So my 20 year old turns me on to this CD by the Flobots-absolutely revolutionary music! I had not

[kiteinthewind]

heard of them before, but I LOVE the CD. They also have a 'social change' website http://www.flobots.org/ where they 'Fight with Tools" (the name of their new CD) and it looks like they did some organizing around the DNC Convention. They are in Denver. You can watch one of their videos, "Rise", here http://video.universalrepublic.com/?plid=1481452858&v=1729900180&aid=0
Has anyone else heard of them??

:thumbsup:

[panader0]

1. I'll have to ask my kids.......

[kiteinthewind]

60. I'd be curious to know their response!

[Kittycat]

2. God I'm old

:(

[madmax]

11. LOL

:rofl: :hug: c'mere and sit with another oldie but, goodie.

[Kittycat]

14. ..

:rofl:

[Subdivisions]

3. Very outspoken and politically aware. 'Handlebars' is a great

tune. An instant favorite band for me.

Handlebars - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

[kiteinthewind]

9. I esp. liked Rise and Same Thing! Glad to hear someone has heard! We need

more of this type of music, esp. to motivate the youth. I never really got Matt interested in activism. I drug him to DC for the 2004 counter-inaugural, and I think he sort of got into that, but could never get him to do anything locally. Hoping this means he is becoming enlightened!

[Subdivisions]

16. As he matures, and with your guidance, he'll become enlightened =), n/t

[kiteinthewind]

29. 'Ya think? My ex told me once he thought Matt was 'embarassed' by my activism

I have lots of bumper stickers on my car, do a lot of protests, etc. But I never got any signs of 'embarassment. I think his dad just didn't like that he liked to hang with me more! :eyes:

[wildbilln864]

41. that rocked!

Hadn't heard of them before but I dig that song and video "no handlebars".
Thanks! :hi:

[kiteinthewind]

45. 'Rise' is great, as well as 'Same Thing'. The Rise video is pretty motivating!

and you're welcome! :hi:

[sudopod]

69. Best song EVAR

Gives me chills every time I hear it.

[kiteinthewind]

73. LOL! I think I liked Rise best, but honestly, I like most all of the songs on the CD!!

:hi:

[ccvirgo911]

85. Put this on top

of my son's myspace playlist. His favorite skate line was Fallen, and their slogan is Rise with the Fallen. It's become sort of a mantra we all use when talking about my son Chris. And Rise perfectly says what we are trying to do, Rise from this.
Flobots are amazing!

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. They have a big hit right now called "Handlebars".

It's a pretty powerful piece of pop music. Make sure you listen all the way through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

[Subdivisions]

7. Ha! Beatcha to it! =) n/t

[lostnotforgotten]

5. Rap - Too Old For Rap - Let The Youngsters Have It

eom

[Subdivisions]

10. I used to think that. And now that Gangsta Rap has fallen out

of favor and more artists are being just that, artists, I've been able to stomach some of what rappers now produce. BTW, I'm 44.

[kiteinthewind]

12. I think they call it hip hop? I'm almost 50, but I still like it!

[Subdivisions]

22. I've reconciled myself to it, calling it "Urban Poetry". I used to hate rap,

but the cream of the genre is only just rising to the top and is maturing.

[kiteinthewind]

24. I like that. Yeah, some of the vulgarity and bashing women rap turned me off, but sometimes

there is some real good lyrics. I have a friend locally who does music sort of like this, and he calls it hip hop, so I thought that's what it was, but I am too old to distinguish the difference!

[Subdivisions]

33. I'm not 100% sure, but I think rap and hip-hop are the same thing. n/t

[kiteinthewind]

38. Well, there 'ya go. No wonder I don't know the difference! LOL!

:blush:

[madeline_con]

77. You call that rap?

:rofl:

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

6. Nope. But, thanks for "turning me on" to them.

:rofl:

Seriously. I'll check them out. I have an intuitive sense that, if you like the group, I will too!:7

[kiteinthewind]

13. OK, so my age is showing! LOL!

[Selatius]

8. You should watch their legendary music video for their single "Handlebars"

It's about two friends, one who chooses a path marked "C" for corporate power or possibly control, and the other the path denoted with a white dove for peace.

In the end, they become enemies, and only one walks away alive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

[kiteinthewind]

15. I should've gone to YouTube first. I think their website is fairly new and has a few quirks.

Thanks for the link!

[blue neen]

17. That was great!

I loved it...always love hearing exciting new music.

I just might have to buy "Fight with Tools." :)

[kiteinthewind]

19. Great!

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. Thanks for the link.

:)

[kiteinthewind]

20. Welcome. I hope to spread the word!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. I will do my best.

:-)

[Tindalos]

23. They're really good.

I've been looking for some new music. Thanks. I've added them to my list.

[kiteinthewind]

26. I was sort of surprised, too! I would like to think that maybe some of my speeches about

social responsibility, etc. wore off on at least one of my kids!

[Tindalos]

28. lol

I think there's hope for them yet.

[kiteinthewind]

30. Thanks!

[jlj3394]

25. Check out Eminem's MOSH

I don't really like Eminem, but the song will get you pumped for change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOLMVQa0KD8

[kiteinthewind]

27. Another one I love! Actually, he has a few songs on there that I like! My oldest

son is an Eminem fan, but I don't think he's caught the activism bug yet, however he did cut me a CD with a couple of his songs when he got that CD. Maybe he'll come around!

[asdjrocky]

32. Good words...

But he's always been so good at the hook and I can't find one here. That's what it's missing. Nice to see he's trying to pay attention.

[kiteinthewind]

36. : )

[SammyWinstonJack]

35. Thanks for that link!

"No more blood for oil" :bounce:

[asdjrocky]

31. One of my favorite recent bands.

Yeah, I'm an old guy, but because of years around music, I still read RS. Funny thing is, now I read it more for the politics than the music.

[kiteinthewind]

34. I always loved music, esp for the lyrics, but I have really expanded my tastes the last

few years. Anything but Country, tho!

[asdjrocky]

47. I worked in, around, and with music most of my life.

I started out as a purest at all times. First I was a Motown purest. It was the Funk Brothers or nothing. Then it was Parliament funk, Ohio Players and the poppy Earth Wind & Fire. I took a drastic turn when I picked up my first, and their first, Ramones album. I started club work in the late 70s, early 80s and was playing house and techno, mixing my own tracks, before anyone had a name for it. We were at the Warehouse in Chicago, and that's where the name "house" music comes from. Kids would run to that little used record store around the corner from the hall and they'd say, give us some of that "house music." So we mixed tapes.

I've done jazz, Latin and everything in between. I thought I hated country until I heard Amarillo by Morning from George Strait. Now I even have a decent knowledge of country music.

Just goes to show you, ignore those labels, and just listen. You might be surprised at what direction an open musical mind takes you. Hell, if I remember correctly, Johnny Cash covered the Nine Inch Nails. It worked so much better back when we could just hear the music and not look at it.

And your 20 year old has great tastes, my compliments to the chef.

[kiteinthewind]

50. Thanks! Funny you should mention Johnny Cash-When I was very little, I loved

his song "Don't take your guns to town, Son" (at least I think that was the name of it. Don't know why I loved it so much. My dad collected muzzleloaders and we used to target shoot together. Maybe it was something subconscious like that? Anywho, I did like Johnny Cash. The country nowadays just seems some whiney or something. Oh, and thanks for the compliment! :hi:

[asdjrocky]

52. The popular country is never good.

You have to go back, or sometimes go obscure. Willie Nelson never wrote, or sang a bad song.

[kiteinthewind]

56. I went to see Willie in concert here in KC in 1978 or 79! Liked Waylon Jennings, too.

How funny, i forgot them. Got the worst sunburn of my life at the Willie Nelson concert!

[kgnu_fan]

37. Flobot played at our live studio

at KGNU (www.kgnu.org) almost two years ago and I hosted that show on 2006-12-11 (Our live show is called Kabaret and it is on every Monday at 6 - 7 pm.... we invite local artists)

Flobot brings huge crowd whereever they play. They played for Dalai Lama when there was a PeaceJam gathering (for young peace activists)in Arvada, Colorado. They played for a huge Immigration Protest rally. They played with Rage Against the Machine during the DNC and marched with Iraq Veterans Against the War for the protest.

I am so glad you found them. I play their music all the time for my show. We love them. Please listen to KGNU!

[kiteinthewind]

40. Wow! That is awesome. I met some of the IVAW-they have come here to KC

a few times. Also met a few down in Crawford! Glad to know they are on the airwaves. Hope they make it big!! Can you listen to KGNU online?

[kgnu_fan]

82. Yes, you can listen to kgnu online at www.kgnu.org

Just click on the button for your bandwidth... right now I am going over there to do phone duty for our pledge drive...

[asdjrocky]

48. Sometimes I miss radio.

Then I come to my senses. Hey, a big welcome to DU :hi:!

[Irishonly]

39. Thank you

This ole boomer got to tell her 18 year old something she didn't know. She liked the group but had no idea about their political activity. I feel enlightened.:toast:

[kiteinthewind]

43. LOL! Wow, maybe she will become enlighted, or maybe she already is? I am hoping

they have a positive effect on my youngest! :toast:

[Irishonly]

84. She's enlightened

and getting more so every day. One of her politically naive friends (I had already talked to one) made the mistake of calling Palin a feminist. My daughter called Palin a babbling baboon of a bitch and proceeded to give a lesson on politics and the McCain campaign Obama would have been proud of. I sure was.:toast:

I am so proud our kids are getting enlightened and active. My husband and I always have been and it's wonderful to see so many kids taking charge.

P.S. If you do a spell check, Palin in Plain. LOL

[blogslut]

42. I like it

Thanks for the hookup. I may have to buy a CD.

[kiteinthewind]

44. Thank YOU! I hope they make the 'big time', whatever that is?!?!

[alfredo]

46. Very good. Here is a very revolutionary song.

It's revolutionary because it comes out loud and clear that this is what America is all about and it should be embraced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWnGctWs4JM


Steve Earle is one hell of a songwriter. Glad he's on our side.

[asdjrocky]

49. Love me some Steve Earle.

[alfredo]

53. He's the man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4bCVoMCeYY

[asdjrocky]

54. We can do this all night...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG8ZUaLACZ8

[alfredo]

76. Hell yes.

[asdjrocky]

51. And while we're all sharing-

Here's one of my faves-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7WASrQFg8o

[kiteinthewind]

55. I love it! And I guess I didn't think of Steve Earle. I like him, also, but I think of

him as sort of folk or something other than country. Maybe it's the 'new' country that I'm not fond of? :shrug:

[asdjrocky]

57. Drop the labels.

That's the way they sell you stuff. Labels are the work of the radio stations and the record stores, and probably Satan. Did you think you'd like Flobots before you heard them? What if I told you they're rap, or fusion, or new hood funk. Would that have made a difference? They like their money cut into neat little pieces, don't let them cut their share out of you. They like to cater to demos and groups. Don't let any program director put you in that box.

In the final analysis, if you woke me in the middle of the night and shined a bright light in my eyes, I'd have to say honestly, it's all rock'n'roll. All of it.

And I rec'd this thread, because this has been the best, and most open and positive conversation I've had on DU in ages.

[kiteinthewind]

58. Thank YOU! And you're right, when he asked me if I had heard of the Flobots

I said no and thought Flobots? What the hell kinda name is that? U R right, I would not have ever sought them out. This has been good conversation! Hope ya don't mind, I added you to my buddy list! :)

[asdjrocky]

59. You're Missouri right?

I can never have too many friends in the bell weather state. I actually interview for a job in Columbia Missouri for the Dem Party. Didn't get the job, but learned a lot about a state I'd only passed through to that point.

[kiteinthewind]

61. Yep, and been to Columbia a number of times. We have a MO DFA group there.

Lots of really nice folks. I live in Independence. Born and raised. It is sort of Mormon-RLDS-Fundie hell, but also a lot of nice people. World headquarters of the church, so lots of them around.

[asdjrocky]

63. Wow, it's like living with the enemy.

I met a several people from Missouri when I was in Iowa for the caucus. All of them were great, and I keep in touch with most. It was one of them that got me the interview for the Boone Co job.

[kiteinthewind]

62. What sort of job were you looking for? One of those 'community organizers'!?!?

Seriously, we have a lot of grass roots groups in MO. ACORN, GRO, MO Provote just to name a few!

[asdjrocky]

64. It was kind of out of the blue.

There was an opening for the Exceptive Director for the Dem Party in Boone Co. The interview was great, the people were just wonderful, but they ended up going with a local guy. It sounds funny, but I've been in Ca too long, and it's kind of boring being in a state that is so reliably blue. There's no ground game here. It would be great to be in a state where there was a lot going on, and something to fight for.

[kiteinthewind]

65. MO is going to be battleground, but I think Obama can take it!! I'll let ya know

if I hear of anything! :hi:

[asdjrocky]

68. Please do!

I'm getting kind of tired of my garden.

[kiteinthewind]

71. Definately! Keep in mind, we have COLD winters here! What part of CA are you in?

[asdjrocky]

75. Born and raised in the norther valleys.

Stockton, Sacramento. It's funny, I've not dealt with a lot of cold winters in my life, and when I got to Iowa it was like really cold. I was convinced for the first couple of days that at that time I was the coldest person alive in the United States. By the third day it had climbed to a balmy 12 degrees and I was walking around in shirtsleeves.

It's weird what someone can get used to.

[leftofthedial]

66. good local band.

good band period.

[kiteinthewind]

70. Have they been around long? The website seemed like it's just coming together. Did you see

them at the convention?

[leftofthedial]

72. they're pretty new

hell they're only about 14 ;-)

[kiteinthewind]

74. No way! Seriously?

[leftofthedial]

79. they've been around for a few years

and they're all young adults

progressive right from the start

[sudopod]

67. I can ride my bike with no handlebars

no handle bars, no handle bars

[madeline_con]

78. They rock!

Thanks for turning me on, man. :smoke:

[misanthrope]

80. Meh...

...If you like it, that's cool but I find it melodically and harmonically dull. It gets old after about ten seconds.

[REP]

81. Yup, and I'm an old fucker - 43

Love the Flobots. I've made my younger (20s) friends listen to them!

[kgnu_fan]

83. My favorite song from " Fight With Tool" are Anne Braden and

We Are Winning.

A friend of mine in Japan told me she heard Flobot on radio there! So they are really going "big"!!!