Today June 23rd 2023, Candlebox released Live at The Neptune.
You can order physical copies on vinyl and CD straight from Pavement Entertainment at: http://www.pavementmusic.com/campaign/candlebox/
Digital downloads available at: https://linktr.ee/candleboxrocks
Live at The Neptune was originally recorded on November 5, 2021 at The Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington and features all 4 original Candlebox members Kevin Martin, Peter Klett, Bardi Martin, and Scott Mercado. The album was mixed by original guitarist, Peter Klett.
I actually had the unique opportunity to catch this performance live in person. The band initially announced it as part of a weekend that would celebrate the 26th anniversary of their sophomore album, Lucy. That show would take place at the much bigger Paramount Theatre the following night, but the first night they decided to have a small acoustic show just celebrating their music. They would only be selling a few hundred tickets to this small show and it sold-out almost immediately. I remember being there and thinking what a once-in-a-lifetime event it would be. The original members hadn’t gotten together to perform in years, but acoustic only? This was definitely special. The Neptune Theatre turned out to be the perfect setting for such a night.
Listening to the album, track 1 starts out with vocalist Kevin Martin announcing to the crowd “We’ve got a show for you tonight!” followed by a round of cheers and the opening chords to “Cover Me” begins. “Cover Me” is of course a huge favorite from their debut album. As the song progresses, not only can you hear how strong Kevin Martin’s voice still is almost 30 years after this song was first recorded, but hearing Peter Klett slide into this solo on acoustic no less equaled absolute perfection.
The next track they felt needed no introduction and you could only hear Kevin Martin proclaim “Y’all know this one!” before going into “Blinders” which is off their 3rd album, Happy Pills. The band would actually play 4 tracks that night off of this much loved album, also including “It’s Alright”, “A Stone’s Throw Away”, and “Sometimes.”
A personal favorite from the night included a completely raw and stripped down version of “He Calls Home.” It’s such a strong and emotional song already, but this performance really brought even more meaning to it. You feel the emotion in every note played and the vocal performance is just incredible.
I have a long love of hearing live albums from artists. I’ve always loved that feeling of being there even if you weren’t. This album definitely has that, every bit of it brought me back. The listener actually feels like they’re also right there in that small theater witnessing the magic that’s created when these 4 guys get together to play music and it’s beautiful.
I’m Music Magazine Writer Daphne McKinney
Vinyl tracklisting:
Side A
Cover Me
Blinders
He Calls Home
Change
Side B
Blossom
Sometimes
You
Far Behind
CD tracklisting:
1. Cover Me
2. Blinders
3. Blossom
4. A Stone’s Throw Away*
5. He Calls Home
6. Change
7. It’s Alright*
8. Sometimes
9. You
10. Far Behind
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