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

Let's talk about love

Back at my close to home hangout, Moontower (http://www.moontowersaloon.com/). 21 and up, ID upon driving in - and the bartenders will still card you if they want - Crazy amount of parking, and loads of space to play and have fun. With the tiny little house that represents the bar, a pool table, bathrooms, a couple of TVs, and some tables. Step outside onto the deck with another outside bar, a large TV, and more seating. Attached is also a smaller deck that acts as the stage. Out into the insanely huge yard that has tables, fire pits, food trucks, washer pits, more bathrooms, sand volleyball, another deck, and loads of fun.

But this particular nite hosted not the normal 1 band from 8 - 11, but 3 bands. NICE!

Opening the evening was Austin's darlings, and multi- award winning U-18 band, the          Tiarra Girls  (http://www.tiarragirls.com/). With their personal stamp and flair for the latin/rock genre, the Tiarra Girls completely rocked the yard, taking to school the two bands that followed, and that - I promise you - is not easy. I have had the pleasure of hearing them for the last 3 years and watch them grow as talented musicians and band. Crisp, confident guitar licks and solid vocals to a super tight back line (with one of the best and only female drummer in the Austin Music Awards top 10) is how these young women do it. So I really don't know how to say this any other way, but anyone that has the confidence to bust out bells and a clarinet during a rock show performance is worthy of your time and money. Enjoy the Tiarra Girls here in Austin now because they are on a trajectory that is soon to take them beyond us!

The second set was Evening Optimist (https://www.facebook.com/eveningoptimist/). Brand new to my ears and well placed in this set. Follow up the previous could have proved daunting to many other bands, but these Austin rock veterans had no trouble moving the night on. The crowd swelled in front of the stage, hips were moving, and drinks were flowing. Evening Optimist had that rock/pop/punk sound that was super enjoyable on this cool evening. The four piece which comprises Evening Optimist entertained us with the blazing lead guitarist and cool as ice lead singer, but the eyes seemed to be on the exciting bass player as he was the wild man! It was all fun and with a solid performance, you would definitely be happy you took the time on any night out and run into these guys on a stage here in Austin!

And on to the headline performance. I have talked about them before, they were the headliners for a reason, and they are a band EVERY SINGLE other band should take performance notes from. Yes! Vallejo (http://www.vallejomusic.com/) rocked our faces off. With the massive amount of talent in front of them, Vallejo only had one way to finish out the night, and that was like every other other performance they have done...like EVERY SONG WAS A FINALE AND IT WAS THE END OF THE WORLD. Brothers AJ, Alex, and Omar, along with Alex and Bruce comprise the ultimate Latin/Rock musical experience of fun that can be had! To top it off they were joined onstage by the Amazing Kelly Green of the Texas K.G.B. (https://www.thetexaskgb.com/), just goes to prove you can't miss a show because you never know what will happen!

With over 2 decades of performing and hit songs there is absolutely no question Vallejo remains top of the food chain when comes to The Austin Live Music Capitol of the World and MUST see bands!









Laters

Vallejo MC Overlord (NOT) Just another day

and the blog post for this performance is at http://livemusicinaustin.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-last-straw.html

Free Wormz are good wormz

Here is proof that the diversity of Austin live music and entertainment is the tops and just can't be beat anywhere else in the world!

To go from a venue 5 minutes (or less) away that has a rhythm and blues sound to the heart of the downtown entertainment district and a venue that is balls out crazy with "your favorite rock bands rock band" is proof of that first statement. NO WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD!!! Austin should be and always remain the center of the music universe!

I have talked about The Dirty Dog ( http://dirtydogbar.com/ ) before (see any number of my previous posts for just about every band) so I will keep it short. The Dirty Dog is right in the heart of the 6th St entertainment area. Surrounded by several other notable (but I won't mention here) bars and venues, it has the ease of access and nice street side seating and windows to crowd watch while waiting for your band to get it on. Along with street side seating is a pole...yes a pole as in pole dancing. Although I have never been to an event here where the pole was used by someone who knew what they were doing, it is awesome to watch women and men try to wrangle the pole. The bar is a 'U' shape to the left of the entrancethat services folks all the way around the perimeter. The bar opens up to a rather large floor and large stage with a nice lighting and sound system. Finally to the back of the club sits another bar along the right hand wall and the 'green' room beyond that.

The Dirty Wormz  ( https://www.facebook.com/DirtyWormz ) pay much respect, love and the hate that hate made right back to the Austin crowd that has welcomed the Wormz and let them call Austin home for more than a decade. The sadness is that no major label has stepped up and put up the 1...2...$3 Million dollars to let the Wormz spread the Infektion and make the 'Outbreak' go nationwide/worldwide. It would be beautiful. With the release of the Dirty Wormz newest lp "Outbreak" they have re established that they are still the hardest ever at what they do and the funny thing is they never went away to have to prove anything.

The Wormz play often enough around Texas that you should be able to catch them quite frequently, although in Austin they average out to be here once per quarter....ehhh. With side projects occupying front man Smackolas time, it is often a wonder that this band takes the stage and puts on a performance to a local crowd (sometimes for free) that rivals any show that I have seen from a hard core, rap, metal, band at the Erwin Center or the ATT Center E V E R!!! Just the showmanship and co ordination of the everything involved with the performance makes this band a must see. Even if you are not fond of their music, the show is, to me, what it is all about and why you go out and see a band. Play the music loud at home or in your car, but go out to be part of the music and with The Dirty Wormz...it will be part of you forever.

Laters