Reviews

Yeah, it's sort of the problem with cross-pollinated hip-hop acts: Incorporate rock guitar lines, trumpet and violin, and you may just end up sounding like a Wal-Mart version of Alabama 3. If that statement isn't redundant, which I suspect it is.

Nevertheless, Tuesday night at the House of Blues, Flobots took their mix of – yes, rock guitar lines, emcee spittin', social consciousness, trumpet and violin – and turned it into a tasty meal for the sold-out crowd gathered to hear them.

The Denver-based group definitely has an agenda – the show touched on issues of truth, justice and what passes for the American way – and it began by announcing, "There's a war going on for your mind."

That certainly seemed true from their show; they were totally doing their part with songs such as "Rise" and "Stand Up."

The social consciousness was definitely there, as the band referenced the Iraq war and other aspects of American life that they see as being on the low side of the justice balance.

Throughout the performance, violinist Mackenzie Roberts provided glissandoed accents on her violin, and the other members – Brer Rabbit, Jonny 5 and the others – were right there with her, providing a sonic backdrop to tales of political realization and racial equality.

The show was met with a lot of love. The big decision about Flobots would be – what with the fiddle and the power chords – whether they should be regarded as a new-rock Kansas, or simply be allowed to stand on their own.

Matt Weitz is a Dallas freelance writer.

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