Fort Worth indie-rockers The Unlikely Candidates have signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records. “It’s pretty exciting,” said frontman Kyle Morris.
The quintet got noticed this past March at South By Southwest, playing a nonsanctioned midnight showcase at the Firehouse Hostel and Lounge on the Friday of the weeklong festival. “We played a very debaucherous, very drunk, very intense set to this full crowd,” Morris recalled. “We played one of the best shows we played in a while.” The Atlantic reps “dug it a lot. A couple of days later we were in New York. ”
In New York City, the band played a private showcase for Atlantic bosses and began the paperwork process. Morris said he’s not at liberty to divulge any of the details of the contract.
The five-year-old band of early twentysomethings also is putting the finishing touches on its debut album. Recorded at home facilities in Fort Worth, the yet-untitled long-player will be out “soon,” Morris said.
The Unlikely Candidates are about to embark on a radio tour but have a home date: next Friday, the 19th, at The Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge on the Near Southside as part of a pre-party for the Untapped Festival.
Along with Morris, rhythm guitarist Cole Ale, drummer Kevin Goddard, bassist Brent Carney, and lead guitarist Josiah Maughan have spent the past few days in celebration mode. Their previous South-By experience was spent performing on the streets.
Among others, Atlantic is home to Death Cab For Cutie, Portugal. The Man, and The Sheepdogs. And also Rush, Phil Collins, and Kid Rock. And also Wiz Khalifa, T.I., and Flo Rida. And also two recent Dallas-based signees: Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights and Snow Tha Product.
They’re really good. I’m not surprised at all that Atlantic picked them up. That’s fucking awesome. Atlantic never really signs people and then lets them fall away.
Waiting for impatiently for their LP, theiri EP is phenomenal. Best band I’ve discovered in a while.