Roman Candle (band)
Encyclopedia
Roman Candle is an indie rock
band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina
, composed of Skip, Logan and Timshel Matheny. They have released three studio album
s, several touring EP
's, toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, and played in various other bands / live acts. Roman Candle was founded in 1997 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
. The band, who all attended UNC-Chapel Hill, recorded and performed there for 10 years before moving to Nashville
, TN in 2008.
in 1997. Most early shows involved (current band members) Skip and Logan Matheny and various musicians from around town sitting in. Eventually a regular lineup formed, including Skip's wife Timshel on fender rhodes and farfisa
.
They sold over 400 copies of a self-released cd of demos in 2000 on consignment at Chapel Hill's SchoolKids Records, and signed to Trevor Pryce
's Outlook Music Company in October 2001. When they signed their first record deal, Skip and Timshel were working in Portland Oregon as a forklift driver and a dishwasher at an art college (respectively).
Their record "Says Pop" was released by Outlook in May 2002. The band toured across the U.S. in support of Says Pop, gathered an enthusiastic fanbase, and were named in Rolling Stone magazine, as Chapel Hill's "darling" band on the rise. During this time they met producer Chris Stamey
(The db's, Yo la tengo, Ryan Adams, R.E.M.), and signed to Hollywood Records' fledging college music division (also signed, were The Polyphonic Spree
and Patrick Park
). Hollywood recruited Stamey to rework the songs on Says Pop, for a major label release, re-titled "The Wee Hours Revue" in 2003. However, Hollywood, uncertain about the "college division" of their label, decided to shelf Roman Candle's album for 2 years.
During this time, the band continued to tour, write and record music, and became a part of Chris Stamey
's "mod squad," a famed group of studio / touring musicians around Stamey's studio, Modern Recording. Roman Candle band members toured in support of Stamey's records, "A Question of Temperature" (with Yo la Tengo) and "Travels in the South". The band became known for their live shows (described as "Jaw-Dropping",), and after opening up for The Soundtrack of Our Lives
, lead singer Ebbot Lundberg called them from the stage "the best opening act he'd seen in years."
Also during this time, singer/songwriter Thad Cockrell
, gave a copy of the record to famed BBC
DJ Bob Harris (radio)
. He called the record, on the air, one of the best rock and roll records he'd heard in years. Harris has since invited RC to play on his BBC Radio 2
show multiple times.
In 2006 V2 Records
bought "The Wee Hours Revue
" masters from Hollywood and released the record to widespread acclaim in June 2006—including praise from The Boston Globe,
Pitchfork Media, and making Paste's Top 100 album's of 2006 -- They were no. 38. Editor of Paste (magazine)
Josh Jackson even cited the album as one of the top 10 most overlooked albums of 2006. Even as late after the release as April 2007, Harp Magazine, journalist Mark Kemp
named The Wee Hours Revue One of the best roots-rock records of the decade.
The band toured throughout 2006 in support of the record, including tours with The Whigs
, The Avett Brothers
, Bird Monster, Indigo Girls
, Aimee Mann
, The Psychedelic Furs and a date at Radio City Music Hall.
In 2007 they continued to tour the U.S. and the U.K., including a pair of live performances on BBC radio 2.
In November 2008, the band announced from their website that they had signed to a new label, Carnival Recording Company
, and that they would be releasing 4 eps, accompanying the release of their next full-length. The first of these ep's, "Eden was a Garden" was released in digital and vinyl formats on Dec. 4, 2008. The second ep "They Say" was released on March 9, 2009.
Their most recent record, "Oh Tall Tree in the Ear," was released on May 12, 2009. The title is taken from Rainer Maria Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus
. The band embarked on a Paste Magazine / WOXY sponsored tour in support of the record with The Deep Vibration, and continued to tour throughout 2009 playing almost a hundred shows, including dates with Iron and Wine, Wild Beasts
, Jason Isbell
and others.
In March 2010, the band announced they had signed to Fargo Records, for the all European territories and the UK, and that Fargo would release "Oh Tall Tree..." in the Summer of 2010.
, Tom T. Hall
, The xx
, Alejandro Escovedo
, Julian Casablancas
, and Phoenix (band)
.
Members of Roman Candle have produced / performed on the following records
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, composed of Skip, Logan and Timshel Matheny. They have released three studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s, several touring EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
's, toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, and played in various other bands / live acts. Roman Candle was founded in 1997 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The band, who all attended UNC-Chapel Hill, recorded and performed there for 10 years before moving to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, TN in 2008.
History
Roman Candle started playing shows around Chapel Hill, North CarolinaChapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
in 1997. Most early shows involved (current band members) Skip and Logan Matheny and various musicians from around town sitting in. Eventually a regular lineup formed, including Skip's wife Timshel on fender rhodes and farfisa
Farfisa
Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
.
They sold over 400 copies of a self-released cd of demos in 2000 on consignment at Chapel Hill's SchoolKids Records, and signed to Trevor Pryce
Trevor Pryce
Trevor W. Pryce is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. Pryce played college football at the University of Michigan before transferring to Clemson University...
's Outlook Music Company in October 2001. When they signed their first record deal, Skip and Timshel were working in Portland Oregon as a forklift driver and a dishwasher at an art college (respectively).
Their record "Says Pop" was released by Outlook in May 2002. The band toured across the U.S. in support of Says Pop, gathered an enthusiastic fanbase, and were named in Rolling Stone magazine, as Chapel Hill's "darling" band on the rise. During this time they met producer Chris Stamey
Chris Stamey
Chris Stamey is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. After a stint playing with Alex Chilton, and a brief partnering with Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, he formed The dB's, whose stewardship he would share with Peter Holsapple.In 1977 in New York, Chris founded the...
(The db's, Yo la tengo, Ryan Adams, R.E.M.), and signed to Hollywood Records' fledging college music division (also signed, were The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
and Patrick Park
Patrick Park
-Early life:Park grew up in Morrison, Colorado. He was exposed to the arts at an early age: his mother was a published poet, and his father was a doctor who enjoyed playing folk and blues records and the guitar at home...
). Hollywood recruited Stamey to rework the songs on Says Pop, for a major label release, re-titled "The Wee Hours Revue" in 2003. However, Hollywood, uncertain about the "college division" of their label, decided to shelf Roman Candle's album for 2 years.
During this time, the band continued to tour, write and record music, and became a part of Chris Stamey
Chris Stamey
Chris Stamey is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. After a stint playing with Alex Chilton, and a brief partnering with Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, he formed The dB's, whose stewardship he would share with Peter Holsapple.In 1977 in New York, Chris founded the...
's "mod squad," a famed group of studio / touring musicians around Stamey's studio, Modern Recording. Roman Candle band members toured in support of Stamey's records, "A Question of Temperature" (with Yo la Tengo) and "Travels in the South". The band became known for their live shows (described as "Jaw-Dropping",), and after opening up for The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives, alternatively known as T.S.O.O.L. or Soundtrack, is a Swedish rock band that formed in 1995 after the dissolution of the punk band Union Carbide Productions....
, lead singer Ebbot Lundberg called them from the stage "the best opening act he'd seen in years."
Also during this time, singer/songwriter Thad Cockrell
Thad Cockrell
Thad Cockrell is an American singer-songwriter. He has released three solo albums, along with a collaborative album with Caitlin Cary. Cockrell often writes emotional songs, and is frequently associated with his goal to "put the hurt back in country"....
, gave a copy of the record to famed BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
DJ Bob Harris (radio)
Bob Harris (radio)
Robert Brinley Joseph "Bob" Harris, OBE , known as "Whispering" Bob Harris, is British radio host who currently works for BBC Radio 2, presenting music two nights a week...
. He called the record, on the air, one of the best rock and roll records he'd heard in years. Harris has since invited RC to play on his BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
show multiple times.
In 2006 V2 Records
V2 Records
V2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI....
bought "The Wee Hours Revue
The Wee Hours Revue
The Wee Hours Revue is the major label debut album by American alternative rock band Roman Candle, released in 2006.- Background and production :...
" masters from Hollywood and released the record to widespread acclaim in June 2006—including praise from The Boston Globe,
Pitchfork Media, and making Paste's Top 100 album's of 2006 -- They were no. 38. Editor of Paste (magazine)
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
Josh Jackson even cited the album as one of the top 10 most overlooked albums of 2006. Even as late after the release as April 2007, Harp Magazine, journalist Mark Kemp
Mark Kemp
Mark Kemp is an American music journalist and author. A graduate of East Carolina University, he has served as music editor of Rolling Stone and vice president of music editorial for MTV Networks...
named The Wee Hours Revue One of the best roots-rock records of the decade.
The band toured throughout 2006 in support of the record, including tours with The Whigs
The Whigs
The Whigs are an American garage rock band from Athens, Georgia, consisting of lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio and bassist Timothy Deaux.-Biography:...
, The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers is a folk rock band from Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. The band is made up of two brothers, Scott Avett and Seth Avett, who play the banjo and guitar respectively, and Bob Crawford who plays the stand-up bass. Joe Kwon, cello, and Jacob Edwards, drums, are touring members of...
, Bird Monster, Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
, The Psychedelic Furs and a date at Radio City Music Hall.
In 2007 they continued to tour the U.S. and the U.K., including a pair of live performances on BBC radio 2.
In November 2008, the band announced from their website that they had signed to a new label, Carnival Recording Company
Carnival Recording Company
Carnival Recording Company is an American independent record label founded in 2005 as an extension of Carnival Music, an independent music publishing company in Nashville, TN. Since it’s inception, Courtney Gregg, has overseen all day to day activities. In 2009, Carnival partnered with Universal...
, and that they would be releasing 4 eps, accompanying the release of their next full-length. The first of these ep's, "Eden was a Garden" was released in digital and vinyl formats on Dec. 4, 2008. The second ep "They Say" was released on March 9, 2009.
Their most recent record, "Oh Tall Tree in the Ear," was released on May 12, 2009. The title is taken from Rainer Maria Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus
Sonnets to Orpheus
The Sonnets to Orpheus are a cycle of sonnets written by German-language poet Rainer Maria Rilke in 1922. He dedicated them as a memorial for Wera Ouckama Knoop , a playmate of Rilke's daughter Ruth.-Form and style:There are 55 sonnets in the sequence, divided into two sections: the first of 26...
. The band embarked on a Paste Magazine / WOXY sponsored tour in support of the record with The Deep Vibration, and continued to tour throughout 2009 playing almost a hundred shows, including dates with Iron and Wine, Wild Beasts
Wild Beasts
Wild Beasts are an indie rock band from Kendal in Cumbria. They released their first single, "Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants", on Bad Sneakers Records in November 2006, and subsequently signed to Domino Records. They have released three acclaimed albums, Limbo, Panto in 2008, Two Dancers in...
, Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Greenhill, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals.-Background:Almost all of Isbell's family, except his parents, were musicians, and his father was an avid music listener...
and others.
In March 2010, the band announced they had signed to Fargo Records, for the all European territories and the UK, and that Fargo would release "Oh Tall Tree..." in the Summer of 2010.
"Drinks With" Interviews
In October 2009, Skip started an artist-on-artist interview series, called "Drinks with" for American Songwriter. The content of the series is mostly about songs and songwriting, and there have been interviews with performers such as the Arctic MonkeysArctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, Tom T. Hall
Tom T. Hall
Thomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
, The xx
The xx
The xx are an English indie pop band, formed in London in 2005. The band's members met while studying at Elliott School, the same school that produced Hot Chip, Burial and Four Tet. They became a trio when their second guitarist and keyboardist, Baria Qureshi, departed in late 2009. In September...
, Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:The son of Mexican immigrants to Texas, Escovedo is from a family that boasts several professional musicians, including brothers Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E...
, Julian Casablancas
Julian Casablancas
Julian Fernando Casablancas is an American singer-songwriter and musician of The Strokes. Casablancas pursued a solo career during The Strokes' hiatus, releasing the album Phrazes for the Young on November 3, 2009....
, and Phoenix (band)
Phoenix (band)
Phoenix is a Grammy Award winning French indie rock band from Versailles, founded by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.-Formation and early years:...
.
Side projects
- Roman Candle members are known touring (as backing musicians) with various artists: most notably:
- The RosebudsThe RosebudsThe Rosebuds are an indie rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Its current members are Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp...
- Chris StameyChris StameyChris Stamey is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. After a stint playing with Alex Chilton, and a brief partnering with Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, he formed The dB's, whose stewardship he would share with Peter Holsapple.In 1977 in New York, Chris founded the...
- Thad CockrellThad CockrellThad Cockrell is an American singer-songwriter. He has released three solo albums, along with a collaborative album with Caitlin Cary. Cockrell often writes emotional songs, and is frequently associated with his goal to "put the hurt back in country"....
- Caitlin CaryCaitlin CaryCaitlin Cary is an alt-country musician.Born to Hall Cary and Carol Campbell Thomas in East Cleveland, Caitlin Cary was raised with her half-brothers, Brian, Craig, and Keith Thomas, in East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. She began playing the violin at age six. She attended the College of...
- Keegan DeWittKeegan DeWittKeegan DeWitt is a film composer, singer-songwriter and actor raised in Lake Oswego, Oregon now residing in Brooklyn and Nashville.-Early life:...
- Courtney JayeCourtney Jaye- Biography :Courtney Jaye was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, when she was a freshman in high school. It was at this time she discovered The Grateful Dead and Neil Young, and also began to play the guitar. After becoming immersed in the bohemian culture, she...
- Bryan Cates
- Nate Snell
Members of Roman Candle have produced / performed on the following records
- Chris StameyChris StameyChris Stamey is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. After a stint playing with Alex Chilton, and a brief partnering with Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, he formed The dB's, whose stewardship he would share with Peter Holsapple.In 1977 in New York, Chris founded the...
: Travels in the South (Yep Roc Records 2003) - performed on album - Caitlin CaryCaitlin CaryCaitlin Cary is an alt-country musician.Born to Hall Cary and Carol Campbell Thomas in East Cleveland, Caitlin Cary was raised with her half-brothers, Brian, Craig, and Keith Thomas, in East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. She began playing the violin at age six. She attended the College of...
and Thad Cockrell: Begonias (Yep Roc Records 2005) - performed on album, wrote "Waiting in June" which appears on album. - Patrick ParkPatrick Park-Early life:Park grew up in Morrison, Colorado. He was exposed to the arts at an early age: his mother was a published poet, and his father was a doctor who enjoyed playing folk and blues records and the guitar at home...
: Everyone's in Everyone (Curb Appeal Records 2007) - performed on album - Keegan DeWittKeegan DeWittKeegan DeWitt is a film composer, singer-songwriter and actor raised in Lake Oswego, Oregon now residing in Brooklyn and Nashville.-Early life:...
: & the Sparrows (Dual Coast records 2007) - Produced and performed on album. - Members of the band have also performed on unreleased recordings by Ryan AdamsRyan AdamsDavid Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
, Chris Stamey and Peter HolsapplePeter HolsapplePeter Holsapple formed, along with Chris Stamey, the singing, songwriting, and guitar-playing core of the dB's, a jangle-pop band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He became the band's principal songwriter and singer after Stamey's departure. The dB's were at the forefront of the guitar bands...
, Thad Cockrell. - Members of the band have produced and engineered recordings by Thad Cockrell.
- The band has also twice toured nationally with the Indigo GirlsIndigo GirlsThe Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
.
Discography
- Oh Tall Tree in the Ear (Carnival Recording 2009)
- Why Modern Radio is A-OK ep (Carnival Recording / Mag-pie records, 2009)
- They Say ep (Carnival Recording / Mag-pie records, 2009)
- Eden was a Garden ep (Carnival Recording / Mag-pie records, 2008)
- The Wee Hours RevueThe Wee Hours RevueThe Wee Hours Revue is the major label debut album by American alternative rock band Roman Candle, released in 2006.- Background and production :...
(V2 Records, 2006)
- Says Pop (Outlook Music, 2002)