Steve Candlen – an Xperience Interview with OP Callaghan

Steve Candlen interview.

The first time I met Steve Candlen, I was a relative newbie on the scene.  I had just started drumming for 1313 Mockingbird Lane and was writing for The Source.  I was on assignment writing a story on Jimmy Velvet, Steve’s band at the time.  In between sets, Steve learned that I was a drummer, and didn’t miss a beat, thrusting his sticks at me and saying, “Go play Man!”  Seconds later I was behind his kit, jamming with Mark Gamsjagger and Pete Toigo, while Steve sat behind me hollering directions and helping me navigate my way through an unfamiliar tune.  It was quite an experience for this new guy, and one that I’ll never forget.  It’s that type of musical camaraderie and humility that makes Steve a local favorite both behind the drums and out in front.

Not long after sitting in with the future Lustre Kings, I was meeting a friend of mine, who was an Albany police detective for lunch.  He was introducing me to some of his coworkers, including Detective Jimmy Candlen. I asked if he was related to Steve, when he quickly responded, “He’s my son!  You’re not one of those hippy musicians, are you?”  All those present immediately broke into knowing laughter, as Jimmy proceeded to pridefully recite his son’s accomplishments.  Steve is an exceptional drummer, a talented songwriter, and an all-around great guy.  Check him out with Family Tree, or one of his solo gigs, and be sure to check out his latest release Shine On, available at Stevecandlen.com.

RRX:  Hey man!  Tell me how you got your start with drums.

SC: I was four when I started playing the household pots and pans on the kitchen floor with the wooden spoons my mom would use for stirring homemade spaghetti sauce. She didn’t seem to mind and was actually very encouraging.

RRX:  Tell me about your first drum set.

SC: I had several toy sets with paper heads that I went through quickly. A single snare drum followed, had that for a few years, then I bought my first full kit at 12 with money I earned from delivering the Times Union newspaper. It was a snazzy Red Sparkle Totodor kit, 20″ bass drum 12″ tom with a cymbal on the bass drum. The hi hat came later.

RRX:  Who influenced you early on?

SC: influences were Ringo on The Ed Sullivan show and Buddy Rich on The Tonight Show. My first record was The Chipmunks sing The Beatles, I wore that record out.

RRX:  When did you start playing out?

SC: My first gig was playing drums in our neighborhood band. We were called Crystal Jam. We played our grade school and rocked the house. We played at the local firehouse and school dances and a local bar that had teen night rock shows. I think we even got paid for those gigs.

High school bar bands followed, around 16 I joined The Morons playing many gigs at JB Scott’s opening for national groups like the Motels, Hot Tuna, The Stranglers and Blotto.

I then went on to play with my childhood buddies in a group called EYZ area bars and concert halls opening for regional groups like Talas (w/Billy Sheehan), The Lazers, Triffid, and even opened for a young Metallica at the Skyway in Scotia.

I went on to play with local groups Fat and Bad, The Jimmy Velvet Trio (The Lustre Kings,) The Joe Mele/Gary Brooks Band, Mother Judge, Tom Healey, Chris Busone, Erin Harkes Band, Mike Iwanos Band.

I had my own jazz groups as well, Steve Candlen’s Jazz Explorers and Steve Candlen’s Big Bang Theory as well the first iteration of Family Tree with local faves George Muscatello, Keith Pray, Rob Cohen, Pat Perkinson to name a few.

I went on to play in a touring hotel group out west called Alon and the Movies that featured two great musicians Alon Butler and Larry Hicks from King Curtis’s group.

After that I went south to Florida to tour with a group called the Key.

I returned around age 25 to start an amazing eight-year touring run with Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer, Felix Cavaliere (The Young Rascals,) followed by playing 20 years with Columbia recording artist Franklin Micare.

I’ve literally been playing full time since the age of 12, for a living.

RRX:  When did you start writing and singing?

SC: I’ve always had a passion for writing songs, I was the primary writer in our early rock bands and wrote quite a few songs in my early teens. In my 30’s I started playing guitar and singing as a solo performer. I’ve been doing that for the past 15 years or so as my primary income.

RRX:  If you weren’t a drummer, what would you be doing?

SC: If I wasn’t a drummer, I may have gotten into the professional golf world. I was bitten by that bug at 25.

RRX:  Tell me about some of your current kits.

SC: As far as collecting drums go, I enjoy the rabbit hole that is vintage drums. I have many sets and single drums that I rotate and play in my studio as well as live. I play and own many types of instruments and use them regularly on my original recordings. I’m a bit of a jack of all trades on them. I’m self-taught and play at a utilitarian level on most.

RRX:  Great!  Who are some of your current influences?

SC: My current influences are many,

Wayne Shorter is a philosophical and musical hero, as well as Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis. Love the modern playing of Marcus Gilmore, Kenny Wolleson and veterans like Jim Keltner.

RRX:  Any advice for the up-and-coming drummer?

SC: Advice for up-and-coming drummers, get the best musical education you can. Follow your strengths and be passionate. Seek advice from those whose playing you admire and strive to have an individual voice on your instrument.

RRX:  What are you currently working on?

SC: I continue to record and perform as a solo singer/songwriter and can be contacted through Facebook Messenger.

RRX:  How did the Family Tree evolve?

SC: The current version of Family Tree evolved from my friendship with drummer Chad Ploss. We were practicing drums one afternoon when I asked if he would be interested in starting a double drummer type group based on improvisation. I asked Lori Friday and Kenny Hohman if they’d be interested and blossomed from there, bringing in Chris Carey after a few years to round out the group. The band has been evolving since. Our Monday night residency at Putnam Place in Saratoga has been going strong for 2 years this July!

RRX:  Congratulations to you Steve, and thanks for being a Capital Region Timekeeper!