TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Flobots Make Music With A Message

The hip-hop band is among a number of acts performing at Sunday's "Next Big Thing"

60 Cycle Media

Denver hip-hop collective Flobots performs Sunday at the daylong "Next Big Thing" concert.

ADVERTISEMENT

By SARAH HOYE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2008

TAMPA - The "Next Big Thing" rock concert takes over the Ford Amphitheatre Sunday.

The all-day affair features performances by popular national acts such as Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown, Atreyu, Flogging Molly, Shiny Toy Guns, Ludo, Flobots and more.

We caught up with Flobots emcee Jonny 5 before a recent tour stop in San Diego. The Denver-based hip-hop collective is quickly gaining attention with notable singles "Handlebars" and "Rise," both off their debut album "Fight With Tools," which was released in May.

"Even with the economy being bad, we're still getting shows. Every new market we have people wanting to see us," said Jonny 5 (born James Laurie). "I think, more than anything, it's exciting and empowering to have people in cities that we've never been to know the words to our songs, and it just feels good and gives us a responsibility."

Since forming in 2005, Flobots has used its influence and performance art to promote social activism, Jonny 5 said. The band has used concerts to encourage voter registration and raise funds for their non-profit arm, which supports music education for young people in Denver, and a program to recruit for community service projects.

"I think for us, hip hop and activism have always been the same thing," he said. "If the band had a mission statement, it's to empower people to engage the world around them lovingly."

Assisting Jonny 5 on the mic is emcee Brer Rabbit. The crew made its stamp with its live performances backed by bassist Jesse Walker, drummer Kenny Ortiz, guitarist Andy Guerrero, and Mackenzie Roberts on viola. The result is politically and socially charged entertainment.

"As a lyricist, writing has always been about expressing what I am feeling. I remember being picked on, or having a crush on someone that's not going to happen," Jonny 5 said. "It's about expressing who you are, and it's amazing that you can conjure up this good feeling with music and words."

Flobots are aware others are listening and the band doesn't take its influence lightly. Jonny 5 enjoys making music, but is also dedicated to making a difference in the world.

"It's really just this commitment that you matter as a person," Jonny said. "We've seen that we have the power to do that and know that it works."

The daylong "Next Big Thing" concert, hosted by 97X, WSUN 97.1 FM, features two stages and kicks off at 10 a.m. The official pre-party is Saturday at Push Ultra Lounge in St. Petersburg from 10 p.m. to midnight, complete with a special acoustic performance by St. Louis rockers Ludo.

"Next Big Thing" concert featuring Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown, Atreyu, Flogging Molly, Shiny Toy Guns, Ludo, Flobots and more; 10 a.m. Sunday; $32.10 to $69.55; Ford Amphitheater, 4802 U.S. Highway 301 N., Tampa; (813) 740-2446

Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT