Article & photos: Linda Carlson

Indianapolis, IN – Rain.  Then, more rain.  It was that kind of evening.  Enough to dampen the ground but certainly not the spirits at The Vogue.  Fans are thirsting for live music after a long draught and silent stages, and on this night, the venue was bustling with activity.

Candlebox emerged from the 1990s Seattle music scene, a very influential time and place that ushered in the likes of Pearl Jam and Nirvana.  The band released three studio albums in the 1990s, getting plenty of radio play, touring as opener for heavy hitters like Metallica and Rush before disbanding in 2000.

The band reunited in 2006, and experienced a number of lineup changes since then.  Of the original band, only lead singer Kevin Martin remains.  The current touring lineup includes bassist Adam Kury, guitarists Brian Quinn & Island Styles, and drummer BJ Kerwin.  Together they lit the stage with an exemplary performance. Stage presence was not a problem for these musicians!  Plenty of movement to keep visual interest hopping, and the band fervently rocked to a mix of old and new music.  Martin exuded an ease on stage that comes with experience and a genuine appreciation for the gift of performing live to an audience that craves their music.

The band is promoting their latest album, Wolves, which released just this month.  It is a musical reflection on the chaotic and complicated times we’re experiencing… using the analogy of the wolf: the lone wolf as well as the wolf as a pack.

Their setlist for the evening:

1. Arrow
2. Simple Lessons
3. Stand
4. Change
5. My Weakness
6. We
7. Sometimes
8. All Down Hill from Here
9. Nothing Left to Lose
10. Sweet Summertime
11. Cover Me
12. Riptide
13. You
14. Far Behind

Opening for Candlebox on this tour are The Dead Deads, a three-woman alternative rock band from Nashville.  Each sports a comic-inspired “X” painted over their eyes and wears a spandex suit.  There’s an element of humor… bassist Daisy Dead wore witty shoes covered with fun flowers.  Don’t let the playful campiness fool you, though.  These ladies rock!  With pounding rhythms and blazing vocals, the trio delivered a captivating blend of hard rock, grunge and metal.

The tour continues heavily through October, with a few dates slated for November and December as well.  Check Candlebox’s website (https://www.candleboxrocks.com/) for the latest tour information, and do catch their show if they are anywhere in your vicinity.  You will be glad you did.