Julia Marino: Candlebox Time Warp
Growing up in the ’90s evokes a unique melange of memories and recollections. For me, it was Madonna and Seattle-based grunge rock bands – Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Candlebox. I was the girl who worshiped Blossom, wore flannel shirts and borrowed the foreign-exchange student’s combat boots. I was a child of the VH1, My So Called Life and scrunch socks-era.
And while Blossom eventually grew up, Madonna had a child, and I was forced to accept I could never marry Kurt Cobain—Candlebox is still alive and running. So alive, in fact, the bluesy-grunge band is returning to Blue Cats in the Old City this Sunday after nearly ten years. It’s like a time-warp, and I’m running back to the ’90s in all my corny, neon gear.
I must admit, Candlebox had not dominated my mind or ears for quite some years now. But upon discovering that the original Candlebox crew (lead guitarist Peter Klett, bassist Bardi Martin, drummer Scott Mercado and singer/guitarist Kevin Martin) would be touring for three months this summer, I was inspired to take another listen to the music that helped me survive adolescence.
I began to listen again to “You,” a bluesy, vocally-driven single, which made the charts in ’94.
"You" had set the stage for the success of another single off their self-titled debut, "Far Behind." Described as a “essentially a power ballad for the grunge era," "Far Behind" was a major hit on mainstream and alternative radio, helping the band sell over four million copies and land a headlining spot on Woodstock's play bill in ''94 as the only act to play the festival and have a spot on the Top Ten charts.
The band's overwhelming success and dislike for major record label politics, however, caused Candlebox to disband in 1999, despite a tour with Aerosmith and a new single, "It's Alright," hitting the airwaves that year.
The bandmembers went their seperate ways, beginning new independent projects and tours with new bands.
Then in 2005, over a cup of coffee during a trip home to Seattle, Klett and Martin decided it was "indeed time."
Candlebox released the long-awaited “The Best of Candlebox,” this May, a move that pleased many of the band's old fans and followers. Candlebox was not dead. With visits to nearly 70 U.S. cities and crowds of nostalgic fans, Candlebox has proved that even in today's evolving music scene, the grunge renaissance will not be forgotten.