THE FLANKS TO PERFORM AT SYLVANIA 300
New York country jug-band set to rev up NASCAR race at NHIS
Loudon, N.H. (Sept. 16, 2007) – Race cars won’t be the only thing accelerating the excitement of the SYLVANIA 300 this weekend. The Flanks, a unique country-folk band based in New York, will be speeding up the pace of hearts during a performance at the race on Sunday before an estimated 100,000 strong crowd of NASCAR fans at the New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS).
Songs by The Flanks have been featured on the Onion News Network, in television commercials, and in films. As an up-and-coming country-roots, jug-band featuring what some call a “garage country” sound, The Flanks have been happily entertaining audiences for five years.
SYLVANIA recently forged a relationship with the popular band when they featured The Flanks singing “This Little Light of Mine” in a TV spot for the company’s eLogic™ brand light bulbs. The commercial debuted in February
2007, and has played regionally in the Milwaukee, Charlotte and Minneapolis markets.
Founded in 2002 by high school pals Tom Bouman and Nick Capodice, The Flanks embrace a very unique sound in the New York underground country scene, featuring a traditional jug-band musical style that ranges in sound from old-time blues to a raucous and gritty country feeling.
“It’s been a real treat working with the folks at SYLVANIA, first playing in a TV spot for their eLogic light bulbs, and now getting the opportunity to perform for a great crowd of NASCAR fans at NHIS,” Danny Mulligan, vocalist and guitarist for The Flanks, said. “We’re thrilled to be sharing our music with everyone involved in the SYLVANIA 300, and you can expect us to pull out all the stops and give everyone a great show.”
According to Jon DiGesu, OSRAM SYLVANIA’s director of communications and brand strategy, “Working with The Flanks has been a terrific experience. The commercial turned out wonderfully and SYLVANIA is so excited to have the band join us at the SYLVANIA 300 race weekend. We chose The Flanks’ music because it embodies the earthy and innovative feel of the SYLVANIA eLogic line of SYLVANIA’s lighting products.”
The band unearthed its name when an unemployed and meat-craving band member could only offer various cuts of beef as possible names. The band then decided on The Flanks when three of the five members also linked the name with their past rugby positions as flankers.
A jug-band is usually classified as a band that draws inspiration from a great variety of rural music traditions, making use of both traditional and homemade
instruments, including jugs, washboards, spoons and kazoos. The Flanks feature traditional instruments such as bass, acoustic and electric guitars, the banjo, the mandolin, the harmonica, the viola, the accordion, and percussion.
ABOUT OSRAM SYLVANIA
OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions and specialty products that feature innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com.