Flickerstick

Infobox musical artist
Name = Flickerstick


Img_capt = Flickerstick in 2005, from left to right: Brandin Lea, Todd Harwell, Cory Kreig, Fletcher Lea, Rex Ewing.
Img_size = 200
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|USA Denton, Texas, USA
Genre = Rock
Indie rock
Years_active = 1997 -
Label = Idol Records
Epic Records
What Are Records
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.flickerstick.com/
Current_members = Brandin Lea - vocals, guitar (1997 - present)
Fletcher Lea - bass guitar (1997 - present)
Rex Ewing - guitar, vocals (1997 - present)
Todd Harwell - drums, percussion (2002 - present)
Tim Locke - guitar, vocals, keyboards (2005 - present)
Past_members = Dominic Weir - drums, percussion (1997 - 2002)
Cory Kreig - guitar, vocals, keyboards (1997 - 2005)
Jeff Lowe - drums, percussion (1997)

Flickerstick is a Ft. Worth, TX rock band who gained national attention after winning VH1's acclaimed, and Emmy Nominated talent/reality show "Bands on the Run".

Band history

Birth and local fame

Flickerstick was formed in Ft. Worth, TX by high school friends Brandin Lea (lead singer, guitarist) and Cory Kreig (guitarist, keyboardist). The two, who were guitarists in another local band, 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 immediately started gathering a solid fanbase.

Soon they graduated to larger clubs in Dallas 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 and the band received heavy local airplay. 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.fact|date=May 2007 After auditioning among 2,000+ other bands, Flickerstick 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 on the strength of their music alone, unlike the rest of the bands who tended to focus more on merchandise sales, and went back on the road to celebrate it.

Post-show fame

After six months of sell-out shows across the country, the band was signed by Epic Records. In November 2001, Epic re-released the band's debut album which received moderate reviews in Rolling Stone(3 out of 5 stars) and Billboard, and anywhere from excellent to poor reviews in other music publications. The album was re-worked with the help of veteran producer Rick Beato and was remixed by Tom Lord-Alge. WHTA debuted at #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and in the Billboard Top 200. Despite being released in the 4th quarter, a time reserved for the top musical acts (due to the Christmas buying season), and selling over 50,000 records in the first week (which would have been a top 20 debut for a 1st quarter release), sales were considered disappointing.

A year later, they chose to have their Epic contract bought out for an undisclosed amount rather than record their follow-up with the label. They immediately signed with "What Are" Records and released a live album titled "Causing a Catastrophe" that same year. After the album's release drummer Dominic Weir was fired from the band for personality conflicts and continual physical aggression. After his dismissal he continued to play with another project Mermaid Purse before eventually joining Smile Empty Soul. He was replaced in Flickerstick 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 home state of Texas as well as the concert location areas featured in "Bands on the Run".

On October 5, 2004 Flickerstick released their second album "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 for personal reasons. 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.

Now, hitting stores on April 3, 2007 is the band's new live record. “Live From Atlanta” was named as a result of a two-day, fan-invite recording weekend back in September ‘06 at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, GA. 150 fans joined the band each night in a live recording room at the studio, and celebrated being part of the band’s live, special taping sessions. Unlike most live records, Flickerstick didn’t want to rehash all of their “greatest hits,” so the album actually features six brand new songs that had never been recorded before. It’s part of what makes their new album most appealing; as fans will get their newest songs in a live format. But, the album also features a special, studio track called, “Helicopter,” (Track 12 on the album, which was also released to radio as a single) along with three, enhanced videos from the recording shows in September. The three videos can be viewed on any computer, which makes it more attractive to buy the album versus downloading it online or through “file sharing services.” The record was engineered by industry veteran, Shawn Grove, who has helped to produce bands such as Sevendust, Collective Soul, Edwin McCain, and many more.

Rumors of breakup have been seemingly verified when the band's website was taken offline in July of 2008. No official word has been issued from the band, but fans do not hold out much hope.

Discography

*"Chloroform The One You Love" (1997)
*"Welcoming Home the Astronauts" (2001)
*"Causing A Catastrophe-Live" (2002)
*"To Madagascar and Back" (2003)
*"Tarantula" (2004) (Idol Records)
*"" (2007)

External links

* [http://www.flickerstick.com/ Official website]