Candlebox
At the Roxy
By Rei Nishimoto
Since the last time Candlebox performed live, the musical climate has taken turns very few predicted. Within all of the pop-oriented heavy metal and the emo-driven punk sounding acts, there is still a healthy demand for song oriented rock music.
For much of the 1990s, Candlebox was recognized as a rock band that rode on the coattails of Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden. They recorded three albums that drew critical acclaim from the press and fans alike. During the height of their career, they played at the Woodstock '94, as well as making numerous television appearances on Late Show with David Letterman. But they faced shaky times when they went through lineup changes begin in 1997 with the departure of drummer Scott Mercado.
Tonight marked the first LA appearance by Seattle based rockers Candlebox since their untimely split in 1999. This was part of their brief run of club dates they booked as part of a return to the roots style tour. Despite the extended time away, they did not appear to lose a step. They played a strong cross section of songs from their three full length releases, along with new songs from their forthcoming release this summer.
Frontman Kevin Martin shined on stage and showed why Candlebox had such a strong fan base. His soulful yet bluesy vocal style has a quality that grabs listeners, and differs greatly than their then-Seattle scene peers. His interaction with the crowd, whether while talking to the crowd or even stopping to sign autographs for lucky fans that caught him at the right time, made it a magical night for everyone in attendance.
Their set list covered much of their songs they were best remembered for. 'Cover Me' showed Martin's bluesy side of his voice, capturing the passion behind the song that fans once felt a while ago. Guitarist Peter Klett compliments Martin's voice with a laid back, bluesy style that works well and makes their sound become timeless.
'Change' is another hit song from their earlier years that fans still connect with, and Martin's voice plays a huge part of this. The bluesy side of Candlebox became a staple part of what made fans love their music and still stuck by them after all of these years.
Other songs like 'Don't You' brought out the driving rock edge that is often overlooked. Klett got his time in the spotlight by showing off his commanding guitar playing and got the crowd moving through the night.
Throughout their set list, they worked in a few brand new songs from their forthcoming record. 'Underneath It All' is one of their newer songs that have more of a Led Zeppelin flavor to it, and a logical evolution to where Candlebox's sound would be today. 'Surrending' is another newer song that follows the melodic side of Candlebox with catchy melodies and hooky choruses.
The best reactions from the audience came during their biggest hits being playing throughout the evening. 'Far Behind' was their biggest hit single in 1994, but the way the crowd sang along to every word of the choruses, it showed how well their music withstood time. Their other big hit single 'You' got the biggest response of the evening, with its dark, hypnotic intro that leads into a chorus that got the crowd to chant along with Martin. The feedback from the audience made that moment exciting, and fans wanting more with the proceeding second the song progressed.
The time away helped Candlebox become a stronger band and make their music mean much more than the way the band ended. Their return to the live arena gives hope to a much needed boost to rock music in general. With a new record out this summer, audiences will get a chance to reconnect with the band that many may not have experienced the first time around.
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