Candlebox can feel like a forgotten band at times. Their monster self-titled debut erupted on the scene back in 1993, shortly after fellow Seattle bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and Soundgarden changed the face of music. Candlebox combined the angst and grit of those bands with arena rock sensibilities and while they couldn’t sustain the cultural impact of those other bands, Kevin Martin and company have forged a 33-year career that brought them to the stage at a near capacity Foxwoods Casino’s Great Cedar Showroom.
Kevin Martin has led Candlebox since their inception in 1990. While the original band has reunited a few times over the years, the current lineup features founding guitarist Peter Klett, who came back to the fold in 2025, along with long-time members Adam Kury on bass and Island Styles on guitar, and BJ Kerwin on drums. The return of Klett to Candlebox adds a punch to the live show that reinforces the band’s unique 90s sound that set them apart not only from other Seattle bands, but also the other bands of the era.
Naturally, the 15-song set was heavy on the debut album, 8 of that record’s 11 tracks were in the set. The night began with the incendiary “Arrow” and set the tone for what was to come. The stage and lighting were minimal, there were no effects or video, the emphasis was on the music and the band delivered. After 33 years, Martin, even battling a cold, still sounded strong and vital as ever. Klett’s playing provided the classic Candlebox sound, but the secret weapon is guitarist Island Styles. Styles’ solos lifted the songs and demanded the audience’s attention.
Unlike a lot of their peers who just play the hits, Candlebox isn’t afraid to reach throughout their catalog to fill the setlist, six of the band’s eight releases were featured in the set. Each deeper cut is played with the same energy and intensity of the classic hits. Martin and company also make slight changes to the set night after night. This show saw the tour debut of “Bitches Brewin'” from the 2008 reunion release Into The Sun.
Martin was also in good spirits, frequently addressing the crowd with stories behind songs, like “Sometimes”, and even touched on the band’s 2023 statement that they would be retiring after the tour cycle of The Last Goodbye record. I interviewed Kevin Martin for the release of that record, and he sounded like a man that was good with the idea of closing this chapter of his career. However, with Klett returning to the band and live performances being some of the best of the band’s career, it may have been a premature announcement. In fact, Martin said from the stage that he and Klett are writing a new Candlebox record.
The encoreless set came to a climax with the massive hits “Far Behind” and “You” before ending with the debut album deep cut “Rain”. The crowd was into the entire 75-minute set and was not only made up of those of us who were there in 1993, but also a fair amount of younger people who, presumably, discovered Candlebox from their parents.
Candlebox was a big part of my college years, my first time seeing them was opening for Rush back in 1994 and their music played regularly in the UCONN dorms during that time. Frustrated by their record contract and facing declining sales, the band initially didn’t make it out of the 1990s, but the legacy of their classic debut led to a return. While they may not have seen the sustained success other bands of the era did, their songs resonated with a generation. Candlebox is the bridge between Seattle grunge and alt rock that followed. With thoughts of retirement behind them, Kevin Martin, Peter Klett, and the rest of Candlebox are recharged and ready to add to their legacy.
