Flickerstick
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Image:Flickerstick.jpeg Flickerstick (sometimes incorrectly called Flicker Stick) is a Denton, Texas rock band mostly remembered for being the winner of VH1's talent/reality show Bands on the Run.
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Band History
Birth and Local Fame
Flickerstick was formed in Denton, Texas by high school friends Brandin Lea (singer, guitarist) and Corey Kreig (guitarist). The two decided to put a band together just for the fun of it and picked some friends to join them, including Brandin's brother, Fletcher (bassist). The band started doing local gigs and started gathering a solid fanbase.
Soon they graduated to Dallas bigger clubs and started headlining shows. The band managed to put together $10,000 and self-financed their first album titled Welcoming Home The Astronauts. The album sold well in the Dallas area and at shows. It was then that Billboard magazine picked the band to be on a CD sampler of Best Unsigned Bands in the Country.
VH1's Band on the Run
During this time, VH1 heard Flickerstick's tune on the compilation and invited them to audition for the Bands on the Run show. After auditioning among 2,000 other bands the band was chosen to be on the show. However, in the midst of the reality show craze of the moment, the show tended to focus more on the joking, affairs, scandals, etc. rather than the music. Disappointed by this, Flickerstick decided to make the best of it and kept focusing on their craft. Flickerstick ended up winning the show and went back on the road to celebrate it.
Post-show Fame
After six months of touring, the band was finally signed by Epic Records. In November 2001, Epic re-released the band's debut album which received good reviews in Rolling Stone and Billboard. It was remixed by Tom Lord-Alge and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. However, sales were disappointing.
A year later, they were released by Epic and signed with What Are Records. They then released a live album titled Causing a Catastrophe that same year. After the album's release drummer Dominic Weir left the band to pursue his other project Mermaid Purse before eventually joining Smile Empty Soul. He was replaced by ex-Doosu drummer Todd Harwell.
On October 14, 2003 Flickerstick released an EP/DVD combo entitled To Madagascar and Back on 226 Records.
Recent Years
Flickerstick continues to tour and perform regularly, and has a very strong fanbase especially in their homestate of Texas as well as the concert location areas featured in Bands on the Run. Flickerstick is (as of June 10, 2004), a commercial spokesband for Camel Cigarettes as well as Jägermeister.
On October 5, 2004 Flickerstick released their sophomore effort Tarantula on the Dallas-based indie label Idol Records. The band has set out on a number of tours across the country in support of the record. Founding guitarist Cory Kreig left the band in April 2005. Currently filling the Cory's slot is Tim Locke, who also handles lead vocals and guitar for Dallas-based alternative band Coma Rally and Alt-Country band Calhoun.
Band Members
Current Members
- Brandin Lea - lead vocals, guitars (1997 - present)
- Fletcher Lea - bass (1997 - present)
- Rex Ewing - guitars (1997 - present)
- Todd Harwell - drums (2002 - present)
- Tim Locke - guitars (2005 - present)
Former Members
- Dominic Weir - drums (1997 - 2002)
- Cory Kreig - guitars (1997 - 2005)
Discography
- Welcoming Home the Astronauts (2001)
- Causing A Catastrophe-Live (2002)
- To Madagascar and Back (2003)
- Tarantula (2004)