Flobots, originally uploaded by corey_bayless.

Went to see the Flobots at El Corazón last Wednesday. They totally rocked. I think they sounded even better in person than they do on their album. The venue wasn’t that great. There is a pole right at the front of the stage, blocking the performers at times. I imagine it is an added distraction to the performers on stage as well as the audience members. It was also hellishly hot in there. I have been to a lot of cramped concert halls, but never have I felt like leaving a show because I was SO uncomfortable. The exhaust fan on the end of the facility by the bar wasn’t making a noticeable difference. There were fans mounted to the ceiling, but rather than having them direct the rising hot air towards the exhaust fan, the were pointed directly towards the floor. This was a moot point though because the fans were not even operating during the show.

Being an ALL AGES show, there were a ton of 15-year old (or younger) kids in the audience. There were a couple kids right up near the front that were either around eight, or they were extremely height-challenged. I know a couple people left because they couldn’t take it. I am surprised no one had to be carried out. So many first time, or near first time, concert goers. They probably weren’t keeping hydrated.

Even with the inclement conditions of El Corazón, the show was fantastic. Doomtree, the second opening act, was a lot of fun and had the crowd jumpin’. Well, most of them. Some deadbeat newbie concert-goers were kind of killing the buzz, but that wasn’t Doomtree’s fault. They sounded good and brought a lot of energy to the show. Like I said before, Flobots sounded phenomenal. They got a little preachy with their politics, but not so much to detract from the show.

Can’t wait to see them again at Bumbershoot. They play on Monday at 6 PM on the Exhibition Hall Stage, same day as Mike Doughty, who will be playing on the Starbucks Stage at 8:45 PM. I’m sure he’ll emphasize his pre-”Busting Up A Starbux” statement about going to Starbucks every single day of his life. In one post from mikedoughty.com, Mike says:

Now, I’m pretty pro-Starbucks (my allegedly anti-Starbucks song is actually about the impotence of rage against pop culture). On tour, I’m there every day getting my fix–I look up the closest locations on the website the moment I check into the hotel in the town I’m playing…