Flobots

All Music Guide:

Featuring dual MCs as well as a full band, the Flobots are a progressive rap group from Denver, CO, with a political conscience, musical chops, and a powerful live show. Influenced by progressive rappers such as the Roots and Common as well as alternative hard rock bands such as Rage Against the Machine and Tool, the Flobots were founded in 2005, comprised of MCs Jonny 5 (born Jamie Laurie) and Brer Rabbit (born Stephen Brackett) -- who originally met in elementary school -- along with musicians Andy Guerrero (guitar), Mackenzie Roberts (viola), Joe Ferrone (trumpet), Jesse Walker (bass), and Kenny Ortiz (drums). The group released its debut recording, the seven-track Platypus EP, in October 2005. Their debut full-length, Fight with Tools (2007), followed a couple years later. The Flobots inspired a strong following in the Denver region and found themselves opening shows there for national acts such as Public Enemy and the Fray. In 2008 the group was offered a major-label recording contract by Universal Music Group, which re-released Fight with Tools on its Republic subsidiary. March 2010 saw the release of the Flobots' sophomore studio effort, the Mario Caldato-produced Survival Story, which demonstrated a heavier rock edge and featured a guest appearance by Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath on the single “White Flag Warrior.”

Wikipedia:

The Flobots are a rock and hip hop musical group from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000 by Jamie Laurie. Flobots found mainstream success with their 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 and Onomatopoeia (2000–2004)

In 2000, the group began to form when lead MC Jamie Laurie, (Jonny 5) teamed up with producer Farhad Ebrahimi (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 T'Errance 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 MC, Brer Rabbit. They teamed up with violist Mackenzie Gault, 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. 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 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, one of their largest performances to date.

Fight with Tools (2007–2008)

In October 2007, after a year of writing and producing, the Flobots released their proper debut album Fight with Tools and sold out their CD release show at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, Colorado.

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.

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. 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. 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. On July 20, 2008, Flobots played at the Mile High Music Festival in Commerce City, Colorado with headliners Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer. On July 26, 2008, Flobots played 93.3's Big Gig at Coors Amphitheater in Greenwood Village, Colorado with Offspring. On September 1, 2008 they performed at Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival in Seattle, Washington.

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. Also on May 20, Flobots spent two hours with Dr. Drew and Stryker answering sex questions on Loveline and re-released their album Fight With Tools to a wider audience after their newfound success. Flobots also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 5, 2008 with their song "Handlebars". They performed their second single "Rise" on Late Night With Conan O'Brien on October 13, 2008.

Survival Story (2009–2010)

On February 17, 2009, the Flobots announced in a MySpace blog entry that they were "working really hard on their next album and plan to have it completed soon."

In September 2009, the band finished recording their second album. The band announced on YouTube that the album was to be titled Survival Story. The album was released on March 16, 2010.

Stop The Apocalypse (2011-present)

On September 17, 2011 while performing at the Gallogly Events Center, UCCS, Colorado Springs, the Flobots announced that "they will be releasing an album in 2012 so they might as well name it Stop The Apocalypse." They also performed a brand new song off the album titled "Circle in the Square".

Appearances in compilations

Webcomics

Rise of the Flobots

The new webcomic series created by D.J. Coffman (13) Rise of the Flobots: Architects of Change launched June 9, 2008 at "flobots.net", and features stories inspired by fans and the music of the Flobots along with a science fiction twist.