BY: DIGITAL WAX MEDIA STAFF

 

Rock trio Canyon Lights have just released their explosive new single — a live version of James Gang’s 1971 classic “Walk Away.” Recorded at 3rd Street Music in Hamilton, OH, the track captures the raw, loose, and high-voltage energy that has become Canyon Lights’ signature sound.

 

Drummer Tim Carman shared some insight into the inspiration behind the cover:

 

“We’re all big fans of James Gang and everything Joe Walsh. While touring as the opening act for George Thorogood, Pat, Heather, and I started playing ‘Walk Away’ live and wanted to capture that energy in the studio. Our version draws inspiration from a killer live video of the James Gang performing the song in 1971. It’s loose, gritty, and we aimed to channel that raw energy in our recording.”

 

The result is a scorcher of a performance that fuses classic ’70s rock swagger with a modern punch — a nod to the past without sounding stuck in it.

 

Canyon Lights is fronted by guitarist/vocalist Pat Faherty and drummer Tim Carman, both formerly of GA-20, the acclaimed Boston-based blues outfit known for three #1 Billboard Blues albums. With Heather Gillis on bass, the trio channels the spirit of bands like Mountain, Thin Lizzy, and of course, James Gang, while carving out their own lane in the modern rock landscape.

 

After touring the globe with GA-20, Faherty and Carman reconnected in 2023 over their mutual love of ‘70s rock and began writing what would eventually become the foundation for their new band. In early 2024, they traveled to Denver to record new material with engineer/co-producer Dylan Brown, and Canyon Lights was officially born.

 

“The songs on this album are among the most personal we’ve ever written and recorded,” said the band. “Spending 200 days a year on the road, struggling with separation and loss, the thrill and loneliness of living out of a suitcase… a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this album.”

 

The trio solidified with the addition of Heather Gillis, a respected multi-instrumentalist with touring credits including Butch Trucks and Lindsay Lou. The chemistry was immediate, and after recording a live version of their song “Seventh Son” together in Nashville, the lineup was set.

 

Since then, things have moved quickly. Following the release of “Seventh Son,” the band signed with Burning House Management and Madison House Booking, and hit the road with George Thorogood & The Destroyers. A second leg of dates is scheduled for later this summer.

 

In addition to “Walk Away,” the band has released three other singles — “Seventh Son,” “Breathe Easy,” and “Let Me In.” Their full-length debut album Breathe Easy is due out later this summer.

 

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