THE BATTAl!
Band on the run
Dallas-based Flickerstick will hit College Station on its South Texas tour
By Kendra Kingsley
THE BATTALION
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nbers to partiesr ay have a recording contract and thousands of fans, but at the
ter Residence id of the day he wants just one thing - a hot shower,
a memo not' “When you’re touring, you live in the bus,” Lea said. “It’s not
ces of the plai y° u wa * ce U P ' n a ^ ote * room - tour bus just pulls up to a
e Universitv J ;n dom hotel, and between sound checks and interviews, you try
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■ Today Lea may be on the lookout for a shower in College
ers of the forum | at j oni one 0 f t h e band’s stops on its three-city South Texas tour,
ident Robert M.( jescribed by Lea as a “psychedelic indie rock band,” Flickerstick
<s about the in J iginated at the University of North Texas in 1997. Lea recruited
a welcoming car hs younger brother and bassist Fletcher Lea, drummer Dominic
staff of Multicuweir and guitarist Cory Kreig. Soon, the group known as
hares his view. * lickerstick” was a regular gig on the Dallas music scene.
With the band’s steady success, Brandin Lea, then a senior film
ajor at the University of North Texas, found it difficult to bai
lee his time between classes and performances.
“My brother and I have been playing together since we were kids,
ed from page glut it turned into a serious hobby when we found other guys to play
ith,” Lea said. “The rest of the band wasn’t in school, so when I
opped out of college, it made it easier to tour. There just wasn’t
ie for everything.”
After adding guitarist Rex Ewing, the band released its first
bum, “Welcoming Home the Astronauts,” in 2000. While several
|fthe band's tracks have hit radio waves, Lea said Flickerstick’s
und differs from generic fare.
“A lot of writers write about chicks who broke their heart when
iey were 17. That gets kind of old and sappy,” Lea said. “I like to
fbok to the future when I write (Flickerstick’s) songs.”
That individual style is exactly what makes Justin Hawkins, a
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Page 3 • Wednesday, January 29, 2003
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lickerstick. Hawkins said he discovered the band four years ago
hrough friends who attended the University of North Texas.
“When I first heard (Flickerstick), they totally struck me,” said
lawkins. “Their sound is different from a lot of the bands on the
adio, but their songs are definitely radio-caliber.”
The music is not the only reason Hawkins will be in attendance
it tonight’s show. Hawkins, the lead vocalist and guitarist for local
uandOddstar Experiment, said Flickerstick’s live performances
have influenced his own band.
“Flickerstick puts on an awesome live show,” Hawkins said.
“Whenever I saw them for the first time, I was like, T’ve got to
putonashow like that.’”
the band's popularity with the public has not been lost on the
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKERSTICK
From left: Flickerstick members Cory Kreig (guitar/keyboards/vocals), Dominic Weir (drums), Brandin Lea (lead vocals/guitar), Rex James Ewing (gui
tar/vocals) and Fletcher Lea (bass) will perform tonight at Concept on University Drive. The band recently won VHl’s “Bands on the Run” competition.
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media. Recently, Flickerstick won VHl’s “Bands on the Run” com
petition, beating out three other bands and taking home $100,000.
The band has also recently released “Causing a Catastrophe,” an
album featuring live performances of Flickerstick songs.
Yet the recent onset of publicity is not without a price, Lea
said.
“Sometimes I get recognized in public, and it can get kind of
annoying,” he said. “It’s hard to eat with your girlfriend or go out
with your parents. People are really nice, but sometimes it’s like,
‘Hey man, 1 just want to eat dinner.’”
With a growing fan base in College Station, Lea may not get
much privacy tonight.
Katie Hare, a senior biology major, has been following the band
since she was a sophomore and has seen the band perform on
Austin’s 6th Street and in Dallas’ Deep Ellum.
“You can tell which fans have been with (Flickerstick) from the
beginning,” Hare said. “Since the band is from the Dallas area,
everyone at the (Deep Ellum) concert knew every word to every
song. It was the best concert.”
A steady schedule of performances is nothing out of the ordi
nary for Lea, however.
“You do a sound check, perform, meet and greet, have a couple
of beers at an after-party, come back to the tour bus, fall asleep
and do it all over again the next day,” Lea said. “It’s just part of
the road, part of the game and part of the band.”
Flickerstick will perform tonight at Concept on University
Drive. Pre-show tickets can be purchased at Journeys in Post Oak
Mall for $10 or at the door for $12. Doors open at 8 p.m.
LIOI
uring the fall and spring#
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Afternoon seminar for women students: Barbara Mouser, "Opportunities
and Challenges for Women in Contemporary Culture: A Biblical
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4:00-6:00 P.M.. MSC 206
“The Spiritual Journeys of Four TAMU Professors" with Q&A
Panelist: Drs. Charles Futrell, Marketing; Jack Lunsford, Chemistry; Nancy
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7:00P.M.. MSC226
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"Ethics in Business and Society: Lessons We are Learning,"
Dr. Murphy Smith, Professor of Accounting, TAMU
4:00-5:00 P.M.. MSC 206
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Dr. Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosoph' -
7:00 P.M.. Rudder Auditorium
% College
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ID.
Friday Ja r
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Evangei. ,re They Compatible?”
,St Mary’s, 7. A.M. (reservations please: info@aggiecatholic.org)
NOTE: This event is not just for Catholics. Everyone is welcopie to attend.
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