You can't know where you are going unless you know where you came from...
Don't forget...
Our man,NATE FX, has opened his spot! We have maaaad love for NATE FX and when he hit DJ HELICON up and let us know that his club was opening and he wanted Us to come through, there was no way we could let this opportunity slide. We had the weekend open, but we gotta get back to Lexington and see our friends down there!
Please acknowledge the Love and the Hustle; big-up to NATE FX and everyone with a dream and a fierce will to see that dream through to fruition.
NATE FX's club is called LOWER 48 and if it anything like NATE FX himself, it will be a dynamite, funky, good time. Check out the links and make sure you support the brother.
AUGUST 30 - SCRIBBLE JAM PRELIMS! THE ALL-AGES HIP-HOP EVENT YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!
AWwwwWWWW, MAAAAAN! This show is gonna be AWESOME! An MC battle for a chance to be in the legendary SCRIBBLE JAM in Cincinnati and a Producer Battle, too!!??? MAAAAAN, I am so proud and honored to be a part of this event. As a Scribble Jam vet and a part of some battles that made me a better MC to this day, I know how great this event can be. All you battle-cats; get your stuff together and contact JOE ADAMS or SLAPFACE ENTERTAINMENT and come MAKE IT 'YOUR TIME'.
Do you see the pedigree of performers and judges? THE PHILOSOPHY, NUVO's Editor Pick for 'Best Hip-Hop Band' In Indy', and their high-powered, high-knowledge show? The aforementioned TWIN MONSTER, who is one of the best young bands I have seen here lately? The mighty TWILIGHT SENTINELS and MUDKIDS? If you ain't coming for the battle, you are still gonna see one of the best hip-hop shows you will see around here (or anywhere else). Don't miss it!
'BRIDGING THE GAP' at SPIN NIGHTCLUB INdy INdie Rock and INdy INdie Hip-Hop...man, I am excited for this show. I contacted Dave from GRAMPALL JOOKABOX a while back to let him know that I was appreciative of how original their sound was and how interested I was in learning more about his band (as well as the fact that he had a great quote from Rufus Thomas as his headline.) He expressed the same kind of interest in MUDKIDS They/it/he was somewhat of an enigma to me, but the more we talked, the more we realized how much we had in common and how much the struggles and victories of independent Artists across the board were pretty much the same.
We thought we'd share a victory together and that victory is 'BRIDGING THE GAP'....the flyer will be posted soon. Performers include MUDKIDS, GRAMPALL JOOKABOX, TWILIGHT SENTINELS, and another act to be announced...
This will be a DYNAMIC show to say the least!
And of course, NAPTOWN'S NIGHT OUT, THE ART/CULTURE THROWDOWN OF THE YEAR...
I've got a few shows this weekend. What is interesting about this is that this is the first time I have had a chance to do ALL my thangs in the same week.
Tomorrow, Friday the 13th, I will be rocking the set with LAZARUS at the Melody Inn. I'm geeked about this; we haven't played since April and this set should be fun. I really enjoy the Mel; it's got that 'old rock bar' thing down pat. It just LOOKS like the place to take great band-shots. The crowds are always lively, the beer is cheap, and the sound is surprisingly awesome for such a small room. I've never actually played a show there (that I can recall off the top of my head), although my man, Ahmski, and I did host the first MC Battles there (The 'Melody Massacres', where many a great MC was knocked down a peg or two and many MC's came to realize their true potential) I have always wanted to play a ROCK show at the Mel; tomorrow, it happens.
(side note: Ahmski (Ahmed) is an absolutely SICK rapper. He was in a group called 'Play Cuzinz' with another unbelievable cat named 'Zone'. I have some of their demos, but they ain't in this computer; once I get them uploaded to IMEEM, I'll post them. To this day, I'll tell you that I believe that the 'Play Cuzinz' is one of the illest groups I have seen around here. I only saw them perform twice, but they were stellar both times. Check for them.)
After the LAZARUS set at the Melody, I'll shoot over to the Tip-Top Tavern for a set of my solo-material. I've performed in this room once before and that time sucked. I am sure that tomorrow will go much better, as they are under new managment, have updated the sound-system, and gotten rid of some of the miscreants that were on staff. There have been some bad-ass shows there in the last month or so. I'm really excited to get an opportunity to play this stuff, but the idea of being onstage by myself is rather daunting. I've always had somebody up there with me. Tomorrow night, it's all on me; I DJed the set, I've gotta put in this work to memorize it and get it right in my head. It's kinda stressful, to be frank, but I am ready to rise to the challenge. Dammit, if you want people to know what you are doing , you hafta go and DO it, in their faces, and you better damn-well hold your own. I will.
Saturday morning, I cannot afford to hit the 'snooze' button. MUDKIDS will be opening the Independent Music and Arts Festival at the Harrison Center for the Arts. We play at 11 a.m., which is far from a standard hip-hop 'wake-up time', but we will be raring to go. DJ Helicon and I will be playing a set heavy on new material from 'We Are Dynamic And People Like Us' and with the early start, bringing the kids is definitely an option. Yuh know we'll keep it clean for ya.
I hope to see y'all at one of these events...Don't forget the BLACK SHEEP show at SPIN, Thursday, June 19.
I can recall Monica a.k.a. MVL talking to me about this show when it was just an idea. She had just finished performing at yet, another hip-hop 'showcase' where she was the only 'pop' act and likely the only female performing. I could tell she was tired of it. She did so many of those shows. I cannot tell you how happy and proud I am of her for getting this show together. She is becoming more than just a singer; she's recognizing that there was a void in our scene and she figured out how to fill it. I saw her tough it out with all types of crowds and win them over. I'm excited to see all these ladies, because we simply don't get enough chances to see them.
I am glad to say that MVL has put together a helluva show for you guys. This Saturday night, all INDY eyes and ears should focus squarely on SPIN NIGHTCLUB. If you hear something go 'POP', that's just three baaaad-asssssss sisters rocking the club...and I can't forget that MIC SOL and ACE-ONE will be in the house...yuh just never know...I'll be there, hmmmmm...
That DYNAMIC Summer I have been telling people about is well on its way, if today's temperature was any indication.
I think some of what was going on today is what I was thinking about when I wrote this. It's been up on the Mudkids Myspace page for a while. I thought I would give you guys first dibs on the download.
MUDKIDS - 'Summer' from 'We Are Dynamic And People Like Us'(coming soon!)
Click the Song's title and feel the HEAT! Don't forget we will be playing a few shows for our Hometown People...
FRIDAY, JULY 13: LAZARUS is at the MELODY INN! After that I'll be shooting over to the TIP-TOP TAVERN to play a set of solo-material.
...and, of course, you can get with this or you can get with that...THURSDAY, JUNE 19 at SPIN NIGHTCLUB!
LAZARUS will be making our appearance at the legendary MELODY INN. The MEL is a phenomenal place to see a show. Everyone who complains that live music is disappearing needs to take a trip to the Melody Inn. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for LAZARUS when I say, "We are gonna tear a new hole in that place."
At some point in the evening after that, I'll make my way to the TIP-TOP TAVERN to perform a solo-set. I'l be focusing on material from my solo release, also called 'Lazarus'. Here's the flyer for that show...
See ya then...here's a taste of my solo material...