You ain't Know?

WELL NOW YA DO!

MC Overlord (http://www.overlordmusic.com/) has been wrecking the live music scene in Austin for a hot minute. The players he has walked with are stellar. The list of musicians he has influenced, worked with, performed on their stage, our shared his with, is mind blowing. He is humble about what he does and how he does it and he defends his friends, musical compadres, and the music scene with an  attitude and vigor that gives people a reason to be scared. A decades worth of music awards and a lifetime achievement award under his massive arms gives you a reason to pause and listen when he speaks, musically or literally.

The new, WAY over due disc by MC Overlord - 'You Ain't Know' (available on all platforms) is a thing to behold. Better than the rest and a definitive departure from his previous 2 efforts. You Ain't Know may prove to be his crowning jewel. With VMG behind this and a funky attitude and approach to the new music from the Legendary DJ Crash Da Scratcha (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009971946550), it should be a great source of enjoyment for anyone who touches it and listens to it. There is an intensity in this disc that out weighs the previous efforts. I can't put a specific finger on it, but it's there. Now, let me take the approach that you are unfamiliar with MC Overlords prior music, never been to a live performance, and don't know the accolades.

This is a hip-hop CD in it's purest, greatest form. It is head bobbing, in the car, turned up to 11, slipped down low in the seat, hip-hop music! The first time through provides some of those smile inducing moments as you listen. A chuckle for some of the song outros and some of the skits in between tracks. Then you listen to it, again. You play it again, and you listen to it, and again.

The production and the little samples and loops of some OLD O L D School funk reek of DJ Crash. It adds to the comfortable sound, wraps your ears around something that you think you have heard before, and makes you play it again. Then you hear it again, and realize the lyrical content, the storytelling, fun, funky, challenging, and ballsy is pure Overlord. Still and always clean, but a little on the edge of scandalous.

Then you realize the overall polish on the disc is only a finishing touch which is a VMG stamp. The players, guitars, and co conspirators on this disc is ONLY topped by a live performance.

I purposefully and willfully am staying away from talking about the individual tracks. I have some definite favorites and a couple that make me scratch my head. I can appreciate the talent that pours out of the speakers from everyone involved in making this one finally drop. I hope you enjoy and put it in your rotation.

If you haven't seen him live, and don't have a previous disc, the last line is simple to write..















YOU AIN'T KNOW!!!
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/mcoverlord3
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/you-aint-know/id1218637312




Laters

HAAM ing it up

I think there are plenty of people around town that can sing the praises of HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians). In contrast there are too many people that know Austin is the live music capital of the world, they know there is music any night of the week, but the response of "What's HAAM?" while I am wearing my HAAMbassador volunteer shirt is striking.

 

Trying to do my part by using the internet to get folks to visit bands when they come to Austin or locals to take one day a month to go to a venue is very hard, unfulfilling work. But the great pleasure and smiles of taking 6 co workers and meeting friends to listen to music while actively collecting donations on HAAM Benefit Day 2017 was so worth it all.

Staging ourselves at Whole Foods - Domain was fantastic. The smiles on everyone's faces, the crowds as they trickled in and out enjoying the music, and dropping donations in the boxes here and there, was electric. The great music from Shy Beast, Julieann Banks, and finally The Rubilators, while we hung out for a few hours, was exhilarating. Even as the temperature climbed ever so slightly, it just warmed the heart.

Glad we were there and part of it for 2017.

Remember, HAAM Day is everyday for our population of musicians.