Flickerstick
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 in Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Brandin Lea, Cory Kreig |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Flickerstick is a rock group from Fort Worth, Texas, known for their alternative rock style.
Formation and early development
The origins of Flickerstick trace back to Fort Worth, where high school classmates Brandin Lea (vocals, guitar) and Cory Kreig (guitar, keyboards) established the band. They brought in friends including drummer Jeff Lowe and eventually Brandin’s brother Fletcher Lea on bass. Their debut album, Chloroform The One You Love, was independently produced in 1997.
In 1998, the band expanded with the addition of Dallas native Dominic Weir on drums. They invested $10,000 to create their sophomore album, Welcoming Home the Astronauts, which achieved notable local sales and radio play. Early 1999 saw guitarist Rex James Ewing join the lineup, marking a pivotal moment as the group recognized their growing potential.
Participation in VH1's Bands on the Run
Selected from more than 2,000 applicants, Flickerstick earned a spot on VH1’s competition series Bands on the Run. Success in the show depended heavily on ticket and merchandise sales. The band advanced through initial "battle of the bands" stages to avoid elimination. In the finale, they overcame a sales shortfall to win a $5,000 prize sponsored by Guitar Center, earning victory through a combination of audience and industry votes.
Post-competition developments
Following six months of touring, Flickerstick secured a contract with Epic Records. In November 2001, Epic reissued their debut album, which received a 3.5-star rating from Rolling Stone along with favorable critiques from other outlets. This version was enhanced with production by Rick Beato and remixed by Tom Lord-Alge. Upon release, it entered at number two on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and reached #150 on the Billboard Top 200.
The band was performing at Irving Plaza in New York City during the events of September 11, 2001. Lead vocalist Brandin Lea described the experience as "horrific," highlighting how post-9/11 shifts in the industry and economy contributed to limited promotional support from Epic and eventually led to their departure from the label.
About a year later, Flickerstick’s contract with Epic was terminated for an undisclosed sum, allowing them to regain rights to their album. Subsequently, they signed with What Are Records and released a live album titled Causing a Catastrophe that same year. Around this time, drummer Dominic Weir was replaced by Todd Harwell—formerly of Doosu—due to interpersonal conflicts.
On October 14, 2003, the band independently released an EP/DVD package called To Madagascar and Back.
Later years and disbandment
Flickerstick’s second studio album, Tarantula, was launched on October 5, 2004 via Dallas-based indie label Idol Records. The band supported this release with tours across Texas and dates in the United Kingdom. In April 2005, founding guitarist Cory Kreig departed for personal reasons and was succeeded by seasoned songwriter Tim Locke.
On April 3, 2007, they unveiled Live from Atlanta: Two Nights at Sound Tree Studios, recorded during an exclusive fan session in September 2006 at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta. This release featured six new tracks, one studio recording titled "Helicopter," along with three videos. Engineering duties were handled by Shawn Grove.
Speculation about the group’s dissolution increased after their website went dark in July 2008. By January 2009, Flickerstick officially announced their breakup through MySpace:
After more than a year-long break, Flickerstick returned without bassist Fletcher Lea for several farewell performances.
Reunion
On October 22, 2021, Flickerstick unveiled When We Were Young: Singles, B-Sides & Rarities, 1997–2004. Coinciding with this launch, the band’s previously inactive Twitter and Facebook accounts began sharing archival materials, including many items never before made public.
The group came together in person for the first time since 2005 on November 15, 2021, to mark the reissue of Welcoming Home the Astronauts, reflect on their touring history, and respond to speculation about a potential comeback during an interview with Fort Worth Magazine.
Concerning a possible reunion, Lea indicated interest, and Fletcher, Weir, and Kreig also showed willingness to participate in reunion performances.
On January 4, 2022, Flickerstick announced through their official social channels that all five founding members would reunite for a concert at Dallas’ House of Blues on June 25, 2022. Due to strong demand, an additional show was scheduled for June 24.
By June 18, 2022, the band revealed plans to continue beyond these initial dates. Brandin Lea, Rex Ewing, and Todd Harwell joined forces again with Dallas-Fort Worth musician Beau Wagener and introduced new vocalist and bassist Fatima Thomas. This lineup released their debut single entitled "Shine On" on September 11.
Current members
- Brandin Lea – vocals, guitar (1997–2009, 2022–present)
- Rex Ewing – rhythm and lead guitar, vocals (1999–2009, 2022–present)
- Todd Harwell – drums, percussion (2002–2009, 2022–present)
- Beau Wagener – lead and rhythm guitar, vocals (2022–present)
- Fatima Thomas – bass guitar, vocals (2022–present)
Former members
- Jeff Lowe – drums, percussion (1997–1998)
- Dominic Weir – drums, percussion (1998–2002, 2022)
- Cory Kreig – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals (1997–2005, 2022)
- Fletcher Lea – bass guitar (1997–2009, 2022)
- Tim Locke – lead and rhythm guitar, vocals (2005–2009)
Discography
Studio
- Chloroform the One You Love (1997)
- Welcoming Home the Astronauts (2001)
- Tarantula (2004)
- Superluminal (2025)
EP
- To Madagascar and Back (2003)
- Contract Killers (2023)
Live
- Causing a Catastrophe (2002)
- Live from Atlanta: Two Nights at Tree Sound Studios (2007)
Compilation
- When We Were Young: Singles, B-Sides & Rarities, 1997–2004 (2021)
Singles
- Shine On (2022)