As further proof that classic rock isn’t dead, may we present CANYON LIGHTS. “Breathe Easy” is the Boston trio’s debut LP, delivering an amped up heavy blues rock sound with a ’70s rock inspired direction. Friends and bandmates since 2018, co-founders guitarist / vocalist Pat Faherty and drummer Tim Carman had already made significant waves in their former band GA-20, with three albums that found their way to number one on Billboard’s blues chart.
Now with CANYON LIGHTS, they’re tapping into their mutual love of the relentless guitar-driven boogie of Mountain, Thin Lizzy, The James Gang and other ’70s classic rock stalwarts. ”Breathe Easy” features plenty of bluesy licks, but also colors outside the lines to incorporate elements of hard rock, a touch of psych, and a spoonful of soul that expand the pair’s musical palette in exciting ways.
In 2023, Pat and Tim began connecting over their mutual love of ’70s rock ‘n’ roll bands. Inspired by this era, Pat proposed the two work out some song ideas he had been playing with. At the same time, Tim revealed to Pat some personal lyrics he had held onto for years. The songwriting connection was instant and unique.
Pat and Tim realized that this was a new venture, not strictly blues and not confined to any lane of creativity. The two flew to Denver in early 2024 to put these sounds on tape with friend Dylan Brown at the helm as engineer and co-producer. From this session, Canyon Lights was born.
After finishing the album, which featured the bass guitar parts played by Pat on every track, the pair realized they needed a third member to cover the low end live. They reached out to friends in the music community for suggestions and one name kept turning up: Heather Gillis.
Pat and Tim flew to Nashville, TN to meet and jam with Heather, and the connection was instant. Gillis, a talented multi-instrumentalist, has extensive touring experience with artists like Butch Trucks and Lindsay Lou and also leads her own group called Wolf Twin.
Musically the band go for a classic power-trio style. Faherty’s playing is varied, incorporating bottleneck slide and crunchy, blues-based riffs; but that’s just one of the elements present on ”Breathe Easy”, where shades of ’70s hard rock and swampy boogie rock also find their way into the sound.
Carman anchors things dependably, driving the songs along with some creative fills and rhythms without getting overly showy.
Every track on ”Breathe Easy” has something to offer, but there are a few standout moments. The first three tracks (“Seventh Son,” “Late to the Ball,” and “Song Behind those Tears”) show off how much ground they can cover, something that’s emphasized by the quieter moments that arrive at the album’s halfway mark (“Drivin’ Me” and “Codeine and Caffeine”).
The record’s back half is no slouch, though: songs like “Movin’ Down,” “Blood Red Moon,” and the closing title track with its Zeppelin-meets-Cream jam continue to prove the diversity of the band’s songwriting and playing, covering different moods while retaining their own musical identity.
Canyon Lights’ mix of vintage and modern sounds give them plenty of potential directions to pursue in the future, particularly with the addition of new bass player Heather Gillis, who is able to play other instruments as well. It’s easy to imagine the band adding new layers into their instrumental mix, experimenting with additional genres, or simply focusing on honing their current sound.
”Breathe Easy” may be Canyon Lights’ first album, but it feels like the product of a thoroughly road-tested act. Faherty and Carman’s chemistry is effortless, infusing the tracks with an energy and confidence that many bands can’t match, especially on a debut.
The word is out on this new trio. And they’re only getting started…
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
01 - Seventh Son [00:02:27]
02 - Late to the Ball [00:03:22]
03 - Song Behind Those Tears [00:03:35]
04 - Let Me In [00:02:46]
05 - Drivin' Me (feat. Johnny Stachela) [00:04:34]
06 - Codeine and Caffeine [00:04:25]
07 - Running Wild [00:03:26]
08 - Movin' Down [00:03:29]
09 - Love Me Sweetly [00:03:06]
10 - Blood Red Moon [00:03:49]
11 - Take Care [00:00:29]
12 - Breathe Easy [00:03:53]
Canyon Lights – Breathe Easy – 2025
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