Music roundup: Flobots one of several bands to rock Valley

Last summer, alt-rap band Flobots had a lot of people singing along with "I can ride my bike with no handlebars."

That came from their hit single "Handlebars," which became an out-of-nowhere crossover hit on modern rock radio.

Expect that song to be on the setlist Monday night when Flobots hit the stage at Starline, 831 E. Fern Ave.

Flobots themselves fit comfortably between rock and rap. They're a live band with heavy basslines, horns and violins, but with a rapping frontman whose lyrics are often politically minded.

For their Fresno stop, Flobots will be joined by Fresno's genre-hopping violinist Patrick Con- treras. Denver rock band Kinetix is also coming to town. The show is open to all ages.

Also in town this week:

Avi Buffalo: Long Beach band Avi Buffalo is the newest signee to iconic indie rock label Sub Pop.

While the band is slated to release its debut album in 2010, Visalia is getting an early look Saturday. And get this: They are a bunch of kids who just graduated high school.

Local Visalia folk/rock acts The Whiskey and the Devil Chaplain and Richfield share the bill at Howie & Son's Pizza Parlor, 2430 S. Mooney Blvd. 9:30 p.m. $5.

Ken Flagg: San Francisco's Ken Flagg has many titles -- singer, songwriter, classically trained composer, guitarist, pianist. He even plays theremin.

Sunday night he's a Fresno guest, playing at Audie's Olympic, 1426 N. Van Ness Ave. His style is pop-friendly indie rock. For the Fresno stop, he's joined by local rock band Buffalo Guns and shoegaze rock group Dia del Astronauta. 9 p.m.

Loom: Salt Lake City rockers Loom give fans a little more than the typical hard rock band.

The band has a violin player in its ranks, a light show that's controlled by its vocalist and some indie rock influence to match those screaming vocals and pounding drums.

Loom is in Fresno on Sunday night, having recently finished up a spot touring with The Used. They're playing an all-ages show at 6 p.m. at Chinatown Youth Center, 901 F St. Fellow rockers Prize Country are also on the road with Loom.