Tu Eres Flojo

Comprised of two parts Vega Star, two parts The Maze,  Milwaukee's very own super group Flojo (pronounced "flow-ho") could potentially be the next best thing to appear in local venues since... well, since The Vega Star and The Maze!  The linear relationship between Flojo and the bands it formed from, however, pretty much begins and ends with the group's shared members.  Flojo's compositions are entirely unique, and bear no resemblance to the sound of the mothers of its invention.

Flojo has a moving, semi-psychedelic groove to them. Frontman Kurt Spielmann delivers his vocals in a rising and falling flow, in a stream-of-conscious sort of way ("Time & Place" is especially representative of this), and their songs build from the verses so intensely that when the choruses and refrains hit, they ignite like explosions - only to settle and start building once again toward the next.

Spielmann has a distinct and recognizable voice.  It's smoother and leaner - atypical of what you would normally get, or expect, from a male rock vocalist.  The real treat is when female accompaniment Sarah Gilbert is added to the mix.  The duo's voices hang together beautifully, and in the instances when it's one or the other singing alone, you begin to excitedly anticipate the climactic moments when they unite.  This is music you can get blissfully lost in, emotionally wrapped up in.  Hearing Flojo is an experience for the heart and mind - not just the ears.  

The band's disparity from the main projects of its members aside, Spielmann admits he did begin to assemble the group during a Maze rehearsal, right in the midst of trying to conquer a particularly difficult song.  "Mike Tietjen (electric guitar, keys) and I unintentionally skipped out on a cigarette break," Spielmann recalls, "trying to work out a problem I was having singing back-up over a strumming pattern to a song.  Suddenly Mike started playing this ... arresting... piano thing, and I couldn't resist following it.  It burned itself into my friggin' soul - and ten minutes later we had a brand new song almost entirely worked out.  We called it "Her Song", and The Maze played it the very next evening at The Bremen Cafe."

The song had such an impact on the band, that it was recorded and appeared on The Maze's debut album   Awakens.  Spielmann and Tietjen were completely enamored with the progress they'd made together, and the two continued to collaborate as a songwriting partnership - Spielmann focusing on penning the lyrics, and Tietjen handling the music.  How Flojo got their first gig was another act of serendipity, aside from a few initial hitches...

Solo artist Jay Flash had invited The Maze to open for him at a CD release party, but the band had to decline the offer due to schedule conflicts among some of the members.  These conflicts did not include Spielmann and Tietjen, and so the still fledgling act Flojo booked the gig in place of The Maze, even though at the time they were still, essentially, only a two piece ensemble.

Says Spielmann: "Mike was pissed! A two piece? Flojo is supposed to be rock 'n roll!"

Enter Sarah Gilbert, a co-worker Spielmann only just met, but learned was a relatively accomplished young musician.  As the two rehearsed a few songs for her, Gilbert began singing along - even though she'd never heard the songs before!  They immediately recruited her: "We found out that Sarah could play as well as sing, had been to school for music and wrote her own songs .... and she bakes a mean muffin." Spielmann laughs, "I hardly knew her, but she worked with me, and she was this cute, sassy little urchin sort of trainhopper girl from Florida."

After rehearsing for days, the now three piece group pulled off a stellar performance to a crowded house at the Jay Flash release party.  They were a well-received opening act, stirring up vigorous cheers and applause from the audience - and in spite of the fact that this house was filled with people strictly calibrated for Jay Flash!  Typically, standard issue behavior is to politely submit to the opener out of respect for the main act you came to see.  Sometimes the opener is perceived as "good" - but usually not, and this is many times only because the opening band's performance is not where the crowd's attention is focused.  They'll only occasionally welcome the distraction, but it takes one hell of an opening act to excite a room full of people that will only allow themselves to get excited for what they came to see.  Flojo was just such a band; so much in fact, that this invited the group's third stroke of good fortune: Justin Rolbiecki and John Juchamich, of Vega Star fame, were in the crowd that night... and they loved the show.

"I still don't know exactly why they play with us," Spielmann says humbly, "I mean, they're awesome - they're two quarters of the best friggin' band in this town.  All I can gather is the songs are pretty good, and we have fun together; and we're friends."

The name Flojo begs explanation.  What the hell is a Flojo?  It's a Spanish word, roughly translated to mean a lazy person.  Ironic name for a band whose members are decidedly so active, so engaged, in their craft that being members of just one band isn't quite enough to wear them out.  Add in the fact that the main bands these folks are from are established, known local acts - not just some fair weather garage projects.  The quality of Flojo's songcraft, and the enthusiasm of its members, promises to rank the band right along with the greats they're already part of.  Wouldn't that form some sort of monopoly of Milwaukee's music scene, if all the greatest bands in the city shared the same members?  Maybe, but so what?  And really, who is going to stop them?

Perhaps the name Flojo is a throwing down of the gauntlet... a challenge to those who would seek to outdo them.

[Flojo will be performing at Linneman's Riverwest Inn on June 16th in celebration of their debut CD release, entitled Entrance To The Resonator.  Sarah Gilbert's band Meadow Parish, as well as The Vega Star open.  Come hell or high water, I'll be there - and you should too!]