Road Trip
This summer, my wife and I took a road trip through the southwest USA. Our journey took us through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Arizona. I've lived in the US for nearly four years now, but this is the first opportunity I've had to travel extensively and really see some of the country. Despite the fairly grueling 4000-mile round trip, I'm glad we drove. It's pretty amazing how quickly and dramatically the landscape changes between states (or sometimes even just within one state), and I doubt we would have been able to appreciate this as much had we flown.
Below are a few shots from the trip. The scenery was spectacular almost everywhere we went, but most of my favorite shots came from Moab in Utah. While I don't think I'll be posing a threat to the National Geographic photographers just yet, I'm pleased with the images I came away with. I would've loved to have spent more time there. And also Las Vegas, but that's more for my crippling poker addiction. I kid, I kid, although I did take part in my first ever live poker tournament while I was there. I made it to the final table and got third place. I didn't win that much (which didn't stop me feeling like James Bond, incidentally) but it did cover the cost of two Cirque Du Soleil tickets. We saw the original Mystère show, and I'll be honest, I wanted to hate it. I had always thought it would just be a bunch of pretentious dancing, but I absolutely loved it. Seriously, go see it. Turns out there's not much dancing at all. Instead, it's a bunch of very talented acrobats doing very dangerous things very high up. I think I actually gasped at one point. I never gasp.
Mollie and Family
This is the cover for the upcoming children's book Mama's Tomatoes by Mollie Deeb. I recently had the pleasure of shooting Mollie's head shot for the book, and what a great shoot it was. We got a whole bunch of good images, and I've put a couple of my favorites below. Mollie was able to show me a few of her illustrations for the book, and I have to say I'm a big fan of the art style. What I love about it is that it's very non-stereotypical for something aimed at kids. It really stands out. I think this is going to be a very cool little book.
As if being a talented writer and illustrator wasn't enough, Mollie also has an unbelievably cute family. After we had finished with the head shots, the rest of the Deeb clan joined in, and again we got some great shots out of it. I was particularly impressed with the kids, who were just so relaxed and comfortable throughout. Coupled with the aforementioned-cuteness, it made my job almost too easy.
Madisons CD Release Party at Frank
My love for this band is already well documented on this blog. At this point you'd actually think I'd be sick of them, but if anything I reckon I enjoy their shows even more now than I used to. Their performance at Frank was no exception. It's a very cool little venue, the crowd was more than up for it, and the band itself was on top form. The CDs being given away were only demos (even the demos are awesome!), but I've been told that their debut album proper will officially be released within the next few months. I can guarantee you I'll be first in line.
White Ghost Shivers at Antone's
This weekend I had the privilege of shooting Austin's own White Ghost Shivers, who I've briefly mentioned before on this blog when they picked up the prize in the "Best None Of The Above" category at the Austin Music Awards.
What can I say about White Ghost Shivers? I've seen quite a few bands in my time. I've seen Daft Punk live in Tokyo. I've seen REM play at Stirling Castle in Scotland back when I was REM-obsessed like no other. I've had Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips zip past my head in a giant hamster ball. All of these have been amazing spectacles in their own right, but gosh darn it, compared to a White Ghost Shivers show I've just never had so much damn fun at a concert.
If I tell you that White Ghost Shivers lift their style from the jazz and swing music of the 1920s and 30s, you would be forgiven for picturing some kind of whimsical tribute act paying homage a simpler time. That couldn't be further from the truth. A White Ghost Shivers show is a raucously good time from start to finish. Armed with an arsenal of ridiculously catchy tunes, there's plenty of swearing, dancing, beat boxing (weirdly enough), and even thinly-veiled lyrics about genitalia. Whimsical it most certainly isn't. I can guarantee that this is the only place where you'll see a slide-whistle solo met with rapturous applause. I didn't realize a slide-whistle solo was even a thing.
If all this weren't enough, the level of talent of each and every band member is astounding. I myself am actually trying to learn piano at the moment, and watching the WGS pianist in action I can only assume that a pact was made with the devil at some point.
White Ghost Shivers have been around for a while now, and I admit I'm kind of late to the party. If you haven't had a chance to see them live yet I thoroughly recommend that you do. There's simply just no one else like them.
Madisons at Viva Streets!
I went downtown to the Viva Streets festival this weekend, an event that invited people to "bicycle, play, get fit, people watch, and celebrate good health." While these are all undeniably noble pursuits, I was only there to see Madisons play. I have banged on about these guys before, but I just can't stress enough how stupendously wonderful they are. And they are living proof that no band should be without a stomp-box.
Anyway, I'm limiting myself to just one photo from their Viva Streets set, lest this become some kind of unofficial Madisons blog (they have their own, and it's arguably more well-written). This picture is of frontman, Dominic Solis.
And as an aside, while everyone was out "celebrating good health" at Viva Streets, I got sunburned. Thanks, Madisons.
