Flickerstick
with Mile, Gibb Droll
@ Sapphire Supper Club - Orlando, Florida.
Friday June 16, 2001.
Writing and photographs by Jeffrey Howard.

I am a pretty big VH1 Bands On The Run junkie. Every Sunday night is reserved for teevee. Hating Soul Cracker is my life. Really. Watching Flickerstick passed out in their hotel rooms when all the other bands are out promoting makes say "rock n roll, dudes!". Ya know? One thing I didn't like about the show was a lack of focus of the respective bands music. Not once is a complete song played. Hoe many times do they play that same annoying Harlow song where she sings "Forget You" over and over. There has to be more to that song. I got on Napster (before it got too scarce) and downloaded Flickerstick just to see what they were all about musically. I downloaded "Beautiful" and was pretty blown away. Like whoa. It was something I would like.... kinda Radiohead sonics with American rock influences like MC5. Next thing you know I grab all the other MP3s available and listen to them constantly.

In the middle of the season I read that they got a show booked at Sapphire and were playing in a couple weeks. You had no idea how excited I got. Seeing a band at the height of their interest is a special thing. Like when I saw The Spinanes with Crowsdell in 1994. If there was a time to see both bands it was that year and month. Like I said I was pretty excited.

The night of the show rolled around and I left for downtown as early as I could. It was a good sign when I saw Flickerstick waiting to cross the street on Orange Avenue. Those guys are so rock and roll. You should have seen them just standing on the corner. I was by myself so I couldn't gawk and point but I was sure thinking it. I got in line, it wasn't long and definitely wasn't the typical "indie" Sapphire crowd. It, too me, was a VH1 demographic. Hell, I'm a VH1 demographic. I am old, after all.

Let me tell you this: Flickerstick was prolly show of the year. I love making sweeping statements like that. So yeah, they exceeded my expectations. Those boys are rock stars and a half.

Brandin was wearing that jean jacket just like on the show. He's short, too. Fletcher had his crazy curly fro in full effect. Dominic seemed just as sleazy. I didn't see him gettin' it on or anything but damn. Cory on teevee seems pretty sexy for a boy. Seeing him in person (I've gotten flak from this already) I can't confirm his sexiness. He did not look the same at all. I had to triple check to make sure that was really him and not someone else. For starters his hair was totally different. It was a mullet fro. He also seemed shorter. Maybe it was because he was barefoot. I don't know. Not as cute.

But Rex..... he is guitar god. I don't know what else to say. He's The Champ. Maybe it is because his effect pedals are battle damaged. Maybe it's the dust on his guitar. Maybe it's the big rock Pete Townsend guitar moves. Maybe it's the alcohol. Even before they went on the sound guy gave everyone in front a warning: "I've seen these guys before. Rex is gonna go crazy. He jumps and rolls all over the stage. Move your drinks off the stage or else they'll get knocked off the first song". Yes sir, I'll be standing in the front. He officially rocks my world.

The first song was "Smile". Flickerstick fans know that song builds to a crescendo and goes crazy. Rex lets loose and for the rest of the show didn't let up. Scrawled on his arm in black magic marker was written: "MC5. Kick out the jams. Motherfucker". And he was wearing a Pop Unknown teeshirt. Pretty cool. He sang backup and spit flied. Sweat poured off like rain. It got on me. Neat. The second song was "Beautiful". It's my favorite one. It was just one of those rock and roll moments. The rest of the show were songs from the album: ("You're So Hollywood", "Coke") plus some new ones. I forget all the titles. Let me just tell you their live show is spectacular.

I was surprised me how many people were singing along with the songs. I thought there was no way so many people would have even heard of Flickerstick or liked them enough to search out their music only after five or six episodes of Bands On The Run. On top of that the show did sell out. Can you believe that? I mean, you watch the show and they are busting ass to get 15-30 people to go to their shows (the show was taped late fall/early winter 2000) and they come here and manage to draw just under 500 people. That's just to see them! Is VH1 really that much power over people? Wow. And don't let the VH1 thing turn you off. This band is good.

There were two openers: Gibb Droll and Mile. I must admit I was pretty impatient waiting for Flickerstick to fully appreciate them. Gibb Droll performed solo with an acoustic guitar. He's very talented and plays that guitar like a mofo. He jammed out. I never heard of Mile but they kept boasting how the next song was on such and such soundtrack and this one is on the radio.... I never heard them so it was like..... okaaaaay. They were all right, pretty nondescript as I can't remember what they sounded like (a week later).

Link: More of my photographs | Flickerstick webpage.