IdlFlo (pronounced “idle flow”) is a four-piece garage/alt-rock wrecking crew from Minneapolis that has been making waves in the Twin Cities music scene since their formation in 2019. Built on raw grit and contrast, the band masterfully shifts from whisper-quiet moments to explosive crescendos in a heartbeat, creating a sound that echoes the restless energy of ’90s alternative rock.
Founded in 2019 by the songwriting tandem of brothers Derek (guitar/vocals) and Lee Smith, IdlFlo emerged from Minneapolis’s rich musical heritage—a city that has historically been a breeding ground for influential punk, alternative, and garage rock acts. The Smith brothers’ collaborative approach to songwriting forms the creative backbone of the band, drawing on the deep well of Minneapolis’s alternative rock tradition.
IdlFlo’s sound is characterized by “meaty/clean guitar tones, thumping bass lines and an up-front vocal style that works seamlessly and in unison,” with instrumentation that “fluttering between refrains, energy levels and styles” and sits “nicely behind the lead vocals reminiscent of The Red Hot Chili Peppers,” according to Melodic Noise Media.
Meet the Band
Derek Smith
Guitar and Vocals
Destined for rock from the start—named after Derek and the Dominos, after all—Derek grew up on a steady diet of backseat road trip rock radio that found him scribbling nascent lyrics as soon as he could hold a pen. Augmenting lyric writing and fronting exuberance with guitar play, he established a dynamic storytelling prowess — and you’ll find him center stage leading IdlFlo’s always energetic and dynamic sound.
For Derek, writing is everything. Lyrics, progressions, and arrangements carry a fingerprint born in bursts of restless inspiration (that often feel more received than constructed). His influences trace a wide arc: the classic songcraft of The Doors, Stones, and Zep, layered with the raw dynamics of Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pumpkins, and informed by the hook-heavy punch of alt-rock influences like STP, QOTSA and the Foo — the result is music that’s rooted and familiar, yet urgent, alive, and built to move.
One thing’s certain with Derek: expect energy. Whether furiously penning lyrics, spearheading booking and promo, or a “quick call to catch up” – he’s always figuratively and literally sprinting into rehearsal chasing down the next riff. And it’s that spark that fuels the songs and the fire that drives IdlFlo forward.
Lee Smith
Guitar
Lee Smith’s musical journey began at 13, air-guitaring with a broom in his kitchen to the sounds of Guns N’ Roses, Weezer, The Smashing Pumpkins, RHCP, and Nirvana. That passion became reality when he picked up his first acoustic, then electric guitar, diving into alternative classics with Guitar World tabs. Soon, covers gave way to original songwriting as Lee began channeling the raw emotion of his influences into riffs that told his own story. That creative spark led him from bedroom guitarist to lead axe-slinger of IdlFlo, where his expressive playing helps define the band’s massive sound.
Blending gritty emotion, crushing fuzz, and soulful hooks, Lee’s style fuses 90s/2000s rock with classic tones from Hendrix, Cream, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. Fueled by a love of music, collaboration, and the energy of live performance, Lee found the perfect match for his passion in IdlFlo—laying down soaring solos and textured rhythms that shape the band’s signature sound.
Clay Johnston
Bass
Clay Johnston discovered the bass in his teens with dreams of channeling Robert Smith’s brooding romanticism, but found his true calling in the instrument’s power to anchor and drive the pulse that makes people move. Based in Minneapolis, Clay brings an eclectic foundation to IdlFlo’s indie rock sound, drawing from influences that span The Cure’s atmospheric melancholy to Rage Against the Machine’s aggressive funk, Khruangbin’s psychedelic grooves, and the warm thump of retro soul.
What started as teenage fascination with post-punk’s moody undercurrents has evolved into a deep understanding of how the bass can shape an entire song’s emotional landscape. Clay’s bass work serves as the essential foundation that propels IdlFlo’s beat-pumping indie rock, creating grooves that don’t just support the music but elevate it and keep crowds locked into the rhythm that hits in all the right places.
Robin Hatterschide
Drums
As the rhythmic backbone of IdlFlo, drummer Robin Hatterschide’s sound is equal parts explosive and refined. Blending the raw drive of rock and punk with the textural explorations of funk and jazz, Robin approaches the kit orchestrally—hitting hard, filling space, and shaping the sonic landscape with intention as heard in IdlFlo’s work.
Robin developed a passion for pushing rhythmic boundaries while studying Music Performance at the Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena. There he trained under some of the industry’s most experienced musicians (Ralph Humphey, Joe Picaro and Dave Beyer) and refined a style influenced by drumming legends Keith Moon, Gene Krupa, Matt Cameron, and Chad Smith.
As a drummer, Robin brings both technical mastery and untamed energy, helping define IdlFlo’s unmistakable sound. Whether driving the bands pulse or pushing rhythmic boundaries, Robin’s drumming commands attention—anchoring songs while always moving them forward.
