Flobots
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Flobots |
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Flobots are an alternative rock/rap group from Denver, Colorado, formed in or around 2000. To date, they have released three albums (counting the 2001 independently released Onomatopoeia). Flobots found mainstream success with its major label debut Fight with Tools (2007), featuring the single "Handlebars", which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008.
History
Early career (2000-2004)
Flobots formed in 2000 when lead emcee James Laurie a.k.a. Jonny 5 (not to be confused with former Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5) teamed up with producer Farhad Ebrahimi a.k.a. Yahktoe. Together they released the album Onomatopoeia in 2001, and the title track ended up in a compilation by the MIT Songwriting Club (Yahktoe's alma mater). The title track featured guitar player David Gralow, cello player Terrence Favors, and bass player Jaymz Haynes.
Flobots Present...Platypus (2005-2006)
Jonny 5 kept the Flobots name when forming a side project with another lead emcee, Brer Rabbit. They teamed up with violist Mackenzie Roberts, bassist Jesse Walker, guitarist Andy Guerrero (from funk band Bop Skizzum), trumpet player Joe Ferrone (also from Bop Skizzum), and drummer Kenny Ortiz. By the year's end, their unique instrumentation and politically and socially charged music became popular in their hometown of Denver, and Flobots became a full time project.[1]. The group members also identify themselves by numbers; Jonny 5 is 05, Brer Rabbit is 0, Mackenzie is 33, Andy is 17, Jesse is 101, Joe is 79 and Kenny is 69.
In October 2005, the band released Flobots Present...Platypus, which went on to sell over 3000 copies over the next two years. In August 2007, Flobots opened for Colorado locals The Fray at Red Rocks[2], one of their largest performances to date.
Fight with Tools and beyond (2007-present)
In October 2007, after a year of writing and producing, they released Fight With Tools and sold out their CD release show at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood.
Flobots entered a contest held by Denver radio station 93.3 (KTCL), called Hometown for the Holidays, which allowed fans to vote for their favorite songs from 35 local bands. Flobots subsequently won both the radio portion of the contest as well as the live performance award. As a result, the station put "Handlebars" into full rotation at the end of January due to the immense popularity of the song during the contest.[3]
In February 2008, Flobots held a show at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood called "The Heart Attack" featuring local bands The Hot IQs and Paper Bird. It was after this show that the group was approached by and subsequently signed to Universal Republic on a two CD major label deal. [4] On March 31, the band announced that they would be playing Tucson, Arizona's major alternative rock festival, KFMA Day, with Metallica, Apocalyptica, Chiodos, and Scars on Broadway on May 16.[5] Flobots were also part of the sixteenth annual KROQ Weenie Roast on May 17, along with Atreyu, Bad Religion, Flogging Molly, Metallica, The Offspring, Pennywise, The Raconteurs, Rise Against, Scars on Broadway and Seether.
The single "Handlebars" became popular on alternative rock radio in April 2008 and peaked at #3 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.
They made their television debut on Carson Daly's talk show on May 20, 2008. Later the same day Flobots spent two hours with Dr. Drew and Stryker answering sex questions on Loveline. Flobots also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 5, 2008.
On September 1, 2008, Flobots will also be performing at Bumbershoot at Seattle Center, in Washington, along with bands Minus the Bear, The Offspring, Paramore and Scary Kids Scaring Kids.
After touring, it is suggested that the band will begin writing and recording a new album that is possibly due for release in 2009.
Webcomics
The new comic series created by D.J. Coffman (13) Rise of the Flobots: Architects of Change launched June 9, 2008 at flobots.net
Social and Political Activism
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In February 2008, Flobots launched a project entitled "Street Team" which will allow them to put their socially and politically ripe lyrics into action. Brer Rabbit has said, "There are lots of things we can say theoretically about wanting to activate a population, but we are actually trying to create a real plan to allow people to be a positive force in the community." Street Team allows volunteers to sign up to work on various projects throughout their community. Currently, Flobots have partnerships with Colorado Progressive Coalition, Student Peace Alliance, and Denver Children's Home. Flobots also have performed several free concerts at PeaceJam events.
Albums
- Onomatopoeia (2001) [credited to Jonny 5 & Yak, although www.flobots.com appears on the back cover]
- Flobots Present...Platypus (2005)
- Fight with Tools (2008) #15 US[6]
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 [7] | U.S. Mod. Rock [8] |
U.S. Main. Rock [9] |
U.S. Pop 100 | CAN | WW | |||
| 2008 | "Handlebars" | 49 | 3 | 40 | 43 | 90 | - | Fight With Tools |
| "Rise" | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Appearances in Compilations
- MIT Songwriting Club - Songs From the Institute, Vol. 1 (2001) [Track 16: Onomatopoeia, credited to Flobots]
TV & Radio Appearances
Last Call with Carson Daly (May 20, 2008) - national television debut
Loveline with Dr. Drew and Stryker (May 19, 2008)
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (June 5, 2008)
References
- ^ "flobots.com, Band Bio".
- ^ "flobots.com, Show Archive, August 6th, 2007".
- ^ "Denverpost.com, Flobots hammer home message".
- ^ "Denverpost.com, Flobots take giant step with label deal".
- ^ "KFMA.com, Concerts".
- ^ "Flobots - Billboard Artist Album Chart History".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Flobots - Billboard Artist Singles Chart History".
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External links
- Flobots' Official Website
- Flobots on Purevolume
- Flobots at LyricWiki
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