The Unlikely Candidates are a hook-driven indie rock band initially formed as an acoustic duo by childhood friends Kyle Morris and Cole Male in 2008. Eventually expanding the lineup to include guitarist Brenton Carney, bassist Jared Hornbeek, and drummer Kevin Goddard, the Fort Worth, Texas-based band was also able to expand its garage-kissed stadium rock sound in bigger, more sweeping directions. In 2013, the Unlikely Candidates signed on with major-label Atlantic and released their debut EP, Follow My Feet. In early 2016, they returned with the catchy single “Your Love Could Start a War,” which made a strong Billboard chart showing. Two EPs arrived from the group in 2017: the earworm-forward Bed of Liars and Danger to Myself. The band caught fire in 2019 with the release of the streaming hit “Novocaine,” which reached number one on the Alternative Songs chart. The sharp and melodic “High Low” and “Gemini” arrived the following year, with all three tracks appearing on the group’s 2022 full-length debut Panther Island.
