Flobots Brer Rabbit , originally uploaded by corey_bayless.
The Flobots hit Seattle’s El Corazon on their third stop of a long enduring tour planned. The Flobots have a new injection of hip hop to implant into the main stream music industry. With Supporting acts, Bus Driver and DoomTree, the three crews gave the crowd more then what they asked. The politically charged Flobots brought forth their style and message in a way that convinces even the convincless, this world is time for change and we are the insurgents.
The opening act did what it is supposed to do, open and get the crowd charged to hear the other acts. Bus Driver traversed this path and attained a higher level than just an opening act. With his wickedly fast rap and sense of humor he pleased the crowd with his jovial sense of style. While on stage during the performance he mixed his backgrounds beats with his miniature turntable and then proceeded to add his rap style to each mix. The style and act that was put on did more than impress; it set the stage for the next group who blew me away with their sense of individuality in their music.
DoomTree which is comprised of,Cecil Otter, Dessa, LazerBeak, Marshall Larada, Mick Mictlan, Paper Tiger, P.O.S., Sims, Tom Servo, and Turbo Nemesis came out on stage with a masterful presence. P.O.S. Made the announcement that Doomtree was here and immediately went to work on the crowd. The Doomtree crew all had a story to tell and each rapped with the expressions of pure heart through the words they spoke. It was an injection of rap that was fresh and it had no expression of derogatory content; it taught lessons about loving not hating. As each rapper spit their story you could feel the energy and emotion behind each word. Their ability to reach people with their music was to the level that some musicians can only dream. This really help set the stage for Flobots because everybody in El Corazon was definitely feeling this Minneapolis crew Doomtree.
The Flobots just came onto the music scene in 2001. Jonny 5, the Flobots lead rapper along with Brer Rabbit and 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. Colorado’s own Flobots have hit the scene and are now on their first major national tour. With their smash hit handlebars, the Flobots are definitely here to stay. From the quality of the performance, it will be no surprise that they are going to hit it mainstream in no time at all. Their CD, Fight with tools, was released in 2007 with Universal republic records as one of a two CD major label Deal.
As the Flobots came out on stage, they immediately won over the crowd with their amazing remix of the smash hit Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine. Mackenzie Roberts played Tom Morellos guitar riff on her viola and she even gave it a remix of her own. It was outstanding, and it super charged the crowd into a daze and confused feeling of excitement. Each band member from the Flobots was incredible; they came together as a band and stayed together the entire set. Each member fueled off each other; it was very impressive. The entire show was borderline phenomenal, until the Hit handlebars. As soon as that song came on, El Corazon became an eruption of screaming and cheering, it was what we had waited for. As the song finished its famous lyrics, “I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, noooo handlebars” the crowd exploded into cheers for a good thirty seconds. It was a performance that will forever stay with me.
As the show came to a final close the crowd’s expectations were completely blown away. Nobody expected this show to be this amazing; all the crews went above their call of duty and really showed that they are here to stay.
By: Corey Bayless
