I would like to say I hate all reality shows and have a taste in television far superior to these sensationalistic, exploitative small-screen creations.
Actually, I have indeed said this. And I meant it, when I said it. Granted, MTV's "The Real World" and "Road Rules" were primary occupants of the reality TV pantheon at the time, and "Survivor" was an unproven newcomer on network television.
But I was forced to eat my words when I discovered VH1's "Bands on the Run." This gem of a concept followed several hand-picked indie bands on tour (and VH1's dime), showing intraband squabbles, hedonistic drunken mayhem, clips of the bands playing small venues and, overall, a revealing portrait of touring: the sights, the sounds, the smells of hard-working rock bands on the road. Once I'd seen it a couple of times, I was hooked.
VH1 probably found out it wasn't such of a gem of a concept for them in the end, given the unpredictability of the bands' behavior and the likely financial drain of keeping these fast-living, hard-partying groups on the road (and in snazzy VH1-provided vans, to boot).
Like most people who watch reality shows, I started rooting for my favorite participant to take the top prize: Flickerstick, a pop-friendly alt-rock band from Dallas, was my chosen one.
Flickerstick's hotel room hijinks accounted for a large portion of the show's aforementioned hedonistic drunken mayhem, but with the band's friendly, non-egotistical demeanor -- during an episode where it appeared Flickerstick would be eliminated from the contest, band members bought gobs of the other bands' merchandise as a show of support -- I couldn't help being on its side.
Their vocalist, Brandin Lea, has the sweet, polished croon of a trained singer and gives the group's sound a slick sheen that serves their psychedelic powerpop sound well.
Guitarist Rex Ewing, who looks at least 10 years older than any of the other members and had just joined the group when "Bands on the Run" aired, adds layers of effect-laden, Radiohead-esque six-string tones to liven up the arrangements.
Flickerstick plays Birdy's in Indianapolis on Tuesday. Despite the band members' national exposure on the TV show, they are still playing small clubs on the indie circuit. The good news? This means they're less likely to have developed the rock-star egos that repelled me from the other groups on "Bands on the Run."
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