I will openly admit that I am a stereotypical millennial, in that I believe the 90s to be the best decade of my life. But even for those who don’t tie the decade to their childhoods, the impact of the era is undeniable, especially in music. It was all about grunge then. And I too was, and still am, all about grunge.

I remember hearing the first notes of Candlebox’s “Far Behind” on the radio, and the instantaneous attachment those notes created. There was no way to listen to the song and have any uncertainty as to whether or not it would be a hit. It was a “stay in the car until the song is over” kind of song. The kind where you couldn’t pick up a guitar without trying to play the opening lines. And now, decades later, it’s the kind of song that has a unique ability to not just transport you to the time you first heard it, but in a way where you can look around and realize it brought back the entire feeling of that time. A perfect encapsulation of the early 90s.

This is in no way to minimize Candlebox to 4 minutes and 59 seconds of impactful art, but instead to celebrate the magic of it. For many bands trying to break through the noise at that time, a song like “Far Behind” was a feat many would have been content to achieve and leave it at that. But Candlebox’s story was far from over when they released that self-titled album in 1993, and thankfully for us, their story is still being written.

Candlebox released their album The Long Goodbye in 2023, with the intention of bringing the band to a close after a farewell tour. But that long goodbye continued to get longer, then founding member Peter Klett rejoined the band, and a new life was breathed into their journey. This brings us to their aptly named “Can’t Quit You” tour, which kicked off last month in St. Louis and made a stop in Manhattan on Monday night at the historic Bowery Ballroom. Fellow grunge outfit Sponge were on hand as well to support.

There really are few venues as perfect as the Bowery Ballroom to see a double bill of grunge legends. To the challenge of my role as a photographer, there is no pit, but to the joy of being able to experience the show in a more intimate way, the direct connection to the crowd added to the nostalgic feeling that these bands’ music conjures so perfectly.

SPONGE

Sponge took the stage and turned the dial back to 1995, opening with “Wax Ecstatic” and turning an arguably older crowd (not knocking it, I’m one of ‘em) back into feeling like teenagers again. The nostalgia element was not lost on the band, and vocalist Vinnie Dombroski played into it plenty with humorous reflection of the era and acknowledgment of how much time has passed.

Dombroski is quite the showman; like Andrew Dice Clay meets Elvis meets Chris Isaak, but very much his own authentic self. He knew how to work the crowd, how to connect with them and make them feel seen, and how to celebrate the band’s music in a way that invited fans to lose themselves in the moment and just have fun.

A few fans in the crowd noted they’d seen the band with Candlebox back in 1995, which Dombroski acknowledged was their first major tour. “We’re glad they’re still here,” Dombroski said of Candlebox. “We’re glad you’re still here, and we’re glad that we’re still here too.”

CANDLEBOX

The already packed Bowery Ballroom got even tighter before Candlebox was introduced by a host from WBAB 102.3 Long Island, who hyped the band as well as the era that spawned them. Candlebox opened with “Arrow,” dialing the time machine back a few more notches to 1993 and their self-titled debut album. Vocalist Kevin Martin seems to still have his voice from 1993 despite the 33 years since then. He sang with a youthful power and clarity that makes it no wonder the band decided they aren’t finished yet. Martin, and the rest of the band as well, are clearly still driving with a full tank.

“I wrote this song while I was on mushrooms,” Martin noted with a smile when introducing the song “Change,” using the title of the track to comment on the hope for change coming by way of the upcoming US midterm elections (boy, we could sure use it).

The timelessness of Candlebox’s music rang true throughout as the perfection of rock and roll was on full display. The crowd was swaying and singing loudly to every word, which you’d think would taper off a few songs in, but it seemed that every track brought a drunken karaoke passion out of everyone in the room in the most beautiful way.

One fan requested “It’s Alright,” which Martin pondered to the band and ultimately played, leading to a moment where the fan drunkenly forgot the words to accompany Martin in a singalong. Martin used the opportunity to hop off the stage and walk through the crowd to sing along with everyone.

Not only was the actual taking of a fan request and subsequent performance impressive, but the way that Candlebox embraced their fans with interaction and participation showed a humbleness that was as endearing as it was uplifting.

Martin’s wife and son were in attendance as well, with Martin dedicating another song, “10,000 Horses,” to his son’s friend who loved the track. It was clear that the band loves their fans, and the fans made it clear that the love is certainly reciprocal.

The band closed with back-to-back bangers, “Far Behind” and “You”, erupting in a sea of cellphones and singalongs to bring the perfect end to a great night of music.

Candlebox’s tour wraps this week in New Jersey, but with the release of a new single, “I Remember Everything,” and the promise of a new album coming, the band’s long goodbye is the only thing that appears to be on hiatus.