gallery exhibit.

I will certainly keep you posted after the winners are announced in a couple of weeks.

08. In yet more photography news -- don’t worry, this one’s not about me -- my girl and I went to see Annie Liebovitz: A Photographer’s Life at the Corcoran Gallery this past Sunday. The exhibit is now closed, so unfortunately, those that missed it are slightly SOL. For anyone that was able to check it out, though, I am sure you were as impressed as I was.

If you aspire to do anything with the art form or simply appreciate great photography, the majority of Liebovitz’s work is incredible... and seeing some of it first-hand -- including 8-1/2 x 11 prints that were made before publishing -- was awe-inspiring.

--

That about sums it up, I guess. Little things have gone on here and there, obviously, but I certainly don’t need to bore everyone with the minutiae. I had a great Christmas, a drunk New Years and am living as large as I can on an Architect’s salary.

In other words, life is good.

My thoughts on the Burgundy and Gold

2007-11-26T17:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday’s loss hurt. The previous losses to the Giants, Packers, Patriots, Eagles and Cowboys hurt. Joe Gibbs’s ill-timed timeouts hurt. Jason Campbell’s interceptions hurt, as do the fumbles by Clinton Portis and Santana Moss.

None of the above, however, hurt as much as what happened to Sean Taylor at 1:30 this morning at his home in Miami. I’m speechless, watery-eyed and can barely concentrate.

Reports are conflicting; some say he’s “stabilized,” others say he’s in a coma. Whatever the case may be, the Washington Redskins took a blow today that is way bigger than football.

Since word came out that our beloved #21 was shot, there has not been one mention of the Tampa Bay game, which is the way it should be. As fans of professional sports, we think we know how hard it is to play the games we love. We think we know why a certain play was or wasn’t made, and we think our advice is sometimes better than the advice that comes from the sidelines. We’re a nation of Monday morning quarterbacks, but only because we’re so passionate about our teams.

So when something happens that transcends the game, we are given a reality check as to just how human these million-dollar-earning, physical specimens are. They get in trouble and suffer tragedy like you and I, yet we somehow think that they are able to overcome it because of their position in the spotlight.

For the past 3+ seasons, Sean Taylor’s life has been a series of ups and downs. He’s made stupid decisions on the field (spitting in Michael Pittman’s face) and off (getting arrested for waving a firearm at a bunch of ATV-stealing idiots), but the future never looked brighter than it did a few weeks ago.

His contributions on the field were huge. He was becoming the dominant safety that everyone knew he could become, and his status as the best defensive player on the Redskins was all but established.

Clinton Portis said earlier today that his teammate was a changed man off the field as well. He had a child not long ago and began to distance himself from the thuggery that plagued his days at The U. He moved into a nicer neighborhood with his girlfriend and vowed to focus on his life as an elite NFL player.

His life, in short, was perfect.

And then someone tried to break into his house.

We can speculate all we want about what caused this or who was responsible for that, but the fact remains that Sean Taylor was shot this morning. His future as a football player is in jeopardy, but more importantly, so is his future as a father, boyfriend and son.

We ask a lot of our athletes, but we have to respect what they are able to do for us and move on. If Sean Taylor is never able to play football again, so be it. It’ll be a damn shame, but we need to keep the prayers going for him as a person before anything is said about him as a football player.

After all, his family needs him a lot more than his fans do.

Get well, #21... and, as always, Hail.

Hanz or Franz, I am not.

2007-11-14T18:10:00.000-05:00

I’ve always been a pretty active person.

When I was a younger man, I played soccer and tennis in an organized fashion for many years, participating in the latter at a Division III college as a freshman and sophomore. I dabbled in baseball as a youth, Club Hockey in college and extracurricular basketball until I busted my face on vacation this August.

My love of sports and taking part in them has fueled my lust for life, but one thing that I cannot stand is the most basic, natural form of exercise, and that is running. I’ve just never liked it.

Invite me to a competitive contest a few times a week and I’m right there with you, but unless I’m chasing after a ball, puck, another man (hold the jokes) or have some sort of equipment in my hand (again with the jokes), I just don’t see the point. Running for the sake of running, to me, is as boring as watching paint dry... which is why it is so damn difficult to go the gym after work.

Let me back-track for just a second: before this spring, I could count on one hand the amount of times I stepped foot in an organized, all-under-one-roof fitness facility. Weight benches, treadmills, spinning machines, men walking around flexing their heads while wearing cut-off sweatpants -- I just didn’t find paying money to see these things a necessity.

I’ve been on this Earth for over 28 years, and I think I’ve done pretty well so far. Sure, I could firm up the abs that rest snuggly under my 1-pack, but I’ve been hovering around the same weight for about 10 years. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, am I right?

Apparently not.

Earlier this year, the lady-friend in my life suggested we join the gym together, and rather than fight it, I decided to cave. I recognized the fact that it may be a good idea, and I even thought that I could get used to the whole working-out thing.

It started off well, as endeavors like this often do, but eventually it fizzled. It turns out that, unfortunately, I lack what many people would call “motivation.”

Instead of ending the work day on a high note, more often than not I drive right past the gym, head home and stare at the moving pictures on the television screen and surf the interwebs.

But no more!

Despite my hatred of any and all forms of solo exercise, I am succumbing to the guilt that, if I don’t take advantage, I’m essentially throwing away $40 a month. Joe Trainer convinced me when I signed up that the new Ab-pec-quad-lat-bicep-o-rama 2000 was totally worth my hard-earned money, and dammit, he’s right.

So wish me luck, America, as I embark on a journey to rid my body of any and all bad things. Now if only there was a way to make chicken nuggets not so damn tasty...

Nice.

2007-11-13T17:47:00.000-05:00

Behold, the new Washington Nationals Park, scheduled to open in April of 2008. She's coming along nicely, don't you think?

Oh, and see that dark thing just below the Nationals logo? That there is going to be one of the largest HD TVs in the world. As the Kool-Aid man proclaims, "Oh yeah!"

Image courtesy of Clark Construction.