Hundreds of music fans and television viewers alike filled the Newport Music Hall Tuesday night with one question on their minds: Would the band Flickerstick live up to its recent crowning as the winner of VH1’s reality-based TV series, “Bands on the Run?”
Flickerstick, along with three other unsigned bands, toured 11 American cities selling tickets, merchandise and drumming up publicity with VH1’s cameras catching every minute of the competition. After 13 shows and eight weeks, Flickerstick emerged victorious, despite televised feuds between band members and excessive partying.
Two bands had the daunting task of entertaining the Flickerstick-hungry crowd. Greenwheel, a five-piece band from St. Louis, opened the show with heavy guitars and a lead singer that strutted around the stage like a young Mick Jagger. Its honest lyrics and rock sound captured the audiences’ attention.
Another five-piece band, Ruby Horse, from Cork, Ireland, followed. Audience reaction, however, was not as favorable for the band’s sound that echoed 1980s-era Aerosmith. The lead singer dressed the part of ’80s rock, with purple leopard print pants and hair that would impress Sammy Hagar.
As the heat intensified, the crowd became more enthused for Flickerstick’s arrival. The crowds’ chants for the band overshadowed lead singer, Brandin Lea, as he sang the opening lines of “Smile.” The rest of the band, Cory Kreig (guitar), Fletcher Lea (bass), Rex Ewing (guitar) and Dominic Weir (drums), joined Lea onstage to finish the song.
Crowd favorites such as “Beautiful” and “I’ve Got A Feeling” were then executed with immense heart and energy by the band. Ewing’s sweat-inducing guitar solo highlighted the middle of the show.
Just as some exhausted fans were ready for a slow song to sit out, the band launched into another energized jewel of a song, “Talk Show Host,” complete with lead singer Brandin’s unrelenting kicks, jumps, and poses for the crowd. The show drew to a close on a love song, “Chloroform,” yet fans wouldn’t allow the show to end there.
After a rather short beg for an encore, Flickerstick gladly mounted the stage again for “Coke” and its ever-popular cover of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.”
Brandin also announced the bands’ recent signing with Epic Records. If there was any doubt in fans’ minds that Flickerstick could live up to the media hype of a great band, it was lost in the sweat and energy that surrounded this great live show.
