http://www.flatfoot56.com/

Since the year 2000, FLATFOOT 56 have ste… Read Full Bio ↴http://www.flatfoot56.com/

Since the year 2000, FLATFOOT 56 have steadily unleashed a rollicking barrage of Celtic punk and folk-tinged hardcore from the South Side of Chicago to an international audience with intense and positive party-like energy. Coinciding with their 10-year anniversary, Flatfoot launched the release of their 3rd label-backed studio effort, Black Thorn, on March 30, 2010.

Led by spirited front man Tobin Bawinkel (Vocals/Guitar), along with brothers Justin (Drums), and Kyle (Bass), and multi-instrumentalists Eric McMahon (Bagpipes/Guitar) and Brandon Good (Mandolin/Guitar), the band is fueled by a sense of camaraderie that directly translates to their die-hard fans and highly energetic live shows. “We really try to create a positive environment every time we play so people feel comfortable and can let loose. It’s an experience that everyone is a part of,” explains Tobin.

Produced by the Street Dogs’ Johnny Rioux, Black Thorn tightly packs the quartet’s eclectic and driving musical charge into thirteen tracks that celebrate the pride of the working class and their Chicago roots. A collection of songs that delves into weighty thematic content, Tobin explains that the cohesive theme of Black Thorn is a fundamentally universal one. “Everyone goes through hardships, but you aren’t alone. Punk rock is about community and brotherhood. This record is our contribution to that.” As cathartic as it is ambitious, Black Thorn is an emphatic assault that remains vintage Flatfoot in its effortless combination of Celtic instrumentation and street corner punk rock. Bagpipes and mandolins remain just as vital as drums and guitars in defining Flatfoot’s sound.

While other bands run the risk of turning their message into overbearing banter from high on the soapbox, FLATFOOT 56 remain true to their ability to convey the profound all while allowing fans to get lost in the sheer energy of the music. The band’s multi-faceted approach to their craft, both in substance and in presentation, ensures that from the novice to the die-hard fan, everyone walks away with a reason to come back. After ten years of tour vans, dive bars, late nights, diverse crowds, broken bones, blood, sweat, and tears, FLATFOOT 56 offers sincere semblance of the tradition behind the music. When you have a reason to sing, you will sing louder. And when you have a reason to dance, you will bring the house down brick by brick.

The band’s sonic arsenal, which includes classic rough-and-tumble albums Knuckles Up and Jungle Of The Midwest Sea, captures both the nostalgia of brass tacks street punk and hardcore as well as inspiration taken from traditional Celtic folk. Within this musical fury, FLATFOOT 56 attacks dark and pressing subject matter—avarice, strength, faithlessness, courage, and cowardice—that speaks volumes of the values and principles on which the band was founded.

The band’s new album, Black Thorn, was released on Old Shoe Records in the United States, Stomp Records in Canada, People Like You Records in Europe, and Big Mouth Japan in Japan.

This Town
Flatfoot 56 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Our streets are filled with the color of rage
we'll turn this town around
the time has come for another age
you'll never knock us down
the ways of this world are cause for revolt
we'll turn this town around
grab the colors and be the salt

whoa, oh, oh the streets are paved with blood
whoa, oh, oh we won't stop ‘till we've won
whoa, oh, oh the streets are paved with blood
clean up the streets of blood

we've been fighting for way too long
we'll turn this town around
our standards have been long gone
you'll never knock us down
with the help of his hand we'll unite

we'll turn this town around
wake up and join the fight

Overall Meaning

In this song, Flatfoot 56 describes a town in which anger and violence seem to be commonplace. The lyrics suggest that the people who live there are ready for change and will not be silenced. They are determined to create a new era, one that is more peaceful and just.

The song encourages the listener to join the fight and take action to make a positive change in the community. When the lyrics say "grab the colors and be the salt", they are referring to being bold and taking action by standing out from the rest and making a difference. The chorus mentions the streets being paved with blood and the need to clean them up, which represents a need to remove the violence and begin anew.

The song portrays a message of hope and empowerment, and suggests that change is possible if people come together and work towards a common goal. It is a call to action, urging those who hear it to take a stand against the negativity and violence that surrounds them.

Line by Line Meaning

Our streets are filled with the color of rage
The streets are filled with people who are angry and frustrated

we'll turn this town around
We will make a difference and change things for the better

the time has come for another age
It is time for change and a new era

you'll never knock us down
We will not let anyone defeat us or bring us down

the ways of this world are cause for revolt
The current state of the world is unacceptable and we need to take action

grab the colors and be the salt
Take action and make a difference, be the change and stand out

whoa, oh, oh the streets are paved with blood
There is a lot of violence and hatred in the world

whoa, oh, oh we won't stop ‘till we've won
We will continue fighting until we bring about change

clean up the streets of blood
We need to put an end to the violence and hatred in the world

we've been fighting for way too long
We have been fighting for change for a long time

our standards have been long gone
Our values and morals have been lost over time