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Thursday, December 13, 2012

#MimzMusic...All I Kept Saying AND Hearing was, "damn..that shit is dope."

Last night, I was tired. I mean dog tired. (Why do people say dog tired? Are dogs really that tired?)
Anyway, everyday this week after the 7 to 4 gig, I've been in meetings, at events, holiday parties, blah, blah and more blah along with a host of other thangs. But last night, man....last night, although I was literally asleep with my eyes open, I went to see Amber Mimz perform at the Velvet Lounge. If you weren't there, I'll try my best to fill you in but ultimately, it was an experience you had to 'be there' to understand and enjoy.

It was about 6:30pm when I arrived to help setup and get my, you're with the band stamp...which I always get hella excited about because I'm a slight groupie to all the artists I support. Why wouldn't I be...they're dope.

To get to the stage, you have to walk up this tight staircase made of old dark, somewhat unstable cherry wood, covered in band stamps, logos, banners and tags from fans or visitors from all over. It sort of looked like someone had a collection of bumper stickers, got high and ran around the room sticking them any an every where they'd stick. It was dope.

So, I'm sitting there...sipping on my Jack & Gingerale until Mimz starts her set, looking at everyone arrive and chitchat about all the shit they do. Then one chord plays....

Miss Mimz is onstage looking fly to death-check the photo, I couldn't describe this coolness.

Credits: RAtheMC www.rathemc.net
She sings with only a few key notes from the piano, "Yesterday while we were getting high..." and the crowd claps and yells at the familarity of the song; she switches up the lyrics towards the end, "my name is Amber Mimz... put your hands in the air, (beat drops) if you like this shit." We all fall out knowing this night is about to be epic. Her band consist of a drummer, bass player and she's on her keyboard. In succint rhythm, they effortlessly move to one of her new tracks off the new album, "The Life of Riley," entitled Sober. You've never heard anything like this, it's a mix of electronic elements, which almost sounds a bit alien, like beem me up scotty, but it mellows out with the help of the baseline coupled with her soulful jazz vocals. Definitely a fave...

I have to tell you though, that one of my favorite moments of the night was her cover of, Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe by Kendrick Lamar aided by the unique sounds of a damn bull horn. Yes, to answer your question, it was the waviest, most epic-ness, creativedness thing. (smh - it was just dope as shit. ) Then..THEN, they had the nerve to transitioned to my favorite new song, Take Off Your Cool. Its subtleness just croons into the airwaves, as she speaks, asking the questions looking into the eyes of some poor guy in love, standing in the front row-

"Is it hard for you.....to relax? Do I make you nervous or.... is this one of your acts?"

Then the melody turns up and the lyrics of the song explains how this guy is trying his damndest to impress (ya'll seen'em, my sister and I like to call them the 'bowtie brothers') but all she just wants is to see him for who he is and she simply sings,  "Take off your cool..."

By the end, we're all singing acapella, "Tayyyyykkkkkkeee offff yourrrr cooool, tayyyykkke offff yourrrrrrr cool. TayAahhhake , TaaAhahahtake, offffff youuuur cool."

All the exhaustion from the day and even the events of the week held no power in that moment. Surrounded by great folks, listening to some awesome music and creating moments to remember did. I was grateful for the ride. Kudos.