The Underground Railroad to Candyland

The Underground Railroad to Candyland is a San Pedro, California band led by Todd Congelliere, who also fronted F.Y.P and Toys That Kill and runs Recess Records. Congelliere's career goes back to 1989, when F.Y.P. released the Extra Credit EP, and he has been putting out records by himself and by like-minded bands on Recess ever since.

The group's songs are short, fast and heavy on group vocals, built from simple pop-punk structures recorded with a deliberately rough, lo-fi edge. Horns, keyboards and other stray instrumentation turn up alongside the guitars, and the arrangements tend to prioritise a shouted communal chorus over polish.

The band's releases have come out through Recess, keeping them close to the wider San Pedro punk circle Congelliere has documented for decades. Alongside Toys That Kill and a solo project, it represents the more melodic, matured side of his songwriting, part of a pop sensibility that has kept sharpening the longer he has kept at it.