PHOTO STORY
Thursday, October 08, 2009
PHOTO STORY"Becky's Fund: Walk This Way" Charity Fashion Show
Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to MetromixFor the first time ever in D.C., the lavish Liaison Hotel was home to an "over the pool runway show" featuring several players from Washington Redskins and D.C. United in support of Becky's Fund, which raises awareness to help prevent domestic violence in the community. The rooftop runway for Becky's Fund: Walk this Way was hosted by the Redskins' Clinton Portis & Custom Clothiers' Eric Finn. Other Redskins in attendance were Jason Campbell, DeAngelo Hall and Chris Cooley, joined by United players Bryan Namoff, Devon McTavish and Santino Quaranta. The event also marked the beginning of a new strategic partnership between George Washington University Hospital Women's Board and Becky's Fund to work together to spread the message of respect, hope, and empowerment.
Friday, October 02, 2009
PHOTO STORYU2 360° Tour at Fed Ex Field
Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to MetromixU2? Perhaps it’s a band you may have heard of! Well the masses made the trek out to Fed Ex Field in Landover, MD to see the spectacle that is U2. Like the 360° description in the tour’s title, U2’s stage itself is circular and is almost completely encircled by another ring – Bono’s runway so he can walk deep into the audience on the field. The Dublin, Ireland rockers have released 12 studio albums, with worldwide sales totaling 145 million records, and they have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band. But none of that mattered to those lucky enough to get tickets to the sold-out show. Many in attendance gawked at the U2’s enormous stage, which featured a steel structure that took four days to build, $40 million to construct, three days to break down, transport and set up again, and features a 150-foot pylon and a 54-ton cylindrical video screen that lit up Fed Ex Field. U2’s arena anthems were a perfect fit for what quite possibly has been one of the biggest stage setups in the history of live music. Among the hits belted out by Bono, rocking his signature purple shades, during the band’s two-and-a-half hour show, were "Beautiful Day," "New Years Day,” "Get On Your Boots," and "Where The Streets Have No Name." One of the more touching moments of the night was when Bono pulled a Persian-American from the audience, and denounced racism in the United States. The two were draped by a large American flag while they sang "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Opening for U2 were English rockers Muse.
PHOTO STORYPink and The Ting Tings: A Colorful Show at Patriot
Photos by Alfredo Flores NBC 4 Washington's Around Town
Pink, often stylized as P!nk, has sold more than 31 million albums worldwide. Her songs are characterized by their personally rebellious tone and a statement-like strict use of the first person. Pink’s fifth and most recent album, "Funhouse," was released in late October 2008 and was preceded by her first solo number one on the Billboard Hot 100, "So What."
Thursday, October 01, 2009
ARTS & EVENTS 
The Language of Dance: Reggaeton Club Stars Wisin y Yandel
Written by Washington Post Express contributor Alfredo Flores
AT THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS last month, everyone in the audience was stunned when Kanye West rudely stole Taylor Swift's moment by storming the stage. Many were wondering why he would do such a thing, but reggeaton stars and first-time VMA nominees Wisin y Yandel were just wondering what the heck was going on. "Remember that we don't speak the language, so we did not know exactly what was being said, but we felt that something inappropriate was taking place," said Wisin (born Juan Luis Morera Luna) in Spanish — his "La Revolucion" with Yandel is this year's top-selling Latin album. "And our heart just went out to that young lady." While they may not speak English, their infectiously danceable Latin hip-hop is crossing cultures, being played on English-language music networks and radio stations. Their "Abusadora" was nominated for the MTV VMA for best pop video, becoming the first nominated song written entirely in Spanish in the history of the awards. To be happy just to be nominated is a cliche, but Wisin y Yandel (Yandel's real name is Llandel Veguilla Malave Salazar) were beaming while walking down the red carpet. They hobnobbed with English-language collaborators (through their manager/translator) they've worked with in the past — including 50 Cent, Lenny Kravitz, Fat Joe, Paris Hilton and — and those they may work with (a Justin Timberlake collab is in the works). Their work with 50, who raps in "Mujeres in the Club" in "Revolucion," began last year when W y Y invited him to perform with them at Madison Square Garden. "To our surprise, he came," Wisin said. "Not only did he perform with us; he expressed that he loved our music and would like to continue to collaborate with us, so we wrote 'Mujeres in the Club.' He sent it back t
o us with his rap on it, and the rest is history." That history includes 50,000 at a concert in Venezuela when 50 opened for the Puerto Rican duo in February, and a raucous sold-out show last month in Miami erupted when T-Pain made a surprise cameo performance. While Wisin y Yandel differ in music styles, they seemed perfectly joined at the hip when performing, finishing each other's sentences, fast and slow parts of tracks flowing perfectly. Wisin is assertive and aggressive — his spit-fire raps fire up the crowd — while Yandel is calmer, more laid-back. This combination of hard raps with smooth vocals, in with dembow, hip-hop, dancehall, reggae and pop, have led to a string of club-banging hits like "Rakata," "Llama Pa' Verte" and "Sexy Movimiento." » Patriot Center, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax; Thu., Oct. 1, 8 p.m., $38.50-$78.50; 703-993-3000.
PHOTO STORYYeah Yeah Yeahs Pack the 9:30 Club
Photos by Alfredo Flores NBC 4 Washington's Around TownIndie-rock demigods the Yeah Yeah Yeahs packed the house at 9:30 Club last Friday night. The band's lead singer Karen O has been noted for her sense of fashion, wearing ostentatious outfits made by her friend, fashion designer Christian Joy. The hipster leaders are based in NYC.