The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
BURNING ON
Enduring ‘90s rock act Candlebox looks to keep momentum started with 2016 album ‘Disappearing In Airports’
One of the last times ‘90s grunge act Candlebox came through Northeast Ohio was for an outdoor gig in November 2015 on the East Bank of the Flats. This time, drummer Dave Krusen said he’s excited to get to play inside — Feb. 17 at the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. ¶ “That was really cold, but fun,” said Krusen, calling from Los Angeles. “I’m looking forward to playing indoors in the winter.”
Candlebox is thinking ahead to its next studio effort, which will be a follow-up to successful 2016 album “Disappearing In Airports.” The classic rocktinged effort was critically acclaimed and yielded radio singles “Vexatious” and “Supernova.”
Krusen said that project marked a new chapter for Candlebox with a different lineup that seemingly freed singer Kevin Martin’s songwriting.
“I thought ‘Vexatious’ really stood out because it’s such a different song,” Krusen said. “For instance, the drums are completely different than what I would usually do. That entire record is something that came about really quickly. It actually was cool because that happened in the studio. We were kind of writing as we went along.”
Unsure of when the next album will be released, the drummer said the hope is Candlebox is able to capitalize on that same momentum.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the band’s greatest success, with ubiquitous radio hits “You,” “Far Behind” and “Cover Me” coming from the band’s self-titled 1993 effort.
While Krusen wouldn’t officially join Candlebox until 1997, he said being a Seattle musician at the time he witnessed the group’s potential early on.
“I was in a band called Son of Man for a little while and played with Candlebox at their record-release party,” Krusen said. “They were excellent players, and Kevin was a great frontman. I figured they would do well, and I certainly wasn’t surprised when they did.”
Krusen said he had that same thought when another Seattle band, Pearl Jam, tapped him as the drummer for its debut effort, “Ten.”
“I was just a great experience for me,” Krusen said. “I was a big fan of (Pearl Jam precursor) Mother Love Bone and the way those guys worked. Just the chemistry we had as a band. It was just like going to a whole other level. It was a really great time.”
Krusen, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Pearl Jam in 2017, went into rehab shortly after recording “Ten.” That quickly ended his tenure in the popular band.
While some folks would spend their lives thinking what could have been, Krusen said finding sobriety proved to be his lifechanging experience.
“What I’ve come to find out, because I’ve dealt with this 30 years now, is it’s other people’s expectations,” Krusen said. “I’ve had people bring it up to me, see me not get bummed out and then try to get a reaction out of me.
“It’s because they’re just internalizing the experience
“They can’t really conceive of how you could get on with your life. It’s just like, it’s music, man. It’s a band. Yeah, they’re great, but it’s not going to define my existence on the planet.” — Dave Krusen, Candlebox drummer, on people’s reaction to him being the drummer on Pearl Jam’s first album, “Ten,” but no longer being involved with the group
and projecting how they would have handled it,” he continued. “They can’t really conceive of how you could get on with your life. It’s just like, it’s music, man. It’s a band. Yeah, they’re great, but it’s not going to define my existence on the planet.”