This entry was posted April 30th, 2008 and has 1 comment.
In order to make up for my lack of posts over the past few weeks, I feel I need to justify myself to my faithful readers. Here are some of the ways I have been spending my time over the past few weeks while not blogging. I know it’s a bummer to click on a blog and see the same post at the top that’s been there for 2 weeks. I promise to do better in the future.
Playing social league sports, but having lots of rain-outs.
Thursday nights with the ABL (Abbott Basketball League) are always a lot of fun. Some nights the actual basketball being played is better than others, but it’s always a good time.
I was a little reluctant about joining a kickball team this season, but am glad that I did. I’ve spent the last 6 Saturdays at Patterson HS playing on an awesome kickball team. We’ve also had some good team-building excursions to Kislings after the games.
The Sore Losers are yet again displaying our dominance in BSSC football. We have won all 4 of our games, even though I almost lost the last one for us. Strangely enough we haven’t had any Saturday kickball rainouts, but have had 3 on football Sundays.
Last, is the Parkville men’s softball team. I am really looking forward to playing on this team, but our first 2 games have been rained out. Lame.
Continue reading What Chris Walbert has been doing so far this Spring
Posted in Chris Walbert, life
This entry was posted April 17th, 2008 and has 1 comment.
Last week I sat down with Baltimore hip-hop band Soul Cannon to discuss their new album, give us some insights into who they are, and try yet again to explain their sound. We talked for over an hour, but I managed to edit it down to a more approachable 9+ minutes. Make sure you watch the entire video. There are some real gems hidden in there.
Soul Cannon’s new album, aptly titled “Kaboom”, is out on April 22nd. You will be able to find the CD in various stores, but be sure to get your copy at the CD release show, which is being held on Friday, April 25 at The Ottobar.
I cannot stress enough how much you need to be at this show. This is your opportunity to not only see an excellent band, but to also have a great time. So check out the video, listen to the new songs on their MySpace page, come out to see them on the 25th at The Ottobar, and buy the new record, Kaboom!
Continue reading An Interview with Soul Cannon
Posted in Baltimore, music
This entry was posted April 7th, 2008 and has 2 comments.
I spent the majority of this past Saturday afternoon in Cumberland, MD helping to clean out my grandparents’ house. My grandmother died 3 years ago and my grandfather recently moved into a retirement community. On the drive home I was thinking about a piece I wrote in 2005 after my grandmother passed away and thought it was appropriate to post it here in memory of her.
One additional side note: in the piece I talk about my grandfather’s deteriorating health. Well, it’s 3 years later and he is healthier than he was then. Even in his late eighties, he’s as sharp and quick-tongued as ever. He’s doing well in the retirement home and can be seen relaxing on the bench in front, smoking his pipe and reading a book.
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The recent death of my grandmother, the imminent death of her sister, and the deteriorating health of my grandfather, have made me think about how death affects families. Here are some thoughts.
As the oldest generation of a family dies and leaves this world, an entire layer of history is removed from our lives. No one remembers what it was like to live through the Depression. No one knows how Aunt Catherine acted when she was a child. And as the family members that have told us these stories leave us, so do our recollections of our family’s past. With the loss of this generation, we lose a portion of our family’s history.
Continue reading Family
Posted in life
This entry was posted April 1st, 2008 and has no nomments.
Yesterday I purchased tickets for my first show of the upcoming summer: Death Cab for Cutie at Merriweather. Even though it’s more than two months away, June 9 to be exact, I’m pretty excited for this show.
I first saw Death Cab a couple years ago at DAR Constitution Hall in DC. The show was good, but we were so far away that it was pretty hard to see. I also saw Ben Gibbard on a solo tour he did last spring with David Bazan at the 930 Club. That show was really excellent and a lot more fun.
I’m expecting the Merriweather show to be equally as good. I was at Merriweather last summer to see the Decemberists with the BSO. I had great seats for that one and had a really great time. My seats for Death Cab should be even better. They’re also playing with Rogue Wave, who I’ve been getting more into recently and am also looking forward to seeing.
Continue reading Death Cab for Cutie at Merriweather
Posted in music
