Flickerstick

Flickerstick originated in Denton, Texas, during 1997, when aspiring frontman Brandin Lea first connected with guitarist Cory Kreig. The lineup took shape through the addition of Brandin’s brother Fletcher, guitarist Rex Ewing, and local drummer Dominic Weir. Drawing on a conventional blend of Brit-pop and contemporary rock, the group quickly became a fixture at area parties. VH1 ultimately altered their trajectory when the network selected the five-piece for the first season of Bands on the Run in 2000. That program placed four bands in separate vans on distinct routes, scheduling their performances at different venues within the same cities while they vied for prize money and a major-label showcase. Although the series generated occasional drama, Flickerstick dominated coverage through relentless offstage exploits. Brandin and his bandmates proved more skilled at embracing rock excess than delivering compelling performances, yet the combination of profanity, alcohol, romantic pursuits, and fights proved memorable enough to claim the VH1 title. The victory led to a contract with Epic, which rereleased their debut album, Welcoming Home the Astronauts, in November 2001 after resequencing the tracks, refining the vocals, layering additional guitars and keyboards, and enlisting mixer Tom Lord-Alge. The polished result sounded competent yet remained commercially inconsequential. A supporting tour followed, but Epic cut ties with the band within a year. Flickerstick then moved to the Boulder-based independent label What Are Records and released the live recording Causing a Catastrophe in November 2002.