Musketeer Gripweed CD Review: "Dyin' Day"

Please check out my review of Musketeer Gripweed's latest CD, "Dyin' Day" here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6132020/musketeer_gripweed_dyin_day_cd_review.html?cat=33

Flobots Tear Up the Aggie in Fort Collins

Check out my review of the Flobots show at the Aggie from 12.10.10. here.

And more video here.

(Here's a version of my story with links to videos and websites embedded):

With a sound that crosses several genres – rock, hip-hop, alternative, hardcore, classical – one may inaccurately assume the Flobots aren’t cohesive or that they don’t have their own style. This is not the case, as anyone attending a Flobots show can attest. The group melds together like the perfect cake recipe and flows in and out of different musical varieties like the Poudre in the summer.

As a 5-year-old band, Flobots continue to change and grow, but they stay true to their message: one of love, connection, and the truth. 

Friday, December 10, brought Flobots to the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins, CO, just up the road from where Brer Rabbit went to school at Colorado State University. The Denver-based hip-hop alternative group has recently made it a tradition to stick close to home around the holidays, and the fans in Fort Collins benefitted greatly. 

The crowd at the Aggie was more than just a college scene, and had tons of energy for the Denver openers, Air Dubai, and the legendary Digable Planets, who set the tone with their funky mellow vibe. 

Flobots began their show with “One Love,” a favorite from their EP “Flobots Present… Platypus,” after Brer Rabbit hyped the crowd to the level he remembered from his college days in Fort Collins. “Same Thing” from “Fight With Tools” was performed with fantastic energy before they dove into another “Platypus” favorite, “Jetpack,” which featured Brer Rabbit’s gravity-defying pop and locking moves.

“Stand Up” from “Fight With Tools” was next, moving everyone in the venue to put their hands in the air. Mackenzie Gault performed a beautiful viola solo/interlude before the whole band joined her for “Defend Atlantis,” off their most recent release, “Survival Story.”

Jonny5's expressive face and staccato rhyming blends perfectly with Mackenzie’s smooth viola, Andy Rok’s wailing guitar, Jesse Walker’s thumping bass, Kenny O.’s phenomenal drumming and Brer Rabbit’s infectious smile, stage presence, and deep, soulful melodies. The childhood friendship is obvious between the two MC’s of the group as they complement each other often and share many bro-worthy moments onstage.

“The Moon” from “Platypus” had a very jazzy feel, and Doodlebug of Digable Planets joined in with a sweet freestyle. “The Rhythm Method (Move!)” encouraged everyone to “move like an ampersand,” and spell F-l-o-b-o-t-s in sign language along with Jonny 5. 

Next was an extra special “Colorado Flo-down” (not on any album) complete with Brer Rabbit and Jonny 5 jumping into the crowd and dancing doe-see-doe style with the audience. Flobots called Jon Shockness from Air Dubai up to sing on “Infatuation,” which is performed by another Denverite, Matt Morris, on “Survival Story.” Dancers from the crowd were pulled onstage convincing Brer Rabbit once again that Fort Collins is live!

Another “old school” jam, “No W,” from “Platypus” led to a remix of “Mama Said Knock You Out.” Jesse Walker's bass thumped out a hard beat to start “Combat,” and Kenny O. ended it with a ravenous drum solo. “Mayday!!!” another rocking jam from “Fight With Tools” showed how cohesive the band is and the immense amount of energy that they feed off of each other and the crowd.  

Kenny O. started a pulsating drum and bass style remix of “Handlebars,” and Mackenzie’s viola solo replaced the recorded trumpet from the album beautifully.  “Rise” got everybody jumping and chanting along with Brer Rabbit. The crowd kept their hands waving to “The Effect” before they were instructed by Jonny 5 to “do the Helen Keller and confront male arrogance.” Brer Rabbit and Jonny 5 stood back to back for a sweet rhyme swap and they left the stage.

During the short break, the crowd started chanting “Flobots!” until they came back onstage with Mackenzie slicing her viola intro into “Airplane Mode.” Andy made some crazy electro spaceship noise on his guitar before switching over to instructing the crowd on “White Flag Warrior” lyrics. White flags waved and Tim McIlrath of Rise Against suddenly ran out onstage to sing the chorus. Jonny 5 and Brer Rabbit’s encore verses mixed in with Europe’s “Final Countdown” with Tim belting out that chorus as well. Two confetti cannons shot off and the crowd left with a fresh perspective and very happy.