Steeped in the evocative, open-road Americana of bands like
Gin Blossoms and
Whiskeytown, New York City-based alt-rockers
the Candles formed in 2009 around frontman
Josh Lattanzi. A veteran singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a long résumé of collaborations under his belt, including
Albert Hammond, Jr.,
the Lemonheads, and
Ben Kweller,
Lattanzi was raised on a steady diet of
Grateful Dead,
Big Star, and
Neil Young.
The Candles' debut long-player,
Between the Sounds, arrived in 2010 on The End Records. The group's sophomore outing,
La Candelaria, followed in 2013. In addition to promoting their own records,
the Candles showed their versatility acting as both opener and backing band for acts like
Alberta Cross,
Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, and
Norah Jones.
Jones returned the collaborative favor with a guest vocal on their third album, 2016's impressive
Matter + Spirit. ~ James Christopher Monger