Flickerstick

On The Run Straight Up

originally published October 3, 2001

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The remaining members of Flickerstick - vocalist/guitarist Brandin Lea, younger brother and bassist Fletcher Lea, guitarist Rez "El Dangeroso" Ewing and drummer Dominic Weir - share the sentiment, as the quintet is currently basking in the glory of its upset win on VH-1's series "Bands On The Run."

Flickerstick was formed in 1997 by Lea and Krieg while the pair were attending school at The University of North Texas. Specializing in an unusual brand of psychedelic rock, Brit-rock and pop, the band made its headquarters in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and toured the region, building a solid fanbase in the area. In 2000, someone at VH-1 took notice of a Flickerstick song featured on a Billboard compilation. When the pitch was made for "Bands On The Run," Flickerstick was at the top of the list of potential participants. After going through multiple interview sessions and auditioning gigs, the band was selected for the show alongside Soulcracker, Harlow and The Josh Dodes Band. The decision left Flickerstick quite surprised.

"We never tried... that was the weird thing," Krieg recalls. "And I think it's why we ended up getting picked. We didn't go out of our way to impress anyone. We were jerk-offs. We were the underachievers from day one."

"I think they chose us because we never thought we were going to get it, and we totally didn't give a shit," adds Brandin Lea. "And we totally were just blowing it off and joking around, being ourselves. We didn't make big productions; we just kind of filmed ourselves. They wanted a band that was going to be a little rambunctious, and I expect they got that from us."

The series portrayed Flickerstick as the drunken underdogs whose main talent rested in their absolutely killer live show. For the majority of the series, Flickerstick came in last place in merchandise and ticket sales, always trailing merch-monger Soulcracker. Admittedly, Flickerstick took a different, more laid-back approach to the series and the actual competition. Nonetheless, the stress of the cameras and knowing every move could be televised began to wear on the members.

"It was very intense and very stressful. It definitely got... old," remembers Brandin. "The first week or so it wasn't bad. It's something that is fun in small increments, but for months on end, it can get very old, very tedious. Everyday you have to be ’on,' at least looking somewhat presentable, and watching what you say and how you react to certain things and all that stuff."

But it was the three "battle of the bands" competitions where Flickerstick showcased its talent for performing and saved itself from elimination.

Krieg remembers the first competition: "Probably the coolest day that we had was when we won the first 'battle of the bands,' because that's when we realized we might actually have a fucking shot at this. ’Cause we were just like, dude give me a break, we're so going home first. And we knew it. Once they said there was a battle of the bands and we ended up winning it, it was really emotional for us. We were like, wow, maybe music can prevail."

Along with claiming an ultimate prize pack consisting of cash, equipment and a video, Flickerstick also won the instant fame that comes from having eight weeks of one's life televised. While the band has no complaints and no regrets, the members will admit that newly acquired recognition is a bit awkward.

"We get recognized just about anywhere," says Brandin. "That part of it is the biggest shock, because we did not think that would happen. It gets a little frustrating sometimes, but we all love it."

Krieg continues: "It's kind of like we gave people a window into our lives, but that doesn't mean that window is now forever open. But that's a small price to pay, I would say."

Soon after the final episode of "Bands On The Run" aired, Flickerstick inked a major deal with Epic Records, thereby allowing the band an opportunity for even more exposure. A revamped version of the band's Welcoming Home the Astronauts drops on November 3 and includes show favorites "Beautiful," "Coke" and "Direct Line," as well as "Smile" and "Execution by Christmas Lights," which didn't appear on the album's original version. And already, the first single "Beautiful" is playing on radio stations across the country.

Though things have hardly slowed down for the Flickerstick guys and even the three other bands, VH-1 has a second season of "Bands On The Run" in the works. As most of the original participants would do it all again in a second, Krieg has some advice for the next series' cast: "Just be who you are. That's why people liked us, because there were no pretenses with us. We didn't put on any masks or anything; we just did what we do, and that's what my advice would be to anyone else. Play your music, love your music and just be yourself."