I think it’s safe to say that Flickerstick is one of my all time favorites. I have the original version of Welcoming Home The Astronauts along with the Sony version (It’s “lie here naked with my girl” not “taken” you corporate suit people!) and the EP’s, live albums , and studio album that followed. I loved VH1’s Bands on the Run and relentlessly tracked down copies of the series on a shitty VHS transfer just so I could relive the awesomeness that was the ‘Stick doing what they do best: Rockin’!
Cut to 13 years later: Flickerstick has broken up but after a few false starts it looks like singer/songwriter Brandin Lea is finally back with his new outfit Jetta in the Ghost Tree.
“It’s so nice to see you/I’ve been gone for awhile/The time in the spotlight paralyzed…” sings Lea on first single “Down and Out” and no truer words were ever spoken. I had no idea the troubles that Lea went through after the dissolution of Flickerstick but if anything Jetta In The Ghost Tree has reminded us why he is such a relevant songwriter and voice in the 21st Century.
At just over seven minutes, the debut single from JitGT is a haunting tale of woe that gives so much hope as to what the future holds for Lea and the rest of his new band with echoes of Noel Gallagher’s most recent solo endeavors shining through in spots while in others showcasing how far Lea has come as a songwriter since his Flickerstick days.
For more on Jetta in the Ghost Tree head on over to their official Facebook page and don’t forget to “like” us on ours!
2 Responses
I too was one of those people who watched ‘Bands on the Run’ like it was a religion. At the time I was living with my bandmate in a house we rented…we feasted on that show, fueling our dreams at rock and roll stardom.
Of course it never really happened.
Funny you should mention the original version to “…Astronauts.” I found a CDR from 12+ years ago that contained it — I thought I lost that recording forever, only to have to listen to the Sony remastered version, a version I feel is inferior.
I’m pretty excited for the Jetta in the Ghost Tree release. Thanks for the great article!
Thanks for reading! I was lucky enough to find an original copy of “…Astronauts” in a local used shop just after “Bands on the Run” was finished. Can’t wait for a Jetta full length!