Flobots

Infobox musical artist
Name = Flobots


Img_capt = At KFMA Day in Tucson, Arizona on May 16th, 2008
Img_size = 250
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Denver, Colorado, USA
Genre = Alternative rock
Alternative hip hop
Indie
Years_active = c. 2000 — present
Label = Universal Republic
URL = [http://www.flobots.com/ www.flobots.com]
Current_members = Jonny 5 (05) Brer Rabbit (0) Mackenzie Roberts (33) Andy Guerrero (17) Jesse Walker (101) Joe Ferrone (79) Kenny Ortiz (69)

Flobots are an alternative rock/alternative hip hop 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.

Though the official name of the band is Flobots, they are often referred to as The Flobots, sometimes even by the band members themselves.

History

Early career (2000-2004)

Flobots formed in 2000 when lead MC James Laurie a.k.a. Jonny 5 (not to be confused with former Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 or Californian rapper Johnny Five) 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 MC, 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. [cite web|url=http://www.flobots.com/band/default.aspx|title=flobots.com, Band Bio] 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, [cite web|url=http://www.flobots.com/shows/show_edit.aspx?showID=6&pageID=9|title=flobots.com, Show Archive, August 6th, 2007] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/musicheadlines/ci_8254402|title=Denverpost.com, Flobots hammer home message]

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. [cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_8707202|title=Denverpost.com, Flobots take giant step with 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. [cite web|url=http://www.kfma.com/concerts.php|title=KFMA.com, Concerts] 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. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Singles&model.vnuArtistId=857518&model.vnuAlbumId=1082390 Artist Chart History - The Flobots] ]

They made their television debut on Carson Daly's talk show on May 20, 2008. [cite web|url=http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2008/05/flobots_indeed_kill_it_on_cars.php|title=Flobots Indeed Kill It on Carson Daly] Later the same day Flobots spent two hours with Dr. Drew and Stryker answering sex questions on Loveline. [cite web|url=http://www.lovelineshows.com/index.php/loveline-recaps/13-loveline-show-2008-05-20-flobots.html|title=Loveline Show, 2008-05-20 (Flobots)] That same day they re-released their album "Fight With Tools" to a wider audience after their new found success. Flobots also appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on June 5, 2008 with their song "Handlebars". [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1239898/ |title=IMDB site with info on June 5th episode of Jay Leno|accessdate=2008-08-24 |work=IMDB |publisher=IMDB |date=6/5 ]

According to Dajuroka.com, the next Flobots album is in the works and expected to be released in 2009. [cite web|url=http://www.dajuroka.com/index.php?title=Flobots%2C_The|title=Flobots, The - Dajuroka]

Discography

Albums

*"Onomatopoeia" (2001)
*"Flobots Present...Platypus" (2005)
*"Fight with Tools" (2007) - US #15 [cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=857518&model.vnuAlbumId=1082390|title=Billboard Hot 200 charting] UK #52cite journal
title = Official Album Chart for the week ending 13 September 2008
journal = ChartsPlus
issue = 368
pages= 5-8
accessdate = 2008-09-10
publisher = IQ Ware Ltd
location = Milton Keynes]

ingles

Flobots have also started a National Street Team that helps promote building community and brings fans together to truly make a difference wherever they are. The Street Team is a Non Profit organization managed by flobots.org and fightwithtools.org.

Appearances in compilations

*"MIT Songwriting Club - Songs From the Institute, Vol. 1" (2001) [Track 16: "Onomatopoeia", credited to Flobots]

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 " [http://flobots.net flobots.net] ", and features stories inspired by fans and the music of the Flobots along with a science fiction twist.

Flobots Street Team

FightWithTools.ORG

Fight with Tools is a project of Flobots.org, a non-profit whose mission is to create a community of empowered music fans, Street Teams, that are actively engaged in social change in their communities.

TV & Radio Appearances

*Last Call with Carson Daly (May 20, 2008) - national television debut
*Loveline with Dr. Drew and Stryker (May 19, 2008)
*The Alex Jones Show (May 28, 2008)
*The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (June 5, 2008)
*Linkin Park (June 6, 2006)

References

External links

* [http://www.flobots.com/ Flobots Official Website]
* [http://www.fightwithtools.org/ Flobots Street Team Website]
* [http://www.purevolume.com/flobots/ Flobots on Purevolume]
*
* [http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=124&csid2=865&fid1=32928 Fight with Tools review at www.exclaim.ca]