Flobots to play at Greeley’s Union Colony Civic Center Oct. 30

The Flobots will perform at Union Colony Civic Center Saturday. Courtesy photo.

By Dan England

“I can hand out a million vaccinations

Or let ‘em all die of exasperation” — “Handlebars” 

Yes, the Flobots wrote those words more than 15 years ago (yes, you’re old now), and that phrase comes when the song starts to go dark, unnervingly dark, in fact: A holocaust awaits us at the end. 

These days the Flobots run their non-profit, “Youth On Record,” have kids, and teach at universities. They’re older too. They see how the world is now, how it seems madder, how even our fundamental goal as a country, our democracy, may be threatened. But they do not see it as hopeless, even as their most famous song — by far — ends in destruction. 

“We knew early on music was one of the greatest tools to unite people at a time when we are so divided,” said Andy Rok, who in high school founded the Flobots with friends Jonny 5 (Jamie Laurie) and Brer Rabbit (Stephen Brackett) and plays guitar and sings. “Republicans and Democrats can like the same song. Music is one of the last superpowers to keep conversation going and bridge the gap.”

This is partly why the Union Colony Civic Center in downtown Greeley took the unusual step to book a hip-hop group for Saturday’s concert. Yes, the Flobots are local (they’re Denver based), and yes, they had a huge hit, but their positivity remains important, perhaps more so than ever. 

“Bringing music to our community is one of the foundational pieces of maintaining a strong and diverse culture in our beloved city,” said Jason Evenson, manager of cultural affairs. 

The Flobots also are a way to attract the ever-elusive younger audience that city venues try to capture. Evenson said that will be the goal for the spring 2022 season, as they offer a wider range of entertainment. 

“Handlebars,” Rok said, was the right song at the right time, but the words resonate today, even among those younger generations: Many have posted on TikTok asking if the Flobots predicted the future. 

“’They say, ‘I kind of understood it when I was in middle school,’ Rok said, ‘but it hits me differently as an adult.’”

The Flobots, though, do not want the future the song may predict. Youth on Record, which Brackett runs full-time, hopes to empower underserved youth through the instruction and leadership of volunteer artists. And they are always writing songs that reflect their message, including their latest, “We Win The Day.” They are currently working with songwriters with long pedigrees and hope to have more new music out by early next year. 

“The cool thing about writing new songs is you can add to a show that creates a different moment and mood,” Rok said. 

Rok admits when he was younger to feeling the same sort of intimidation and hopelessness that many younger people - and, indeed, working adults - feel today. But he felt connected to Brackett and Laurie who were excited by it. That connection is the key, Brackett said, and leads him to believe our differences aren’t as wide as buzzwords, such as “Critical Race Theory,” may lead us to believe. 

“It’s a surface-level division,” Brackett said. “It’s not about values. It really isn’t. When you talk to people about how they want their kids to turn out, it’s all the same. We have a longing to be connected, and that’s stronger than any buzzwords that divide us.” 

That is why, more than ever, the Flobots want to keep creating new and exciting music: They believe it connects people from far ends of the spectrum, and they believe it helps them bring people together at a show to have a good time and hear a positive message. 

“Have you been to a class where you weren’t aware you were learning?” Brackett said. “It’s fun (when) you are engaged. Your music game and lights all have to be on point, and what you say in between the songs are on point. It’s gotta be excellent all around. We try to invite people for an amazing show. We want them to believe, ‘I am connected, I am seen, and I am sweaty.’”

How to attend

The Flobots play at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave. in downtown Greeley. You can get tickets at ucstars.com, flobots.com or by calling (970) 356-5000.