The latest boy band to emerge from Florida is the rock quintet Flint. However, Flint is not following in the humongoid, young-hunk footsteps of fellow Floridian acts Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync. Even the association with teenybop bands gets the Flint boys up in arms.
“We’re nothing like them” says brooding Flint singer Cody Jackson, 24. “We’re not manufactured like them. We don’t make the kind of money they do.”
Cheeky keyboard player Doug Cherokee, 24, also spits venom when asked about the comparison. “Flint doesn’t have choreographed dance routines. Flint doesn’t have multiple costume changes. When we are on stage, we have one goal --- make sure our audience knows they are seeing the best band on the planet. It's a goal we achieve every night on stage, except when Cody screws up.”
Having thoroughly insulted Flint over the phone, I expect disaster in our face-to-face meeting. The band is notorious for an excessive, carefree lifestyle that isn’t usually found in America's golden age of political correctness. When Jackson and Cherokee enter an Atlanta coffee shop for the interview, they manage to be noticed; even though most of the elderly crowd would have no idea who Flint is. It’s not from any freak-inspired appearance either. Both of them have an aura of confidence that reeks like bad cologne. It’s that star quality the other patrons pick up on but say nothing. Luckily for me, the Flint boys walk the walk but don’t talk the talk.
After accepting my apology for the boy-band comparison, Doug and Cody are eager to talk. I do point out to them that by wearing professional sports paraphenalia, they are entering the realm of the boy-band dress code.
"I don't think you'd catch a Backstreet wearing this" Jackson says, revealing under his zip-down sweatshirt that the name on the back of his Knicks jersey, #8 is Sprewell. As in recently traded coach-choking Latrell Sprewell. Cody's assessment of the Backstreet Boys is at least without malice and probably correct in this instance.
However, Cherokee's Falcon jersey may become the hot item of the boy-band tour with the Atlanta franchise's recent success. He wears #41 because "my friend's uncle plays safety for the Falcons so we'll be supporting them on Super Bowl Sunday. I think they are going to take Denver to school and never let up."
Their album, White Trash Folklore has sold really well in the South but has yet to crack radio playlists in the all important Northeast and California markets. “It will come in time” says Jackson. “Once they hear it, they’ll react in instant gratification, God bless us.”
Critics have heaped praise on the album that tackle topics ranging from 'simmering apocalyptic frenzy to the sexual politics that engulf women and men'. Cherokee believes “It’s an album that typifies a modern American landscape”.
The three of us sit stunned and at a lost for words, Cody adds “Your readers aren’t going to like us much, are they? We're used to talking with music mags or the skateboard crews... A magazine for teenage girls is foreign territory to us.”
"But teenage girls aren't." Doug mentions with a smile.
"God bless us." Cody screams but quietly adds. "There's a chance that their older sisters will check us out too, isn't there?"
I'm glad they led the conversation towards the subject of women. As a woman, I didn't know how to breach the subject. At one time or another, each member of Flint has been demonized in the press for their high profile girlfriends and in some cases womanizing behavior. Pierre Young, 22, is dating an Elite agency model. Juwan Pilgrim, 23, is thought to be engaged to a Florida A&M track star and Lance Overmars, 21, is involved with a cable-access aerobics instructor. Recent rumors placed both Jackson and Cherokee in England over the New Year's holiday; reportedly captivated with the singers of successful U.K. girl groups.
Cody was obviously flustered and pained with my line of questioning. His testosterone reacted faster as he was the first to answer.
“Please… I’m never captivated with any girl. 'Captivated' is a nice word. Why don't you call me pathetic instead? Where do you get all this stuff? The thing with that… The girl you could be referring to paid for my ticket… ”.
Fortunately for Cody, Doug came to his singer’s rescue.
“Our management team doesn’t let us talk about any relationship of a romantic nature. It’s an assumption in this business that women will be willing to part with their hard-earned money if they think we are available to them... in any respect."
Cherokee goes on to add, "We have to keep any romances top secret. We are married to our work.”
“Or our Playstation” a recomposed Cody interjects.
“Or our Playstation.”
Walking away from the finished interview, I felt my own sense of Girl Power. I managed to get under the skin of a band known more for being cocky than for their music. It's not that I didn't find either Cody or Doug difficult to deal with. They both are sort of pleasant but after hearing all the stories -- true or false -- about their treatment of America's Sisters, it was nice to strike back and go after them for a healthy change. To quote the delightful Cody Jackson, "God bless me."