Almost Almost Famous...

Again, I apologize for the lack of recent updates, but things have been a little crazy in my world the past few weeks. However, now I am on a flight from Denver to Tampa, so I will work until my computer dies to blog about the last 8 or so shows.

Anaheim’s House of Blues happens to sit right in the middle of downtown Disneyland. Thus, bus security is about as tight as border patrol. Well border patrol on the 8 East coming into California. Nonetheless, we had to check Sergo (the bus) in with a security guard well into his 8th decade of life.

This was the band’s first HOB experience, and say what you will about promoters, this group took care of us. They even had chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies fresh from the oven for our enjoyment. After counting in merch with the venue and ensuring that Casey had everything he needed to perform an excellent sound check, I wandered downstairs and met up with Brent (aka. Big B). B had gone to great lengths to avoid LA traffic, and thusly ended up at the venue bar about an hour and a half before I was going to be ready to hang out. So, I sat down and had a beer with my compatriot and the runner up to 2005’s American Gladiators of the Knolls competition. We bantered for a while, and it felt great to catch up and make hi-larious Almost Famous references.

I also got the pleasure of meeting up with two fellow What’s the Download alumni, Joy and Bahareh. We spent some time chatting before the music started. When the Bots finally got on stage, we encountered a few sound problems (who knew the batteries in the wireless mic would crap out?) and a few other problems (who knew a girl would sneak onstage and hand Jamie a CD of “beats for peace”). All in all the show went well though, and I got a chance to hang out with some long lost friends.

AND! I didn’t have to sell merch!

As we go along through these shows, merch is rapidly becoming the bane of my existence. This group of musicians happens to have a group of fans that are more than willing to shell out dollars and dollars hand over fist to get anything wearable that bears the Bots’ name. My time during the shows is largely telling patrons that we do in fact have men’s and women’s sizes, and that I cannot guarantee that the band will be coming out to sign anything. This is not really a problem or an inconvenience, but the counting, ordering, and general tracking of shirts is not necessarily something I dreamt of doing. I will be thrilled when we can bring someone along whose job it will be to cover this portion of the tour (ahem…Skram?). Until then, I will just be a friendly face at the table with all the information about the band.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Above: Roommate (with a capital RRRRRRRRR) Leia and me as we sweat it out in Tempe.


I apologize for my lack of updates, but for about two weeks, I have been adjusting to life on the road again. In reality this means that after shows when I had on my patented to do lists to blog before going to bed, I have just put it off and off and off in favor of getting more sleep.

Fear not though. I will be playing catch up for the next few days, and you, my coveted audience, shall receive plenty of information about the best burritos in San Diego, crepes and merch sales in San Francisco, the terrible existence that is life in Reno, a banana phone date with Doomtree in Seattle, some beer in Boise with some other hip-hoppers, disasters in Salt Lake City, Mile High Music Fest in all its glory, and a sweaty night in Dallas.

I will send e-mails out as they get published.

A blog about POG

A little blog about POG

When we last met, I was comfortably relaxing in a hotel in Tempe where the temperatures reached a “mild” 110. I am now comfortably relaxing in another hotel, but this one’s in Anaheim, which may lead you to believe that my work is all sitting around in a double bed with white sheets while watching whatever terrible movie is on HBO.

If only.

But to be fair, the momentous amounts of work that go into this job are all ones that are directly suited to my personality. My superhuman organizational skills have faired very well thus far into the tour (although we are only a few shows in), and I have managed every situation save one very well. That one instance involved my lack of patience with the front desk of the very hotel from which I am writing to you all.

Onto the stories.

The venue in Tempe was a step up from the tiny bar and grill we got stuck playing at in Albuquerque. It was a fairly standard grungy and dirty club with a grungy and dirty green room with grungy and dirty couches. After having a meeting and raiding the hospitality, the band took off for dinner, and I resumed my faithful place behind the merch table, and who doesn’t walk up but Roommate herself, Leia. (Kidding, I had put her on the guest list).

Leia and I spent the better part of two opening acts catching up with each other and spreading some gossip about college classmates and what not. I am so glad that I got to see her, and in talking to Leia I realized something so great about being on tour. As a rather social person, I tend to have many different groups of friends from high school, college, running, music, and everything else I do. And these people—while centered in Denver—have spread themselves around the country. While on tour, I get a single serving of time spent with these loved ones, and while not quite satisfying, it’s more direct contact than I would normally get.

All in all the show went well, and we sold more merch than I could imagine we would. That leads to a whole other discussion about the trials of life on the road. (Merch is rapidly becoming the bane of my existence). The only problem we had was with security since two security guards watching the stage watched someone from the audience steal Stephen’s hat off the stage. I finagled an amenable return from the venue, and all was okey dokey.

After the show we showered, ate, and then hopped onto Sergo and putted our way into Southern California. Yesterday we got food at CoCo’s across the street from the hotel and experienced the worst service in the history of the restaurant industry. Following an afternoon of work, Jamie, Mackenzie, and I drove off in the Nitro (our rental car) to have dinner with Sarah, a producer on the “Rise” video. We ate at Magnolia then got Pinkberry—the be all and end all of frozen yogurt hands down.



Afterwards we walked to the Dresden Room (famous for its appearance in the movie Swingers) for a taste of famed lounge act Marty & Elaine. However, Jamie forgot his license and credit cards in Denver and the security guy would not let him in—even though Jamie exceeds the legal age for entry by almost a decade.

We ended up sneaking in the back, but while having a drink, Jamie had to duck into a bathroom stall when the security guy spotted him. For such a small dive bar, they had quite the sting operation going on. We ended up leaving fairly early and driving back to the hotel.

This morning at breakfast, I realized that this hotel made up for the poor service at the front desk. While scanning the choices of juice varieties in the buffet, I noticed they wanted to make me feel at home in Southern California. There it was. Right in between orange and apple sat POG. Passion-orange-guava to be more specific. After four years at the caf and hundreds upon hundreds of glasses of this magical juice, I have had juice withdrawals of the worst kind over the last year. And you thought quitting drugs was hard.

I filled my goblet (water goblet) with POG and blissfully enjoyed the rest of my meal. Until I meet you again POG, I will always remember you fondly.

You never were that famous to me...

Hello out there in the world of my blog readers…

And welcome to my best means of keeping you all up to date on my adventures and debacles as I make my way around the country and the world with that silly band I hold so dearly. It’s my blog…or Floblog if you will.

I have recovered a bit now from the sleep deprived past few days. On Sunday and Monday, the band was busy shooting the music video for their new single, “Rise,” the closing track of their album. I hung around for the filming at the Gothic on Sunday, and we loaded all of the sound equipment onto the bus (whose name is Sergo). On Monday, I spent a few hours finishing things up at the lab, and then I came home to put together the final preparations before departure.

My dad came by my house at 3:45 in the morning (following a sleepless binge) and we loaded up all of my gear and office supplies in order to meet the band at the infamous Save-a-lot parking lot. An hour later, everyone had gathered in the parking lot looking a bit exhausted, a bit relieved, and a bit confused. We managed to squeeze everything into the bus, and as we got on the road we all retreated to bunks for some quality time with our pillows and blankets.

Upon arrival in Albuquerque, the group split up and half showered while the rest of us took a trip to the most fabulous nearly-24-hr restaurant named the Frontier. Jesse purchased three burritos, 12 tortillas, and the rest of the food they served in the joint (except anything containing cheese).

Following the delicious meal, we re-grouped and headed to the venue for load-in, sound check and all that business. This show was pretty darn early (doors opened at 6:30), so we didn’t have a heck of a lot of time. The venue we were playing at is called Ralli’s, and only had a capacity of 240. No wonder the show sold out so quickly. The sound system was pretty terrible too. What a place for our new sound guy, Casey, to prove his chops.

Come showtime, the crowd was pretty calm and didn’t exhibit much energy. But, as they usually do, the Bots did their best to blow everyone’s minds with awesome face-melting rock. The reception at the end was fantastic, and I had to constantly divert the crowds seeking autographs and pictures away from the merch table.

We managed to successfully pack everything back up into the bus and went back to the Frontier for some more good eats. Andy, Jesse, and Stephen took off with a friend of Andy’s while I loaded up the merch. I wanted to go with them, but I needed to get hete merch back into the bus. After loading things up, I wanted to meet up with them for food, but did not (as per John and Simone’s warnings) feel comfortable walking around Albuquerque alone. So Jamie volunteered to walk with me.

Little did I remember just how far away the Frontier was from the venue. I was not also made aware that the other three got a ride to the restaurant. So Jamie and I walked about 3 miles to the Frontier where I subsequently bought a burrito, a grilled cheese, a cinnamon roll, and 12 handmade tortillas. Although the walk was long, Jamie and I had a fantastic discussion about what ways we have had to adapt our lifestyles and relationships to life on the road, which made me feel a whole lot better about being in a different city every night.

After food and showers, we took off for Tempe, and I finished up some work before finally crashing. All in all, I realize this is only day 2 of 46 for this tour, but I feel infinitely more comfortable with my position than I did last time. I also feel very grateful that I have the opportunity to work with such fantastic artists and people.

I will be sending out e-mails to all of you every time I update my Floblog, but if for any reason you don’t need any more clutter in your inbox, just let me know.

p.s. posted below is the video filmed on Sunday of an improvised “Famous Walker” by Andy about Jesse.

Super Duper Tuesday...there's no crying in politics

I've talked to two friends in the past few weeks who are registered Democrats (in different states mind you) who mentioned that they will be voting for Billary, I mean, Hillary today. They both alluded vaguely to the notion that one reason they are leaning that way is because they are feminists.

On both occasions, I asked them why, oh why, (if they were voting for feminist reasons) that they would choose someone who now uses water works as a new tool for capturing votes? Doesn't that use tactics true feminists would abhor? What real feminist would say, "Yeah, I'll cry. That'll prove I'm a woman."

Anyway, Lisa passed this article along to me, and it summed up my thoughts pretty well, though it could have gone further.

Like Lisa said, "I don't want my president crying to get sympathy from a foreign diplomat. Politics isn't like getting out of a speeding ticket."

Let's go Obama!

I know this song...wait...different song

Just noticed this morning while listening to my new playlist "Livin' Life Like It's Shark Week" that Elvis Costello got ripped off by another terrible artist.

Listen to the intros...

Good

vs.

Abysmal



Just for clarification, the latter song appears on a mixed CD given to me by friends in HS, and the former is the one on the playlist. Result? My credibility is slipping.

It sits on my lap...my desktop didn't do that

I recently decided to take the financial plunge and get a new computer. The ol' Dell desktop was a fantastic companion throughout college, but it was about time that I upgraded, particularly because I have many, many videos that need to be edited, pictures to organize, and a life of events to put into a synced up calendar (because we all know just how busy I am).

After about an hour in the Apple store with Andy and Annie, I walked--nay strutted-- out of the Apple store with my most recent display of technological materialism. Thus, with this new convenient computer, I have made a few resolutions:

1) Keep my life organized with a complete address book and calendar. I never kept up with Outlook like I promised Booger I would, so this is my chance to redeem myself.
2) Edit all the videos from my camera (JJRO debauchery from the summer of '03 included).
3) Consistently blog about musical fancies and other assorted opinions

With that said, I present you with some PhotoBooth fun had tonight while spending some much needed time with my favorite person in the entire world.

I'm bleeding from the ears Pacino

So as some of you may know, this past week has been a bit of a health disaster for me. Last Friday night while valiantly trying to put The Blue Team up two goals and send us into the finals (a bit cocky I feel?), I tried to clear the goalie of the other team as he came out and slid for the ball. As it turns out, my vertical isn't quite as high as I thought, and I didn't quite clear him. I ended up landing squarely on my left shoulder. I finished the game, but by the next day, mobility was severely limited and ended up with a torn AC ligament. Ouch.

Anyway, on Tuesday, the world conspired against me as a problem cropped up with one of my pearly whites. This tooth took a severe beating when as an eight-year-old I managed to flip over my handlebars and crack my tooth. Since then, a crown has been put on, and I've had to have a wonderfully comfortable root canal on said tooth. Anyway, yesterday morning I woke up to some major pain localized in the area of my traumatized itty bitty bone. The plan was to head to work since for the first time since Friday night, I had the range of motion to reach out and grab the steering wheel.

Turns out Joey knows best, as he wouldn't let me start him. AAA informed me that my battery was in fact dead. Deciding to take a sick day, I called the dentist to inform him about my problem. He sent me to the endodontist, and before I knew it the Madre had dropped me off, and I was being numbed up for some oral surgery. I ended up with 20 or so stitches in my mouth (uncomfortable and a bit painful), and I still don't have full range of motion in my left arm.

Here's to hoping that this is the worst luck I will have all year. Anyway, all of the pain and discomfort I have experienced over the last week can be forgotten because the worst of it is over. And by the worst, I mean the music that was playing as the lovely endodontist pushed, scraped, and drilled away at my tooth.

Things started out harmlessly enough...

1) Elton John: "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a-ok with Sugar Bear and pretty much anything Sir Elton does (see Halloween 2004). Although this is one of his most cheesy songs, I decided to forego my judgment as Doc stuck me with anesthesia and the PA talked to me about work while my face was numb. I feel that trying to converse with someone who has a numb mouth is just about as mean a move as when waiters ask full-mouthed patrons if they are enjoying their meals.

2) Sister Sledge: "We Are Family" The only time past 1979 that this song was hip was in the Birdcage. Since then, smooth listening station DJs have exploited the extraordinarily wide filters of the musically inept and have subjected them to as much terrible disco as possible in the hopes of creating false nostalgia. False nostalgia begets "love" for a song.

3) Some Amy Grant song: Need I say more?

4) Plain White T's: "Hey There Delilah": And the Ozzy for Most Ubiquitously Annoying Song of 2007 goes to... I don't know if I can describe to you in words how much this song makes my skin crawl. I hate it. It is representative of every shitty acoustic ballad ever written to "score the chicks." The most interesting thing I found out about this song was Delilah's true identity. According to Lisa, "She made up for the shitty song by kicking some xc ass."

And with that, I'm taking a pain pill and I am headed to bed.

Field Day: Winter Games 2007

So this weekend I will be heading up to Beaver Creek to Jax's condo with an eclectic crew to partake in the Winter Games sponsored by the Colorado DG Society. The event begins in the morning with traditional Field Day games like tug-of-war, 3-legged races, the car game, etc., then continues on into the evening with indoor games such as: Taboo, Scattergories, and Pictionary, then finishes up with some more "adult" games that involve boozing. The day will be rounded out with a group reconciliation (after a competitive day) in the form of a trip to the hot tub.

The rules of the gaming commission state that athletic attire is mandatory, and more specifically

"Athletic Attire is defined as: Clothing which will not only help you preform but will also distinguish you amongst your fellow competitors. It must warm enough to keep the rest of us from suffering through your complaining. Please note that most events include rolling around in the snow. It must also be colorful and creative."

Lack of compliance with this rule lands the participant in the beer tent.

Some key favorites for events include:
- Cortney and Jackie on either team for tug-of-war...These former CU track athletes boast some great weight training in addition to their sheer natural strength allowing them to anchor their teams
- Mikey and Matt (if he decides to show up) in the three-legged race...their approximately equal height and long legs make them a shoe-in for medal contenders
- Caitie in the hula hoop. She can move her body like an ampersand, and her command of the hula rhythm place her as a top contender
- Vanessa or Jackie with Oz in Taboo...best friends past and present are bound to dominate.
- Korrine in the egg walk...I'm betting she's more coordinated than most of us when it comes to walking


Stay tuned to hear about the exciting results and the pictures we deem appropriate for posting...

Pounds

All Mixed Up

"The making of a great compilation tape like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick it off with a killer to grab attention. Then you gotta take it up a notch but you don't want to blow your wad. So then you gotta cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules. "
--High Fidelity

A couple things:
Yes, I am reading this book. AGAIN. It's just unequivocally perfect at depicting the life of the brooding audiophile. Genius...

Yes, I believe that I am the master of the mixed tape (er…CD…whatever). I was born to soundtrack things. And thus, I have created a new conglomeration of perfectly chosen tracks of musical wonder, just in time to prep Jax and Caitie for our road trip. Because I know you are shaking with anticipation, I have taken some time out (of work) to detail the track list below, complete with tidbits, anecdotes, and other small thoughts about each song. It wouldn’t be Oz if a story wasn’t attached to everything now would it?

Without further ado, I present to you “What’s the Worst That Could Happen?” (selections made from a larger playlist of the same title, which itself was stolen from a mixed CD of David’s)…

Track #1: The Apples in Stereo “Energy”
These Denver semi-natives brought us all a wonderful power pop album last year chock full of sunshine and lollipops, and this track never fails to leave me smiling. This fall I was doing a sixteen miler, and just as I was about to stop because my legs felt like they were going to fall off, all of a sudden Robert Schneider is telling me that “The wooooooorld is made of energy, and the woooooooorld is eeee-lec-tricity…” How could I not keep running?

Track #2: My Morning Jacket “Golden”
When watching a bunch of homemade Bonnaroo videos on youtube a year or so ago, I stumbled upon a slideshow set to this tune. I had heard the song hundreds of times before, but the magnanimous combination of my nostalgia for Bonnaroo, my obsession with soundtracking recent and pending experiences, and Jim James’s voice overwhelmed me, and I can’t stop listening to this song. It’s ideal for a road trip….the way time “just slips away.” p.s. I was at this Red Rocks show!

Track #3: Isley Brothers “Love the One You’re With”
This song could get anyone singing, provided they know a few of the words. It’s got the doo-wop vocals but the 70s funk. Might as well love the one(s) you’re with right? Well good thing I’ll be with Caitie and Jackie…

Track #4: Bop Skizzum “Down Low”
I’m testing out one of my roommates’ theories with this song. One of my favorite Skizzum songs, the vocals and the horns carry it.

Track #5: Matt Costa “Sunshine”
This year at Bonnaroo, Matt and I had some very friendly but interesting neighbors. The craziest of whom was a guy in his mid 20s from New York named Justin. A veteran who served in Afghanistan and drunkenly rambled on about an artist named Bens Fold, Justin came to Bonnaroo with some friends, and really only wanted to see Tool among a few other bands. He spent the rest of the time hanging out at their rental mini-van drinking Miller Light and tequila. Matt and I came back after the White Stripes on the final night to find Justin drunk and wearing a blue paisley skirt that he had bought for a “lady friend” but decided to keep himself. Anyway, every morning at about 7, Justin would crank up the stereo in their minivan and play this song four times in a row, or until his friends turned it off. Every time I hear it, I can’t help but picture Justin dancing in his skirt.

Track #6: Arcade Fire “Rebellion (Lies)”
Few things…if you haven’t seen Arcade Fire live, what are you waiting for? Seek out one of their shows and spend whatever you have to in order to get there. Their set at Coachella in 2005 was pure magic, and the performance of this song made an appearance in my autobiography for Fred’s class. If you want to approximate it, check out the Coachella DVD. Then I saw them at Red Rocks about a month ago. Genius. The ENERGY this nine-piecer had onstage is unreal. Oh the memories…

Track #7: Flobots “Happy Together”
You can listen to it on purevolume, and you damn well better see it performed live. In person. Not on youtube. One of the main reasons I had for turning the playlist of the same name into a condensed mix was to have this song on a CD.

Track#8: Roxette “She’s Got the Look”
Thanks to E, I am totally hooked. I love rocking out to this song, and I just picture two-drink Erin doing her dance and saying "You think the song is over don’t you?”during the bridge. One of the best karaoke performances Boulder has ever seen featured E singing lead with TBS, Jax, and me singing backup. Na na na na na…..

Track #9: CCR “Lookin’ Out My Back Door”
What is the worst that could possibly happen while listening to some Fogerty? Enough said.

Track #10: Donovan “Mellow Yellow”
I’ve been listening to a lot of Donovan lately, so I threw this song on there. Partly because I acquired some more of his material from Matt. Part of it has to do with his appearance throughout D.A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Back which I recently watched. Part of it is because saffron was the answer to a trivia question at Old Chicago this summer. This song just fits.

Track #11: Lupe Fiasco “I Gotcha”
Every time I hear this song I end up listening to the first few beats over and over and over. The keyed intro is just so fantastic. Just wait till Jax busts some car dances out to this song. It will be incandiferous to say the least.

Track #12: Flaming Lips “Do You Realize?”
A recent Twist & Shout purchase was the new live DVD UFOs at the Zoo, and watching it triggered Bonnaroo memories. Yet another live band that no one should ever pass up, Wayne Coyne is just fantastic. This song has been on my mind ever since Beck covered it at Bonnaroo 2006. It’s ideal listening for time spent in the car with two amazing ladies.

Track #13: The Hold Steady "Stuck Between Stations"
I think I have stumbled upon a theme here. Eleven of the eighteen songs on this mix are by artists that I have seen in the last 5 months. Turns out live shows really do impress themselves upon me. Saw the Hold Steady at Bonnaroo on the drunk day. Yes the drunk day which features Matt almost losing everything I brought with me, me making friends with fellow fans, both of us shaking the fist of rage at a lady in the comedy tent, and cheese fries. Yeah, Boze, those cheese fries. Yum.

Track #14: Cold War Kids “Tell Me in the Morning”
I can’t stop listening to this album, and they are pretty tasty live despite my auditory problems at the Casbah performance in February. All the songs have been “thumbs up-ed” on my Pandora station entitled Radio Cold Ward Jacket Kids.

Track #15: White Stripes “We Are Going to Be Friends”
Another song off of “Let the Music Play: A Soundtrack,” the 34 page autobiography I struggled to crank out for Fred. In this chapter, I describe my nerdy love of school and what not growing up in Denver.

Track #16: Decemberists “Sons and Daughters”
The song talks about cinnamon. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The song talks about cinnamon. What more could I want?

Track #17: Daft Punk “One More Time”
Another one of the top live shows I’ve ever been to in my life. Red Rocks? Coachella? and this song just screams “DANCE! PLEASE?!” Maybe not ideal for the upcoming car dances, but still a rollicking good time.

Track #18: Scissor Sisters “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing”
I have been missing me some USD XC van dancin’. Seeing pictures posted of this year’s team rocking out in the vans while they destroy Coach’s eadrums does make me ache for the days of “More Bounce in CA,” “Only,” and “Float On.” This choice was a 2006 favorite of those lady Torero harriers.

Flobottery at its finest...

Another wonderful LockerPartners production...


As many of you know, I have been touting the power of this band ad nauseum to anyone who will listen. I have brought a number of different friends who enjoy all kinds of music to a number of different shows, and I haven't heard one negative response. If I drone on and on about them, it is because I truly believe in the power of their message and their music. I have never wanted a band to succeed like I want Flobots to.

The music industry needs a band that cares like this. This country needs to embrace a band bent on change and creating dialogues. They have their own ideas about where they want society to go, and they pursue them through music and activism, but the real power is their dedication to creating relavent dialogue. They don't propagandize, they encourage discussion and awareness.


So for those of you who have not trusted me about their live experience, take 6 minutes and watch this video. If your interest isn't at least a little bit piqued, I wonder how you and I know each other.

More Flobots...

Since CMB doesn't post articles online...

Text is posted below for those too lazy to click on thumbnails.






Denver Presents…Flobots
The seven piece band you have to see to believe…

Unsuspecting fans of all ages pour into Red Rocks to catch the last of three nights of performances by Denver power Pop locals The Fray. The gales have calmed, and the sputtering rain has moved east in a here-comes-the-sun moment. Some make stops at the merch booth to purchase memorabilia, and those who do largely disregard the brightly colored flyers that adorn the tables. Something about a CD release… Some band called Flobots.

The clock strikes 7:30, and the audience is called to rapt attention by a funky guitar as the seven members of Flobots literally jump right into their first song, the dance-worthy “No W.” The band’s set unfolds as a myriad of quickly spit socially conscious rhymes, soul-tugging melancholic viola (don’t you dare call it a violin), grooving rhythms, and brassy trumpeting. All around the venue, teenagers and parents, post-collegiates, and professionals start to abandon their stone seats in order to get down and, well, shake their booties (if you will).

The thirty-minute time slot gives the Flobots just enough time to pique the interests of the crowd, and for over an hour following the set, the septet is bombarded by new fans asking for pictures and autographs. Shocked at the immediate accessibility and overwhelming friendliness of the band members, these new fans express their own incredulity at the talent and energy of the group – and most praise the band for their political and social message. One middle-aged man, however, approaches guitarist Andy Guerrero, shakes his hand, and says, “You’ve got great beats, but your politics are messed up.” Polarizing though they may be, Flobots lyrics have a way of wiggling their way under your skin.

The musical collective known as Flobots came together in early 2005, and they have since taken the Denver music scene by storm. Violist Mackenzie Roberts met lyricist Jamie Laurie (a.k.a. Jonny 5), while registering people to vote at a show featuring Funk favorite Bop Skizzum with Guerrero on guitar and lead vocals. Jonny 5 had been working with fellow Hip Hop artist Brer Rabbit (Stephen Bracket) in an early Flobots manifestation, and it wasn’t long before Roberts and Guerrero both joined the band. They quickly recruited former Funktion bass player Jesse Walker and Skizzum trumpet player Joe Ferrone. A year later, Denver drummer extraordinaire Kenny Ortiz joined forces with the rest of the group to create the Flobots as we know them today.

The band wasted no time booking shows and releasing their first EP Flobots Present… Platypus, which sold consistently well at shows and local record shops like Twist & Shout. Over the past two-and-a-half years, Flobots have generated a buzz spanning multiple states and a fan base that transcends genre, gender, race, and age. Their live show has taken on a life of its own: pure energy resonates between the band and the audience. They are at home sharing a stage with jam bands and indie Rock hipsters, rappers and Reggae groups. So what is it about this eclectic group that wins over so many fans from every walk of life?

“It’s really simple: we’re ‘progressive indie Hip Hop fusion,’” jokes Jonny 5 as he attempts to classify the band. “We have settled on ‘progressive Hip Hop’ because of the double meaning of ‘progressive,’” he goes on. “We’ll accept both the musical meaning and the social/political meaning.” At the same time, each band member brings in such disparate musical influences that any fan would be hard-pressed to associate Flobots with any specific genre or particular musical stimulus. Individual instruments even alter genre classifications from song to song. That is to say: the viola of “Handlebars” is not that of “The Rhythm Method (Move!).”

Brer Rabbit explains, “We’ve stumbled upon a sound. No, that’s not correct – we have worked really hard to get our synergy together, and we now have a sound.” Nowhere is this more apparent than on the group’s first full-length album Fight With Tools– to be released on Friday, September 21st at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood. “This record is very specific to the people that are on this record,” adds Walker. “If you removed any single person and replaced them with someone else, you would get something entirely different.”

Taken from a World War II era propaganda poster encouraging skilled laborers to help build weapons, Fight With Tools is a twelve-track concept album that deals with pressing social and political issues in contemporary American society and around the world. The album begs the question: if not weapons, what are the tools we must fight with? Brer Rabbit reflects, “The old tools aren’t working. What are the ones that will work? What are the ones we already have?”

The airtight music of Fight With Tools soars on more complete production than the band had on the Platypus EP. The band attributes its superior synchronization to more time spent together, including band “retreats.” Walker notes, “There is a definite correlation between our personal relationships and the power of the music,” as well as the fact that they are “more hypercritical of [themselves] than most bands.” This perfectionism shines through the flawless delivery of musically and lyrically difficult songs.

Fight With Tools opens with “There’s A War Going On For Your Mind,” a spoken word poem backed by tragic sighing viola and anticipatory marching percussion, which then quickly dives into the frenetic chaos of “Mayday!!!” The album takes the listener on a reversely entropic journey toward social progress through activism and awareness, closing with the optimistic “We Are Winning” and anthemic “Rise,” an encouraging tribute to communal action. Roberts says, “When we started writing the album, there was a sort of storyline that we wanted to follow. It was the progress of how we get from point A to point B.”

Songs like “Same Thing” are ripe with political awareness (what other musicians are talking about Leonard Peltier?) and blatantly state the band’s position on particular issues. Current live favorite “Stand Up” finds a place on the album and questions the current U.S. administration’s response to national disasters like Hurricane Katrina and “9/11,” as well as other governmental decisions. In this vein, Jonny 5 decided from the beginning that “music could be just as effective means of social change as… community organizations or working for a non-profit organization.”

Now, we have all heard popular musicians shoot their mouths off about particular issues, but very few actually put their actions where their mouths are. Flobots aim to bring the social consciousness of their music into a third dimension. Not only do they rap and sing about critical problems, they are unique in that they have concrete plans to create a community organization that will engage themselves – and fans – as volunteers. Brer Rabbit notes, “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.” The volunteers, or street team members, will receive various types of training so they might be qualified to work in different areas of the Flobots organization. Brer Rabbit continues, “It is one thing to be as big as Rage Against the Machine and have a big group of listeners that don’t do anything. We want our street team to be people who are actually armed with the training to help the community.”

Already, members of Flobots are in service locally as youth program coordinators and teachers working with kids and developmentally disabled adults. As a band, they are currently associated with a number of organizations in the Denver Metropolitan area, including Veterans for Hope and the United Artist Coalition for Kids, as well as the Denver Children’s Home, where they work with residential and day treatment youth who have experienced trauma. They hope that this list will continue to grow as more fans choose to get involved.

Flobots’ dedication to community is entwined with their appreciation for their fans. They throw their energy into engaging fans because of their commitment to creating a stronger community. According to Brer Rabbit, “Activism is not just about sitting around and getting angry – that’s hollow. Any activism that is worth the struggle in the community is also a celebration of all the different stages of mankind at once… to have that component is actually something that brings us together. That’s what we are going to use as our platform to try to change this world.”

What about those who disagree like the pleased-yet-disgruntled man at Red Rocks? Roberts says, “I’m glad that that happened. Even though he didn’t agree with what we were saying, he still heard what we said.” To join the Flobots’ revolution, check them out online, and make sure to buy your tickets in advance for the CD release show on September 21st – because with all this talent, space will surely run out fast.

Flobots.com

I like my man in.......makeup? Guyliner takes the main stage.

An old article I thought I would share with the masses....er....handfuls.

Courtesy of the Vista (November 9, 2006)


It seems like everywhere you look these days, male rockers are adding a little flair to their style. They travel with makeup kits and artfully apply their eyeliner before shows, photo shoots and TV appearances. Did I say eyeliner? I’m sorry, I meant guyliner—the new socially acceptable pop- culture term for the trend that seems to be taking over the music scenes.

In the wake of the metrosexual’s entrance into society, it’s become increasingly tolerable for men to don more makeup than their female counterparts. Bands like the Killers and 30 Seconds to Mars have stepped into the spotlight and spread this image to the mass public. Looking back, men in makeup has always had a place in rock and roll.

Most notably, kings of rock Elvis Presley and Little Richard commonly wore eyeliner to enhance their physical appearance at concerts in much the same way that most actors wear stage makeup. Two decades later, a variety of artists took the makeup persona to two drastically different levels.

Stadium rock bands like Kiss and glam rock artists like the New York Dolls and David Bowie used makeup to paint themselves as larger than life. Makeup became an integral part of their images and worked to distance them from their audience. Conversely, punk and goth acts like Alice Cooper, the Cure and Bauhaus used heavy dark eyeliner to not only set themselves apart from other musicians, but more basically, to scare people. If a guy walked down the street dressed in all black with spiked or mussed hair (á la Robert Smith) he could expect to meet stares of terror from kids and looks of disapproval from parents.

However, in today’s music scene, guyliner has reemerged as the new couture in the vein of the overdone glam rock of the late 70s and early 80s.

While some bands like nu-metal kings Slipknot maintain the fear-mongering image with makeup and masks, most emo artists today have used makeup to create a new image for themselves.

Bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance don guyliner in what appears to be a reflection of their music—an outward display of their inner melancholia if you will—but they have missed the mark of symbolic and landed right on androgyny.

The most egregious offender however? Pop-punk fashionistas Panic! at the Disco have taken cheesy makeup to astronomical levels in the interest of defining themselves, which only brings them more ridicule from punk purists than their music already does.

So, the question remains, will this trend extend further into the public consciousness and have boys fixing their guyliner between classes, or will this fade into fashion obscurity along with scrunchies?

Opportunists and the pretty lights

I am wondering how a person can be content with her life if she hasn't seen Daft Punk and their amazing robot-tastic concert?

Last night I took the familiar roads through Morrison to most epic Red Rocks Amphitheater looking for a sequel to Daft Punk's 2006 Coachella return show, and (in the words of John James) YEEEEE-BOY-HOWDY!

After passing Nick Coffey selling glow sticks on my way up to the south entrance, I could make out "Gotta Get Myself Into It," and knew that I needed to book it to catch as much of the Rapture as possible. I wiggled my way through the crowd, and ended up right next to the sound board (yay for optimal auditory positioning). The NY boys rocked from start to finish, and I didn't even mind dancing alone. (My neighbors were more of the stand and watch type).

As DJ'ers Sebastian and Kavinsky took the spotlight--but not the stage--perched behind the soundboard, I began to realize that I was the most sober person around (minus the fourteen-year-olds behind me). Not only had I not had any New Belgium products, but I was also someone those DARE moms would be bragging about. All around me were the scents and sights of ever-ubiquitous pot, and furtive circles would break up as attendees swallowed their favorite pills. WHile those two tremendously gifted spinners provided blissfully rhythmic tunes, techies worked furiously onstage behind a curtain to assemble the pyramid.

S & K finished up with a rousing remix of "Testify" by RATM, and then there could be no question that not one person in the audience was fully prepared for the awesomeness of Daft Punk at Red Rocks.

Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter entered the stage, climbed up to their perches in the pyramid, and let loose. They covered all the basics, opening with "Robot Rock," and transitioning into "Technologic," "Around the World," "Harder Better Faster Stronger," and other favorites. The lighting production only got more intense (intensely aweseome that is) as the show progressed, and if anyone deserves an award for truly amazing use of technology in music...look no further than lighting production engineer _________ (couldn't find his name).

I knew that the five minute blip of "One More Time" played a few songs in couldn't be all of that song, and Guy-Manuel & Thomas reemerged with their robot suits a-glowin' and finished up with "Primetime of Your Life," "Human After All," and "One More Time." All in all, this set ties with Coachella...it wins out on a few levels:
1) I wasn't as exhausted and thus able to dance the entire set away
2) Any show at Red Rocks automatically wins for setting
3) I was not as sweaty.

However, Coachella was their first live show in 9 years, and it's Coachella.


Stay tuned kids for Nights #2, #3, and #4 from Red Rocks this week featuring Modest Mouse, Ryan Adams, Flobots, and The Fray.

You know me so well...

I love Pandora. Love it love it love it.

I love Pandora more than Buster loves Mother.

One of my favorite parts is the feature where I can ask the almost omniscient "Music Genome" gods why they played a certain song. So today, for A Northern Chorus's "The Shepherd and the Chauffer" I got:

Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features a twelve-eight time signature, major key tonality, a breathy male lead vocalist, triple note feel and many other similarities identified in the music genome project.

"Breathy male lead vocalist." Yep, uh-huh, right right right. I should have seen that one coming after adding artists like Rocky Votolato, Damien Jurado, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, etc. to the list. We all know I'm a sucker for guys who can kind of sing in that weird soulful (not like soul music soulful) way where you know they really mean it. I've just never thought to put it like that.

So now when people ask what music I like I'm going to start out with quotes from Pandora..."I enjoy most music that's in a twelve-eight time signature."

Oh and on a redder note...

"I couldn't remember if you liked the white or the red, so I got you both."

Yes Dave, you did buy me both, and it only cost you $4.

Yay 2-Buck Chuck

Net Radio

Since Pandora has become such an integral part of my work day, I think it's important to note that Congress sat up and took notice of support for this new means of absorbing music...

from savenetradio.org

Congress and SoundExchange have heard loud and clear the amazing outpouring of support for Internet radio from webcasters, listeners and the thousands of artists they support. A commitment has been made to negotiate reasonable royalties, recognizing the industry’s long-term value and its still-developing revenue potential.

During negotiations SoundExchange committed temporarily not to enforce the new royalty rates so webcasters can stay online as new rates are agreed upon.

This development is due in great part to the millions of people who have let their Congressional representatives know about their support of Internet radio. Over 125 representatives have cosponsored the bill to this point.

I wrote a bit of a disgruntled e-mail to some of the CO reps and sens, and hopefully it was one of the thousands that was actually read among the millions sent.

So go listen to Pandora and be thankful that it fills your life with wonderful music at no cost to you.

$19.43 a week richer

This was written, then the Madre's internet shat all over it, and it was lost...



Although I am extremely pleased with life back in the great state of Colorado, I have to admit that there are a few things that I miss about "America's Finest City." And most of those things are eateries/restaurants. (Well people too I suppose). You see it's not that I don't like to cook; I do, but for four years at school, many other things took precedence like practice, all-night talks with Kendra, rocking out in my room, hanging out with Eugene, etc. So here's a tribute to the fine places that kept me well fed.

1. The Caf: There's nothing like having a meal plan as a senior. I remember looking around the place as I set my tray down and realizing that I only knew a few of the patrons. There were very few of us who stayed loyal to the all-you-can eat wonder of the Caf for four straight years, but we happy few enjoyed the beauty of chicken finger night, Sunday Sundaes, tater barrels (not tots), and POG (old orange, middle pink, new orange). We ceaselessly hoped to get the "Deez Nuts" tray and the forks shaped like forks. We prayed for a shortage of mushrooms and an abundance of salutations from Oscar ("I'm hookin it up. I'm hookin it up."). The nights spent there with the team after practice allowed me to start my homework hours too late. Also, without the caf, we might not have recalled some of the best details of nights spent at Trey's apartment or in 1653A.

2. JV's: By the time second semester rolled around senior year, I was eating here three or four times a week...healthy. USD freshmen are routinely indoctrinated in the belief that if you want a great burrito, particularly after a rollicking good time at the beach around 2am, you head down Morena to Santana's. However, more and more students are joining the countercultural burrito revolution. Squeezed in between some bushes and a donut shop sits the home to the best burritos this side of TJ. As time went on, I began to see more and more hoodie clad USDers stroll in below the "5 Rolled Tacos" sign and take part in the delicious party. Kendra and I spent Sunday nights (and many others) at JV's with our vegetarian burritos and our cinnamon chips. It was at JV's in fact that we learned from the local news that the dean of our school of business had been caught in a coke deal. Awesome.

3. Le's: Just up Linda Vista is the key to great Vietnamese/Chinese/Thai food. Le's shares a building with YumYum Donuts in the Vien Dong parking lot, and despite the relatively slow service, it kept me nice and stuffed when I adventured with Kate to discuss books and culture and annoying people. Home to the best cream cheese wontons, Le's also provided me with the most cryptically hilarious fortune in the history of cookies: "When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out because that's what's inside."

4. La Paloma: Lunch at La Paloma (despite the atrocious service and disgusting long lines of stiletto clad Comm majors eating only the Spring Fling salad) fed me many times weekly for four years. Within just a few minutes of my second home (Science and Tech), I am not sure if I can count how many Bacon Turkey Bravos (no tomato, grilled and toasted) that I consumed in four years. The dining area is usually loud enough, so Joanna and I were able to talk crap about those students and professors who drove us nuts. Plus, the breakfast sandwiches are unbeatable. Booger and I would meet there before class twice a week, and we may have been Cristi and Candra to the morning workers, but the 2 on Honey Wheat will stay in my heart for good.

5. Boardwalk Bistro: If I decided to venture down to the beach for a quick bite in the morning, or if I was taking friends and family around SD, I made sure to bring them past the long lines and small portions of the Mission Cafe and sit them down at this place off of Santa Clara. Where else could I get the High Tide (pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, toast, and fruit) for under $8? Tasty.

Kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy

Happy 10th birthday Ok Computer

Here's to the hours and hours I have spent (or I should say 54 minutes and 54 minutes) listening to this truly revolutionary album. For those fortunate to attend either my or Matt Wallace's weddings (which may or may not happen), you will get to dance the night away to "Paranoid Android."

So here's to the summer of '97 when my brudda and I spent many hours in front of the TV over at the Madison house waiting for the strange animated masterpiece.

Aziz Ansari is a fucking badass...