The Connells: The Original Boylan Heights Digests



		The Connells - Boylan Heights Digest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights is a digest that Art Jipson has been putting out for a while now. There have been 11 issues of the digest that have been archived. Boylan Heights Issue #1 Boylan Heights Issue #2 Boylan Heights Issue #3 Boylan Heights Issue #4 Boylan Heights Issue #5 Boylan Heights Issue #6 Boylan Heights Issue #7 Boylan Heights Issue #8 Boylan Heights Issue #9 Boylan Heights Issue #10 Boylan Heights Issue #11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #1 --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1993 Fun and Games Productions Volume One, Issue One --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The manager of this list, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Subscription/removal requests. Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Hey folks! At this point we have over thirty members on the list. Thanks to Matt Tomech who assisted in the birth of "Boylan Heights." Kudos should also go to Ann Shea for her e-mail expertise. Thanks also go to all of you! Thanks for making what seemed like the craze of a fucking fanatic seem less insane. I guess I should say a few things, so: editorially speaking--I'm not going to doctor what people write. You write what you want to and I'll put it in. Unless the submission is subhuman, an example will demonstrate--"I...er rel lik th cunnols." Don't worry about spelling or margins. I will simply take your message and paste it in this is not some stuffy academic journal (YIKES!). Another thing --I am dying for--Boots! Does anyone have any bootlegs to sell or trade. I have searched six different cities (Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Chicago, Madison, Cleveland, and Ann Arbor) to no avail. I think the Connells have yet to record a record that does justice to their live sound. There must be boots out there somewhere. Even posting info. and such on existing boots would be nirvana (oops, I don't think that phrase is hip anymore). Once again, let me put in a plug for submitting things. We have a lot of subscriber and we can do a lot with this digest--so send the stuff in. Hey People, do me a favor? When people go to see the Connells, and if you get a chance to talk to mike, tell him "Hi!" from Art. I told him some of us were going to start this list and he seemed kind of surprised. I asked him what we should call it and he wasn't sure what was a good name.... Take Care and as the Great American philosopher Pee Wee Herman has said: "Shalam!" "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell Art --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Well, I have heard from many of you. And I am happy to see people are out there who love the Connells as much as I do. I have a lot of interview to transcribe but here is the first segment: Interview with MIchael Connell on the Afternoon of 10-13-93. Full Transcription--Part One by Art Jipson I drove up to Cincinnati the Afternoon before the band was to play at Bogarts near the University of Cincinnati campus. I was unsure what to expect. I have to admit that I was scared. I have only interviewed a few musicans and because I am a huge fan, I was really nervous. However, there was no reason for me to be nervous. Mike answered the door to the hotel room that he and David shared with a smile. Throughout the interview he was kind, patient, and funny. I spent an hour and a half talking to Mike while David worked on a painting in the corner. 1. How does Ring Compare to other records that you have worked on (Word, Fun and Games, Boylan Heights) how would you compare them? Michael Connell (MC): I think that this comes a little closer to what we've been trying to accomplish for the last few years since Boylan Heights which was the second record. Maybe in some ways we've refined what we've done with the last two records and I just like this group of songs better. It might be nothing more than that--liking this particular assortment of songs. But I think that the feel of the record is a little more relaxed. That might have more to do with production alone and to some extent the performances in the studio. But because the feel of the record is more relaxed, I've had an easier time listening to this one, I've had some problems with Fun and Games and One Simple Word. I think that there is a certain frantic quality at times to Fun and Games. I think that if we could rerecord some of those songs we could do a much better job with them. Tempos might be too fast...that sort of thing. With One Simple Word, the record to me doesn't have much to do with what we sound like live. That was one of my problems with that record. I think I like the lyrics better for this record. We're getting more to the face of things. I think that things seem a little more focused, the lyrics are a little more self-evident. They're Still pretty vague and ambiguous but not as much so its a little clearer what's going on within the songs. They're a little more coherent or hang together a little better than the last couple of records. 2. How would you characterize the songs? Relationship songs? MC: Yeah, on the whole I would say personal experience songs. Hopefully, a couple of universal themes work there way in but we've never been much of a band for tackling political or social issues. I think that it's because that for me, personally, I feel uncomfortable trying to soapbox trying to address things that I am not well equiped to address. 3. You mentioned that you thought the new record is more refined. How would you say that the record is more refined? MC: I think that what I meant by that was that the arrangements were a little tighter. We have a clearer sense of what we want to do with a 3 and a ahlf minute or 4 minute song. More than anything, the arrangements are tighter and the parts are tighter. We're learning to lay off where in the past we've tried to fill gaps. A group of guys figuring out what works best for them. 4. It seems that there are some changes in the band. Your singing more and some shifting on the songwriting chores. How would you characterize changes in the band? MC: Well, I think that the way the songs breakdown is nothing more than a function of...we throw all the songs on the table and the band, the producer, and our manager Ed, we all decide which songs work best together. Even though George has just one song on the record there were still more of my songs that were recorded than rejected. There is nothing political going on, its more just trying to figure out which group of songs make the most sense together. 5. This record also has the addition of Steve Potak on Keyboards. Is he a Connell? MC: He's not part of the incorporated. Which means he's free to go on and pursue other things without having TVT reign him in. A couple of years ago he started playing out live with us. I guess he is a defacto member of the band. 6. Where did you meet Steve? MC: He knew George in High School. He's a native of Raleigh. More lately he was good friends with the brother of the woman David married. MC: David is that the way it worked? David Connell (DC): Well, actually, he was working at the music store where I bought my equipment and was the one that suggested, because we were looking for a keyboard player, that we try him out since he was eager to do it for some reason. MC: And he looks perfectly normal, nothing threatening about Steve. 7. Tell me about working with Lou Giordano. He worked with Zuzu's Petals, Sugar...Why Lou Giordano? MC: The band was taken with that last Sugar record that he produced with Bob Mould? AJ: The Beaster record or Copper Blue? MC: Copper Blue. We met Lou when we were making Fun and Games. He had things going on at Fort Apache where Gary Smith was producing our record. That connection had something to do with it. Talking to him and talking to people that he worked with before. It became evident that he was an easy going guy. In a lot of cases that in the end is the most important criteria. Someone that, espcially Doug, can feel comfortable around. I don't think that Doug was especially comfortable while we were making One Simple Word. This time we were going to find someone who would let Doug take a more relaxed approach to singing the songs. With One Simple Word I think that Hugh Jones expected a real performance on every song. And Doug has a tendency at least on parts of songs to want to "half-ass" on songs. And we thought that Lou would be more amenable to that approach. AJ: More open? MC: Doug would be doing a take on a song and hugh would be "no, no, you've got to emote!" In some instances, the vocals, the deliveries are more forced than any of us would have liked. When we're working up a song, I might tell Doug "that you might consider going falsetto here instead of going full voice." That sort of thing. Try this falsetto. And we have parts of songs where Doug would hit a falsetto but Hugh does not like falsetto, so that wont do. "No, no falsetto you've got to sing it full voice." As a consequence I think that some of the vocals [on Word] sound a little strained or forced. AJ: Yeah, I can see that. On a couple of songs on Word its almost like all of a sudden there's gravel in Doug's voice. It's like Umphf. I'm pulling from the diagphram now. MC: Exactly, exactly. 8. You've guys have worked with a number of producers. You worked with Mitch Easter. What was that Like? MC: It was great. Our first experience with recording hadn't gone necessarilly so well. We had only been together a few months when we went in to make Darker Days. Don Dixon was realizing that we had serious time constraints because of the amount of money that we had--we were financing the thing ourselves, so we had a weekend here and a weekend there. He knew he had to take the bull by the horns and lead us through the thing. So, he didn't field a whole lot of suggestions with the band. But with Mitch it was everything we could do to get him to make suggestions. "You guys just do the things that you feel comfortable doing and that is more or less the way things sort themselves out. " We went in and started playing and only if he thought that we were really getting off track with something would he speak up or if we asked him "What do you think about this?" would he have some suggestions. His appraoch was to let us do what we felt comfortable with and he would capture it and try to make sense of it after everything is on tape. So, the atmosphere was really good for Boylan Heights. The record sounded far better than it ended up--something happened in the mastering process. I still don't know what TVT did when they got hold of the tapes from Mitch. But to this day Mitch will say that that was a much better sounding record until it was out of his possession. Something happened in mastering that was...I don't know enough about what goes on in mastering to be able to say what exactly happened. AJ: Some kind of engineering problem? MC: I guess, I don't know TVT wanting a particular sound and maybe asking the person who was mastering... AJ: Correct me if I am wrong. Or feel free to just say "I don't want to answer that." But it seems that a number of bands seem to have problems with TVT. Distribution problems and Organizational problems. I spoke with some people at Black Park in between the last two records and it seems that I got a sense of frustration with dealing with TVT. End of Part One. I also called Sharon at Black Park and she gave me the following tour dates: Nov. 3 Reno 5 Ventura 7 Phoenix 8 Tucson 9 Santa Fe 11 Dallas 12 Huston 13 Austin More dates to come. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== From: Winston Subject: Connells To: Connells Mailing Admin Does anyone on the list have the lyrics for One Simple Word? (the album, not the song.) I posted a notice on AOL about this list, so hopefully the list should get a few members from there. It's great to finally have a place to discuss one of the greatest and most underated bands of all time. First of all, does anyone have any tour dates? I saw them about 10 during the last school year, and they just kept getting better and better, but I don't think that they've been anywhere nearer than Atlanta lately. I'm curious, where is everyone from, and how big are the Connells there? In Alabama, they have a lot of fans. I guess that's why I got to see them so many times last year. ---------- "The crows were calling his name, thought caw." -- Stephen Wright ---------- <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> << winston h. baccus mac assoc. v.p. e-mail: wbaccus1@ua1vm.ua.edu >> << the university of alabama in tuscaloosa..R O L L T I D E R O L L >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== To: Jipson Art From: Pauline Petersen Date: Thu, Nov 4, 1993 1:39 PM Hello! my name is pauline and i have been a connells fan for a long, long time....i first got into the band when "over there" was a single because the ultra-cool station by my house used to play it all the time. i was totally hooked so i bought the album. when "fun.." came out, "something..." always used to be on the radio (same station of course), so i bought that too. then, freshman year in college (5 years ago) i met these guys in the dining hall who were going to see them-they took me with them, and the rest, as they say, is history. i really haven't encountered anything like seeing them in concert. most bands are totally cut off from their fans, but everytime i go to see them, they are right there, hanging out at the bar. i've talked to them or said hello a couple of times (it was about as much as i could get out after grabbing my friends arm and squeeking-oh my god, thats george and peele!), they've always been really nice and they are so good live. its a great feeling to go see them-first because if you can talk a friend into going, they get totally hooked after seeing them and there is one more fan for life, and second, because everyone is there because they've discovered a really great band. i'm really surprised that more people haven't caught on-it's always the same bunch of us that go see them. (at least we don't have to fight for tickets...). i couldn't tell you my favorite album-it depends on what mood i'm in. my favorite songs are "another souvenir", "home today", "over there", "inside my head" and "uninspired". actually, it's safe to say i like them all. i'm really glad that this list now exists (thank you art) because it will be great to discuss them with people who are into them as much as me. as of 11/3, there are no confirmed dates in n.j.,n.y. or p.a. (i called carolina)-i'll keep you posted! later! =========================================================== ===================== To: Jipson Art From: Winston So, I'd like to hear some opinions about Ring. Is there anyone else out there who doesn't think that this album is nearly as good as One Simple Word? I think that the guys did a good job on the album, but they failed to capture the raw energy that they have live. I do love "Slackjawed" "Doin' You" and "Hey You" a lot, but there's a distince differece in the way these songs sound live and on the album. My main gripe is that Doug's vocals are toned down a little too much. It's like he doesn't want to use his full vocal ability like he does live. Some of the harmonies were lost in the studio. One of these days, the Connells will inevitable be a huge band, popularity wise, but this is not the album that will break then, IMHO. Does anyone out there have any boots of the Connells? I'd give about anything for a copy!!! ---------- "Well the steel in his strings, cuts into his fingers, and the lines that are left, he knows so well." -- The Connells ---------- <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> << winston h. baccus mac assoc. v.p. e-mail: wbaccus1@ua1vm.ua.edu >> << the university of alabama in tuscaloosa..R O L L T I D E R O L L >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> To: Jipson Art From: glenn mcdonald Date: Mon, Nov 8, 1993 10:29 AM I had just put on _Ring_ and started up NewsWatcher to check alt.music.alternative when I saw your announcement. Sign me up! The Connells are amazing, and _Ring_ is wonderful. On an interesting side note, I was flipping past ESPN 2 over the weekend and they were doing their strange-sports/music-videos segment, showing windsurfers to the melodious strains of the Connells! Something from _Fun and Games_, I forget which song. glenn =========================================================== ===================== end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue One ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: Art Jipson jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "There's a difference between being alone and being lonely." - The Buck Pets "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #2 // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1993 Fun and Games Productions Volume One, Issue Two --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==--==- -==- Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --> jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu <-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- The manager of this list, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Subscription/removal requests. Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page We have some responses to the Boots question! Does anyone have any bootlegs to sell or trade. I have searched six different cities (Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Chicago, Madison, Cleveland, and Ann Arbor) to no avail. I think the Connells have yet to record a record that does justice to their live sound. There must be boots out there somewhere. Even posting info. and such on existing boots would be nirvana (oops, I don't think that phrase is hip anymore). My favorites are, in order: 1) Boylan Heights, 2)Fun and Games, 3) One Simple Word, 4) Ring, 5) Darker Days. My all time fave Connells song would have to be: "Something to say" followed close behind by "I Suppose," "Scotty's Lament," "Over there," and "One Simple Word." Do any of you think that there are several bands coming out of the UK that utilize similar song and harmony structures? Once again, let me put in a plug for submitting things. We have a lot of subscriber and we can do a lot with this digest--so send the stuff in. Especially the guitar and music information!! My Continuing favor: Hey People, do me a favor? When people go to see the Connells, and if you get a chance to talk to mike, tell him "Hi!" from Art. I told him some of us were going to start this list and he seemed kind of surprised. I asked him what we should call it and he wasn't sure what was a good name.... "And there are fairweather friends, And there are fools besides us, Who relearn every turn and twist somehow" -M. Connell --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==--==- -==- Interview with MIchael Connell on the Afternoon of 10-13-93. Full Transcription--Part Two by Art Jipson AJ: Correct me if I am wrong. Or feel free to just say "I don't want to answer that." But it seems that a number of bands seem to have problems with TVT. Distribution problems and Organizational problems. I spoke with some people at Black Park in between the last two records and it seems that I got a sense of frustration with dealing with TVT. MC: Yeah its been a lot of frustrating things over the last several years. Now that things are better, everyone's making a concerted effort, I guess I am supposed to be toeing the line. Things are much better, they really are, TVT gave us artist administered fund. Saying here is the money you guys do what you want with it. So, we were able to choose to Lou Giordano and choose the studio. We were able to do all the art work our selves. And they were good to their word didn't involve themselves at any point in the process. Only now in trying to promote the record. So, Things are definitely better but over the years things have not necessarily gone so well. The threatened lawsuit and all that stuff. I guess last December realizing that it was a matter of patching things up with them or...if we wanted to put out a record we would have to patch things up. So, since then things have definitely been better. AJ: Let me go back to some changes. You are singing two songs, lead. Waiting my turn was the song on Word? MC: Right. AJ: Here you take lead on Burden which is a much different song than Waiting my turn. Are you feeling more comfortable with lead or do you want your treatment? MC: Something like that. Any time someone who writes a song turns it over to someone else to sing something changes in the translation. Given my limitaitons as a vocalist, the vast majority of the time, Doug takes what I hand over to him and makes it his own but with a couple of songs, especially of a more personal nature...I started thinking that it might not make...that I would give them to Doug and something was just missing it seemed to me. Fuck it--despite the fact that I can't really sing, I'm going to sing these songs. I can't say that I'm especially comfortable singing--cringe when I hear... AJ: Do you cringe when you hear yourself singing? MC: Yeah, the vocals are so nasal. AJ: You seem to have a higher register when you sing. Like a first tenor or something? Doug's voice does the same thing. You do seem to make a higher leap then he does. MC: Yeah, there's not a whole lot of...there's no gravel or anything like that. I don't know how to characterize my vocals, I just know that I do end up singing in a higher register. After Darker Days I think...that part of my problems with Darker Days is how low Doug sings on that. I became very conscious of that after that record. Every song that I've written subsequent to those songs--getting it in a key where Doug would have to sing in a higher register. AJ: I would comment that on '74-'75 he pulls down a bit. Especially when he uses his vibrato. MC: Yeah! Songs like Holding Pattern! AJ: Wouldn't part of the low singing be a result of a learning process? MC: Yeah, he didn't know what he wanted to sound like at that point. He really didn't know what his own voice was at that point. I think that's what happened between Darker Days and Boylan Heights was that he finally realized that he had his own voice and he didn't necessarily have to sound like...not that he was trying to sound like anyone person on Darker Days maybe a composite of some people. He found his voice more on Boylan Heights and each record he makes some strides. I am a lot less critical of Doug's studio performamces after trying to sing in the studio, it was alot harder than I imagined. AJ: How do you guys record in the studio? MC: We're definitely not a one take studio band. There's a good bit of patching up. End of Part Two. In case you are wondering this will be a multi-part transcription of the interview.--Art =========================================================== ===================== TO: Boylan Heights From: Brent Daniel Date: Mon, Nov 8, 1993 2:51 PM Subject: Connells regions of interest... Someone asked about where everyone is from, and how popular the Connells are there.. I'm from NC, so obviously there are a few more fans here than in other areas. Anyway, I was reading CMJ the other day, which has a breakdown of the most played albums in the south (basically the southeast and texas), east (northeastern states), west, and north. THe Connells fared about the same in the south, east, and north, but failed to show up in the west. As far as Connells bootlegs, there is at least one in existance somewhere, I think. A couple of years ago, someone I met over the net was going to send me a copy of one, but for some reason I never got around to sending for it (ack).. I think it was just an audience recording someone did rather than an official boot, though.. Brent =========================================================== ===================== *Hey, does anyone know more about this? I desire access to any and all Boots! Also has anyone put together a discography or somethin'--Art =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: markinla@aol.com Date: Fri, 12 Nov 93 18:31:46 EST Subject: Connells Digest Thanks for the publication...enjoyed receiving the first version. I've just recently discovered the Connells thru Ring. And do I ever like them.. Strangely, I don't really care for much of their older stuff tho I know lots of people do. I spoke to Mike Connell in Ventura before their show and he said he was not surprized that I didn't like the older stuff. And that "Ring" is really the kind of warm fuzzy guitar sound they've been searching for. Anyway, keep me on your list. =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: David.S.King@cc.gettysburg.edu Date: Fri, Nov 12, 1993 1:29 AM Subject: Connells Fan my name is dave and I'm currently living in a Connells deprived area and I need info. I'm orginally from Va, were everyone knows about the Connells, and I'm at a school in Pennslvanyia where no one has heard of them since everyone is from way up north. I was wondering if I could get ANY info on tour dates in the mid atlantic area, like Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philly, etc... I've seen them live many times and can't get home for their concert in Norfolk Va. on Nov. 29th. That sucks! Please send me anything you can. By the way, I noticed that MTV has finnaly started to notice real talent. They played the Connells. I was watching about 12:45 in the morning a couple nights ago when they played Slackjawed. It's about time a great band got some notice outside certain regions. My adress is s267480@gettysburg.edu dave king s267480@gettysburg.edu =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: markinla@aol.com Date: Fri, Nov 12, 1993 10:14 PM Subject: L.A. Weekly review of Ring The L.A. Weekly of 11/12 had the following review of "Ring" by Michael Lipton: "Why the Connells aren't big time pop stars is a mystery to me. Either these North Carolinians are brillant strategists, waiting for precisely the right moment to stroll into the spotlight, or they are a casualty of a business that celebrates imitation more often than originality. Either way, Ring is clearly the release that should send them charging into the fray. Through the course of four indie LPs (with increasingly high-profile producers), the band has been refining a style that combines a fancy for the melody and harmony of Beatles/XTC-style pop with the exuberance of jangly American rock & roll. Rarely failing to land a tune on college charts, the band has added to its following by tirelessly supporting each release on the road. Building on a recipe that yielded earlier tunes like "Fun & Games" and "Stone Cold Yesterday", "Slackjawed" bolts out of the gate with the kind of magical uplifting energy that sounds fresh no matter how many times you cue it up. A guitar filled song as made-for-radio as Tom Petty's "American Girl" or Dwight Twilley's "I'm on Fire" it alone is worth the price of the CD. Then check out the glorious harmonies on "Carry my Picture" and the 12-stringed Byrds-influenced "Burden". Band namesake and guitarist-vocalist Mike Connell (brother David plays bass) has always contributed the most substantial cuts, but this time around he's tapped a certain magic that sets his work apart from the good but ordinary tunes penned by his bandmates. Within the more than 50 minutes of music, the few non-Connells tunes (lumped together mid-CD) are, for the most part, little more than filler. Where earlier discs floundered momentarily between art and pop, Ring not only rarely digresses, but the more ambitious efforts often crystallize into pure elegance. With help from producer Lou Giordano (Sugar, Elevnth Dream Day), the acoustic "Spiral" recalls the delicate beauty of "Waiting my Turn" (from One Simple Word). With echoes of Alex Chilton's Big Star or Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple and their dBs, the Connells continue to mature without stagnating or growing complacent. No question about it, this one goes on my top 10 list. =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Todd Harris Date: Sun, Nov 7, 1993 10:33 AM Subject: Connells Mailing List Sign me up! I've been hooked ever since I first heard Scotty's Lament. Born and raised in the Connell Country of Raleigh, N.C. I've since moved to Atlanta but continue to be a big fan. So far I've seen the group at: Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill N.C. '89 Characters, Greenville, S.C. '91 Lassiter High School Football Field, GA '91 Lakewood Amphitheatre, Sonic Sunday, Atlanta, GA '92 Characters, Greenville, S.C. '92 Masquerade, Atlanta GA '93 Thanks. todd harris@AtlantaGA.NCR.COM =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Pauline Petersen Date: Wed, Nov 10, 1993 1:18 PM Subject: I got the info. hello there, art! here are some prime little tidbits that you might want to pass along...i called black park 11/9 and this is what they had so far... please excuse spelling and in most cases i only caught the city and part of the club name (if i wrote them at all!) at least people will have an idea of the cities- november 26- norfolk 27- d.c. (wuszt?) 30-allenton, pa (zodiac) 1-philly (chestnut) 2-boston 3-providence (strand) 4-n.y. (irving plaza) 5-new haven (toads place) 8-newark, de (stone balloon) 9-pittsburgh (graffitti) 10-buffalo (icon) 11-cleveland 12-detroit 13-15 working on booking dates' 16-minneapolis the girl who answered the phone was really cool-she said the mailing list is going out soon and to keep your eyes open because they'll be on the "conan show" (whoever replaced letterman??) on the 26th at 12:30 a.m. EST. they will probably appear around 1 a.m. or so. yahoo!! hope this helps.... later, pauline p.s. i'll be in allentown on 11/30 and philly 12/1 so if you're traveling to go, let me know!! =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Jack P Loose Date: Sun, Nov 14, 1993 7:34 PM Subject: Connells Well, You want to know where I'm from and where I heard of the Connells? I'm originally from Huntsville, Alabama. Right now I abode at the loveliest little village on the plains, Auburn. I got into the Connells right after Fun and Games was released. One of my sisters had mentioned them as a band I might like (her old boyfriend had met the band and talked for a time while they were setting up for a show somewhere around here). On a whim, having never heard the band, I bought the CD a few weeks later when I saw it in the store. To this day it's still my favorite album. I just got Ring and enjoy it alot too. Somehow One Simple Word didn't do to much for me though. What's your favorite album? My favorites in order: 1)Fun and Games 2)Boylan Heights 3)Ring 4)Word 5)Darker Days. Later, Scott Loose No, I don't have a .sig, so quit bothering me about it. - me =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: dudeboat@aol.com Date: Sun, Nov 14, 1993 4:14 PM Subject: Connells I Would like to get on to the Connells mailing list, which Winston 18 is advertising on AOL. Particularly interested in NY/Toronto tour dates. Also, please settle argument: is band name pronounced with accent on second syllable (as claimed by Mike C's fiance), or first syllable (as espoused by Winston18 and Toronto DJs)? =========================================================== ===================== A really good question! I haven't given it much thought. I have heard people pronounce it both ways. I am usually more interested in trying to get them more radio airplay, pronouncement of the the name is beside the point--I would rather that people hear the music! Has anyone out there asked one of the Connells? You know about Mike's fiance? We need more details--who is she? What does she do? Etc.... -Art =========================================================== ===================== Send stuff in--reviews, commentary, pronouncements...anything to do with the Connells. Take care and until next time.... end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Two ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "There's a difference between being alone and being lonely." - The Buck Pets "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #3 // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1993 Fun and Games Productions Volume One, Issue Three --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==--==- -==- Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --> jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu <-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- The manager of this list, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Subscription/removal requests. Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Sorry for the tardiness but school has hit me hard. I have tons of stuff to grade and finals to make...blah...blah...blah. Thanks to the people who have sent stuff in. The digest is only as good as you make it. And, hey sooner or later I am bound to run out of interview, then what do we do? So, this is my pitch for sending those ideas, questions, and thangs in. By the way, we still have not resolved the dilemma about pronunciation. Should we call Black Park or somethin'? Wellllll, by now everyone has seen or heard about the performace on Conan O'Brien's version of the late night program on NBC. I have to say that I liked the performance. Yes, the band was nervous. Yes, everytime Doug looked at the camera he freaked. But the band was tight and I think that they "hit it hard!" I have the performance on audio tape and video if people are interested in trades or somethin'. Remaining Tour dates: today the 8th Newark, DE Stone Balloon 9 Pittsburgh, PA Graffiti Showcase 10 Buffalo, NY The Icon 11 Cleveland, OH Draft House 12 Detroit,MI St. Andrews Hall 15 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall 16 MInneapolis, MN First Avenue That's all the tour dates that I have. My guess would be that they are breaking for the holidays after that. Has anybody gotten some info? In this issue: 1. The continuing interview with Mike...HA! It's never going to end! 2. Darker Days bottom...why? 3. Josh, Doin' You, and Fun and Games 4. On Conan with Winston 5. On Conan with Dean 6. Review of the boys with Bryan "And there are fairweather friends, And there are fools besides us, Who relearn every turn and twist somehow" -M. Connell --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Interview with Michael Connell on the Afternoon of 10-13-93. Full Transcription--Part Three by Art Jipson AJ: How do you guys record in the studio? MC: We're definitely not a one take studio band. There's a good bit of patching up that has to be done, some operation. Lou's approach was to have Doug sing a song four or five times and then make a composite of that. Most of the rhythm tracks Peele and Dave get in one take, David sometimes has to go back in and punch in some bass lines or some parts of bass lines. Some of my rough tracks for rhythm guitar were kept. But it is more of the layered approach. Starting with bass and drums and then building on top of that. And I'm pretty certain that over the years with Doug its been a matter of piecing together the parts from various takes. AJ: Do you like it on the road? MC: Yeah! Its sort of a day to day proposition. Some days, some nights shows go really well and you remember why you started doing this in the first place. AJ: Let me ask--why did you start doing this in the first place? MC: Well, initially it was something to do that was a distraction from school. It was something that I always wanted to do and found that during my second year of law school that I suddenly had a lot more time than I had the year before. I started writing songs and I though that a band would be a nice outlet for some of these songs that I'd been writing and why not give it a whirl. I was thinking that maybe in the third year of law school that we could be playing at parties or bars in the area. So, I spent about a year getting the band into place and then in the Fall of '84 we started playing out soon after Peele joined the band. With our first drummer things just never really coalesced. We needed to be playing out. AJ: Who was the first drummer? MC: John Shultz--a guy who introduced Doug to the rest of us. They had been friends from childhood and he was going to school at Chappel Hill like David and myself. He's now at in Los Angeles with a group of our friends and their all involved in the movie industry to some extent. AJ: Well, I'm sorry I interupted you, you were talking about touring. MC: Tours like this are generally more enjoyable simply because the new record is out. There's a certain optimist with each record--that this one will do better than the one before. It will be radio friendly that things will improve. AJ: It seems to me that you are getting quite a bit of radio play off of slackjawed in Southern Ohio. MC: It seems to be. We get new numbers Wednesday. It seems to be improving. The record itself is now in the Gavin chart--the top ten chart for Rolling Stone. AJ: The video play on 120 minutes can't hurt. Don't they take their top ten chart from there. MC: Yeah, last week we found out that we've gone charging onto the Billboard charts at 199. AJ: You've got to start somewhere. Think of Tommy Stinson. Friday Night is Killing Me didn't crack the top 200. They toured like crazy... MC: I look at Westerberg's record and wonder why it didn't do better. I saw that it was 180-170 range on Billboard. But that was a band that I always thought never really got their due. AJ: Would you consider yourself a replacements fan? MC: Absolutely! One of my biggest thrills over the years was a stint that we got opening for the replacements. That was at the tailend of their career but still some of those shows were just amazing. I had seen some of their earlier...I guess the first time I saw those guys was in '83/'84 right around the time that Let it Be had come out. That was an explosive show. I think that Bob Stinson...They just sort of exploded or imploded. Westerberg just fell flat on his guitar. He broke the neck that night. He collapsed and they got him back up with another guitar. It was amazing. AJ: When you look around, not just in the alternative scene, but what kind of musical contemporaries do you like...a song or an album? MC: Over the last year or so I have been listening to Teenage Fanclub--Bandwagonesque, Matthew Sweet-Girlfriend, the last replacements record, the Westerberg record. Soul Asylum, but I don't listen to them as much because I can hear them everywhere. I saw Bill Sullivan, their tour manager, in Ralleigh after they played the white house and right before we left [for this tour] in this coffee house in Ralleigh and Sullivan's brother started the thing. So, he spends some time down there. His brother said, "Bill's in the next room, you should go talk to him." And Bill was like, "Yeah, we just got done playing the White house and we are going to Europe in a few weeks." AJ: Let me ask the inverse, although you don't have to respond, is there some stuff that you just can't stand musically? MC: Long Pause. I couldn't say that I was a big ugly kid Joe fan. All these bands are going to occur to me after you leave. David, can you think of anyone. DC: I don't... AJ: I was reading an old article in alternative press and there was a quote there about "New Stream" music. [MC starts to laugh] What the hell is "New Stream" music? MC: Laughs. That is Doug being asked a question that he has no patient with. Someone asked him to characterize our music by what genre we fit into. He throws out the first thing that comes to mind to shut them up. AJ: It almost sounds like a fishing allegory to me. MC: He loves fishing. Doug has no patience for questions like that. It starts showing up in reviews and stuff. There's no new stream. Doug is a much better interview than I am. AJ: No, this is fine. MC: That's just Doug. AJ: You tend to have the majority of songs on the record. And you describe how songs are picked--a democratic process. How do you approach writing a song. Do you write the music first? MC: Typically, I just sit and work with an acoustic guitar and start streaming chords together. A melody occurs to me to make sense of random chords thrown together. Its rare that I will have all of the parts of a song figured out in one sitting. I might have a chorus, or something that seems to me might be a chorus for a song and I'll have it on tape somewhere. And then three or four months later I will come up with a part of a song in a different key and think "this sounds to me like a verse." And then I will go back and listen to all the tapes and now if I were to alter the pacing a little bit of this part and put them in the same key--would these parts fit together. And that's the way it works which is probably not the best way to go about writing songs. I think it is best if you can come sit down and come up with bridge, verse, and chorus all in one sitting and it happens that way every now and again. But more often than not I have all these parts of songs...tons of parts of songs. And at some point starting to bring it together and trying to make sense of these different parts. The vocal melody and the chord progression which come together first and then the lyrics come at the tailend of everything. AJ: I've read that you don't write on the road, that you don't compose on the road...is that true? MC: Yeah, for some reason...I've never had any luck with that. In some ways that's unfortunate because that's a lot of time that goes by without trying to come up with new material. I am sure that if I applied myself I could come up with something but I let myself off. AJ: Down Time! You need down time! You can't be constantly working. MC: Laughs. AJ: I would think that going from city to city would be kind of disconcerting. MC: Yeah, its kind of disruptive. Now, with more and more of us settling down. Three of the guys in the band are married and I'm engaged. AJ: Congratulations! MC: Thanks. So, we are a bunch of homebodies, so getting out is a little...there's a certain sense of dislocation. Tours like this one because it makes more sense to be out on the road, it's a little easier to swallow having to be out for six or seven weeks. It's so essential, we're not the sort of band that can go into a studio and hope that records sell themselves. We have no choice but to get out and promote the things. AJ: Do you have a favorite song on the record? MC: Yeah, '74/'75 might be my favorite song. But I do like Doug's song Any Day Now quite a bit. And David's song I like. DC: Oh, yeah... ALL LAUGH AJ: Tactfully done, diplomatic. I remember that You guys were in Downtown Toledo a few years ago. I believe that the song was at that time called "Dave." DC: It didn't have a name, it didn't have lyrics. MC: That's right. Doug, and Dave and I were demo-ing that song in Winston, Salem with Scott Tim Harper whose our soundman. And he had a lot to do with the way our songs came together. But Doug, and Dave and I, Doug knew he was going to have to sing that song that night so the three of us just sat down and one of us would throw out one line...so if the song makes any sense at all... AJ: That's interesting because I think that its a very cohesive song when I listen to it. DC: You do? MC: I think that at some point we were all keyed into where we were headed with the song. End of Part Three. In case you are wondering this will be a multi-part transcription of the interview.--Art =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Brent Daniel Date: Tue, Nov 16, 1993 5:48 PM Subject: Darker Days Hmm.. It seems that Darker Days occupies the bottom of most people's favorites list. Is this mainly a function of the vocals? I think Darker Days has the best instrumental work of any of their albums, really. If they were to go back and re-record this album with better vocals, it would be -incredible- (not that their other albums aren't). Anyway, I guess my list would go: 1) Fun & Games 2) One simple word 3) Darker Days, Boylan Heights (tie..heh). I can't put Ring on there yet.. I've listened to the others so many times that they've had a chance to really grow on me.. It would probably be at 2 or 3, though. Hmm.. Have the connells ever released any singles? I've never seen one in any store, and havn't seen any promo singles at a couple of different radio stations.. Ack.. I have yet to see the video for Slackjawed.. I guess I have to watch more MTV (as scary as that is..) The video for Stone Cold Yesterday got decent airplay when it came out.. Get a Gun was virtually ignored (rightfully so, I guess..) Anyway, does anyone know of any other videos? I remember seeing short clips of different videos back when mtv interviewed Doug, but have never seen them played.. (oh, and I still have the interview with doug on tape, if anyone wants a transcription - it's definitely not enlightening or anything. Doug spends most of the interview mumbling to himself..) Brent =========================================================== ===================== So, has anybody seen any singles? I can't even track down a single for slackjawed. I am waiting to see if my semi-cool record store can get it. But I don't even know if it really exists for sure. Yes send the interview...mumbling or not let's put it on the list. Damn I don't need to have the only interview on this thing. Hey, why do you think get a gun was RIGHTFULLY IGNORED? I like that song.... Art =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Josh Gulley Date: Thu, Nov 18, 1993 1:21 PM Subject: Connells list Art- Glad to see someone has taken the initiative to start up a Connells list on the Internet!! I just saw them last week in Santa Fe, NM and they were quite good. Unfortunately, there wasn't much of a crowd at the show. (In fact, I got in for $3.50) Probably had to do with the fact that Pearl Jam was playing a sold out show in Albuquerque the same night. I heard Peele was saying that they have inadvertently been following Pearl Jam around for the last few weeks and attendence at their shows has been kinda low. They have been receiving pretty good airplay around here so it was a shame to not see more people there. They played a killer acoustic version of DOIN' YOU on a local radio station a few hours before the show and I was lucky enough to tape it! Some quick background on me....I am originally from Peoria, IL and I went school at the U of Iowa in Iowa City. This is where I first got into the Connells, seeing them live at an outdoor festival during FUN & GAMES tour. I came to New Mexico for further schooling and was disappointed to find a lack of following for the band. I've been doing my best to promote them and I think I've got a few converts! I think RING is quite good, but admit I had to listen several times before I fell in love with it. Well, I've taken up enough space for now. If people are interested, I can say a little something about the Santa Fe show. I could probably remember what songs they played (by looking at my CDs), but not the correct order. Until next time..... josh gulley jmg1@hydra.unm.edu =========================================================== ===================== Don't fear about taking up too much space...babble all you want. I do. Tape, did soemone say tape...how about trade s and stuff, eh? Art =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Winston Date: Wed, Dec 1, 1993 4:02 PM Subject: Conan Did anyone happen to see the gang on Conan? I told my mom to record it, but she set the VCR for the wrong date. What did they play? Oh yeah, this morning on CNN, they did a segment on music video directors, and Bill Tush or whatever his name is must be a fan of the Connells. He said something like..."So, whether it's the Connells or U2..." I thought that was cool. Does anyone know how well "Ring" is selling, and how much airplay the singles are getting? How many copies have been sold? Any tour date info? ---------- "Remember, every Communist government in Eastern Europe fell in 100 days. Now it's our turn here in the United States of America!" -- Al Gore ---------- <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> << winston h. baccus mac assoc. v.p. e-mail: wbaccus1@ua1vm.ua.edu >> << the university of alabama in tuscaloosa..R O L L T I D E R O L L >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> =========================================================== ===================== I haven't seen any sales figures. Has anyone else seen any sales info.? This sounds like another call to Black Park. I've got a copy if you want to work something out. They played slackjawed including steve on keys. For the most part, I thought they looked and played like themselves. Any disagreements? Art =========================================================== ===================== To: Jipson Art From: Dean R Money Date: Mon, Nov 29, 1993 11:24 AM Subject: Performance on Conan O-Brien Just curious how many others thought the Connells performance on Late Night was... well, they looked/sounded rather nervous, especially the singer. Dean. =========================================================== ===================== Man, we are harsh fans. I think that it was their first tv performance. Hey folks look for the group to be on 120 minutes this Sunday. They will probably talk to that awful host.... Art =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Norfolk Academy Date: Sat, Nov 27, 1993 5:59 PM Subject: RE: Boylan Heights This Bryan and I am writing a review of the concert. 11/26/93 Boathouse by Bryan This show was definately the best I have ever seen. It was pure awesome. Queen Sarah Saturday led off this concert and were suprisingly good. From this point the crowd became pumped and chaotic because of the heavy sound of the lead band. The Connells came out to 1000 fans pushing towards the stage including myself who was being thrown around. They led off with Motel which was absolutely terrific and set the tone for the rest of the show. The show was highlighted by unreal renditions of Fun & Games, Hey You, Slackjawed, 74-75, Get a Gun, and Sal. The Connells played a tremendous set for almost 2 hours until they left the stage. The Connells returned and left three times due to the crowds persuasion before playing Stone Cold Yesterday as their final encore which sent the crowd bizerk. This show was not only fun but the music was great. The Connells are going to play Washington tonight and then will move on to Allentown and Philadelphia, PA. If you are near any of these cities catch the Connells live. They put on a great show. Bryan =========================================================== ===================== That's it for now. Take care, go out and support the band and watch them on 120 this sunday. end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Three ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "There's a difference between being alone and being lonely." - The Buck Pets "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell =========================================================== ===================== Boylan Heights Issue #4 // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1993 Fun and Games Productions Volume One, Issue Four --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==--==- -==- Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --> jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu <-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- The manager of this list, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Subscription/removal requests. Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Sorry for the tardiness but one, I have been lazy--relaxation will do that to you, second--the boys have been off for awhile and that leaves us with less to talk about, and third--it has beeen DAMN cold (actually, this is not a great reason but everyone else is complaining,so.... As usual: Thanks to the people who have sent stuff in. The digest is only as good as you make it. Blah, Blah, Blah! In case people haven't seen it, there is a nice one page (full) piece on the Connells in Cream magazine. It's not as good as the old Cream but it will hafta do. The article pushes the "too smart" and "collegiate" angle but it's an overwhelmingly positive piece. (Anyone wanna transcribe it?) So, how is '74-'75 doing in others' neck of the woods. It is on the "people's choice" countdown here (Oxford, Ohio near Cincinnati). And we are hoping for a number one spot for a while. If what I hear from my friends is true, than it is getting some pretty good airplay out there. The results are in. Thanks to Pauline for her darn fine detective work. Apparently the correct pronunciation is with the stress on the first syllable as in CON--nells. So, now I have to get used to putting the stress in a place that a boy from MinnesODA would never put it in. Oh, well. We need tour dates!!!!! Folks with info. call 'em in!!!! Some of us have to make plans to see the guys. Also what do the rest of you think about the O'Brien perfromance we have only heard from a few of you! Tell us what you thought! In this issue: 1. Comments from Pauline 2. Other bands suggestions 3. Radio Airplay 4. Comments+ on Norfolk show 5. More from Pauline 6. Concert reviewed by Brent "And there are fairweather friends, And there are fools besides us, Who relearn every turn and twist somehow" -M. Connell --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Pauline Subject: Comments Hello art, i'm back from break! and as luck would have it, the Connells are coming back soon. i'll bring the set lists from those three shows next time i get to the computer lab. when we saw the guys in delaware, we gave peele a tsc shirt and put the phone number on it for our huge new years eve bash, in case they had nothing to do. he called a couple of days after, and my friend mark has been playing telephone tag with him ever since. if anything interesting comes of it, i'll let you know. talk to you soon, bud. later-pauline =========================================================== ===================== To: Boylan Heights From: Winston Subject: Other Bands Recom Since the Connells are kinda on break, I thought that I would mention a band that fans of the Connells would really like, Guadalcanal Diary. Though they split up a few years ago, they recorded some really good stuff for Elektra. Their albums are: Watusi Rodeo EP (Hard to find) Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man Jamboree 2 X 4 Flip Flop All of their albums are really good, though I recommend 2 X 4 for first time listeners. They have a jangly rock sound, and were Athens, GA based. Also, the lead singer Murray has a solo album called "In Thrall" which is really good too. Later... ---------- "And she said "There, look through the trees, sun always shines, always on time. Dare, rest on your knees, and in prayer, follow me there." -- The Connells ---------- <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> << winston h. baccus mac assoc. v.p. e-mail: wbaccus1@ua1vm.ua.edu >> << the university of alabama in tuscaloosa..R O L L T I D E R O L L >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> =========================================================== ===================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston, I love that band! I would add hearty encouragement to Winston's suggestion!--Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: Boylan Heights From: Brent Subject: Radio Airplay Wow.. I found out today that the Connells will be here next Saturday.. very cool. Hopefully I'll be able to do an interview with them. As far as the Conan O'Brian performance.. I thought it was really bad. Doug sounded like he was tone deaf.. Oh well. The performance on 120 minutes was much better, at least. "Slackjawed" still wasn't very good, but "'74-75" was great. Speaking of '74-75, it's been getting mega-radio airplay in St.Louis. They've been digging into the older stuff now, too (Stone Cold Yesterday, Fun & Games, and Something to Say). It's nice to see them getting some exposure. They even got on a couple of lists of top 5 concerts of the year, and had a good review of Ring in the paper (which is a pleasant improvement from all previous reviews of their concerts and records, which said that the Connells only appeal to drunken fraternity members). Brent =========================================================== ===================== To: Jipson Art From: Francis J Park Subject: Additional comments on 26 Nov 93 Norfolk show Well, I ended up going to Norfolk to go see it - a little different from what I expected. I didn't expect Queen Sarah Saturday to be what they were - a little more hardcore than I thought I'd expect for a warmup for the Connells. The thing I did remember best was that the Boathouse was PACKED, particularly in the pit. I didn't expect the crowd to be the age it was - many, many teenage kids from the local high schools and prep schools (saw a Nansemond-Suffolk lacrosse shirt, I think I saw some guy wearing a Maury Cross-Country shirt, et cetera). The crowd was quite a bit different from what I expected, but the last time I'd seen them was when they played back at my prep school (St Christopher's) back in 1988. An outstanding show. I think if there'd been more room, it might have been a better show. I really enjoyed the show; very, very good live cuts. On a more humorous note, the only other guy there with short hair besides me was this Marine out of Camp Lejeune who thought I was a Marine. Egad, NO. Funny, being in Tidewater -short hair, everyone thinks you're a Marine... --------------------- Subject: RE: Additional comments on 26 Nov 93 Norfolk show Things I remember - here are some of the songs I remember: Scotty's Lament Acoustically, pretty well done. Over There There were a few problems with muffled sound; Something to Say Doug MacMillan got washed out from time to time Fun And Games 'cos the guitars were a little too heavy on the bass; Upside Down Other than that, not too bad. Fine Tuning Uninspired I've never been to the Boathouse before, so I Stone Cold Yesterday didn't know what to expect. Take A Bow (I think) Slackjawed As far as the fans were concerned, I didn't Carry My Picture quite expect the entire group to be shoving '74-'75 around quite as much as I remember; the last Doin' You show I went to that fans did that kind of Hey You mass push and shove was the New Model Army New Boy show I saw at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC. Disappointed Burden All in all, I wasn't disappointed. Running Mary (I think) Regards all, Francis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for the great review Francis!--Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =========================================================== ===================== To: Jipson Art From: Pauline Petersen Subject: here it is! Hello there art! i could probably write 6 pages on my experiences within a two week time frame....i caught the shows at allentown, philly and the stone balloon in de. good times! after the first show, at which there were very few people (although we were out in the middle of nowhere), my friends kept yelling for peele, so he came over to talk to us. really nice...gave us each a drumstick, which the whole band autographed, and hung out for awhile. i talked to steve before that show and asked him to end the debate on the pronunciation...which i already told you about. i couldn't believe the events of the night, only because you have to know my friends mark and ed to truly understand how hysterically funny the whole thing is. The next night in philly was really good-people were alot more into it as a whole, and the show was a little different....third night in de was great. they did more older stuff plus stuff off of ring which they hadn't done the other two nights...doug spoke the most in allentown, he was funny. some guy andy who had been at the conan show was at the shows i was at and doug carried on a couple of conversations with him from the stage. the set lists...well, i took them home, but could probably list most of it, not in order though....off the new album, new boy was phenomenal and is prob. my fave on the album, slackjawed, carry my picture, 74-75, doin' you, disappointed, running mary (de only), then something to say, f & g, sal, upside down, motel, inside my head, ten pins (de only), scottys (philly/de), over there (philly),choose a side, elegance, home today (de only), hats off (allentown/de only), burden (all-oops i forgot), take a bow (allen/philly), get a gun (allen/philly)....lets just say that one simple word was the forgotten album and my brain is mush so i'm drawing a blank. i'll bring the lists back with me after break (i'm unaccessible until 1/17 or so) and i'll send them all to you then. after the de show, peele hung out for awhile and talked music with my friend mark, all sorts of technical shit, then he asked me what i thought about them studio compared to live and i said people who didn't appreciate the studio stuff would like them better after seeing them live because its just so good (not that the albums aren't good too ). he gave mark his #'s and said he is for hire if mark wants him on the demo he's doing (which i thought was cool). he also told me to go upstairs so i could get my picture taken with george (he sings all my faves, pretty much, which makes him my fave band member by default), who was also just about as cool as they come.... they'll be back at the beginnign of the new year-they're playing in washington dc on new years eve and i think baltimore on 12/30, at least thats what peele thought....i joined the fan club (sent out the check) i'll let you know about the poster/tshirt/newsletters/deals once i get all the info back!!!! hey, have a great holiday, i gotta go finish my shopping...i'll find you after 1/17 with the lists!! pauline ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for all the info. Pauline!--Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =========================================================== ===================== To: Jipson Art From: Brent Daniels Subject: Concert Review The Connells came through here last night. They put on an incredible show. Much, much better than the last time I saw them. Doug wasn't nervous at all. When I saw them in St.Louis early on in the One Simple Word tour, he looked sort of like he did on Conan O'Brian. I guess he felt at home here, since they've been playing around North Carolina for 10 years now. I tried to bootleg the show, but I failed. I learned shortly before the show that my recorder didn't have a microphone jack.. the tape quality ended up being horrible. It's a shame, too, because it really was a great show. It was completely sold out, and a lot of people were being turned away. That was good to see - I've seen bigger bands like Cracker only get a handful of people here. Of course, I would have preferred to have some breathing room.. But it's still good to see them getting some support. Here's as much of their set list as I can remember: Hey, you Something to Say Carry my picture (I can't remember the rest in order, so here they are scrambled:) Doin' you If it crumbles Over there Scotty's lament Sal Fun & Games Hats Off New Boy Slackjawed Stone Cold Yesterday Get a gun There were more, but that's all I remember. They played most of Ring, except for Spiral and '74-'75 (despite the crowds requests for the latter). They played for about an hour and a half. I always find stage banter to be the most interesting part of shows.. so, here's what they did in between the songs.. For either the first or second encore, Doug came out and started singing some song, while instructing George how to play it.. (uhh.. a-minor I think).. Then they launched into another song, which I'm sure I've heard before but can't place. Anyway, they stopped, and Doug said "That's the easiest way to get this guy to tune his guitar quickly - play trains, boats, and planes".. The crowd shouted for them to continue, but Doug said, "no, if we play that song, we're going to have a fistfight on stage." At one point, Doug pleaded for someone to bring him a beer. Doug made an announcement that cars parked in the Tijuana fats parking lot were being towed, to which he added "you deserve to get towed if you park in the tijuana fats parking lot. That's what I think." He also stopped to thank the opening band, five-eight, several times. The crowd had been a little unfriendly to five-eight. (At one point, a lot of people were shouting "CONNELLS"..five-eight's singer said, "come on, now which is better, wimpy pop or loud shitty punk," to which the crowd responded with a resounding "WIMPY POP") Oh well. I thought they were good. There was a good article about the band in Friday's paper. I'll transcribe it later on. Brent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please do send in the transcription--Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well that's it! Please let me know if ya'll get this. I have made some changes with the systems operator and everyone should get the entire copy from my end. But do send me little notes to know that it was received! Thanks! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Four ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "Watch an eyeball, take a free fall, off the counter's ledge." - Buffalo Tom "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #5 // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1994 Fun and Games Productions Volume One, Issue Five --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==--==- -==- Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --> jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu <-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- The manager of this list, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==-==--==--==- -==- Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Subscription/removal requests. Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Hello All! Boy, has life sucked for me. The computer "gods" decided to install a new gateway without protecting any information, namely--address books. This means that my entire collection of e-mail addresses (around 150) was wiped clean. It has taken me several days to try and repair the damage that was done. I believe that I am close to completion. But what that means is other than some scattered hard copies I don't have everyone's address. Thus, I am not sure that this issue is getting to everyone that it should. So, if you get a copy and a friend doesn't let me know (or vice versa). Also, if people only get half tell me and I will break the issue into sections (I lost that list too). Thanks to everyone who sent stuff in! We have a good issue this time focusing on a variety of questions. In terms of "whose best" I would have to say that I think that Mike is the strongest creative force in the band. I love Mike's songs and lyrics better than Doug's or George's (sorry, Pauline). Thanks to Winston for getting some tour dates! We need to know these things. Finally, I propose a plan. What would happen if everyone on the list requested '74-'75 at their fave or college (non-commerical) radio station? I think that it is worth a try, what the hell! I have been requesting the song everyday for the last week and it made a difference at my local radio station. I know in the era of narrowcasting and preprogramming it is tough...but what could it hurt? Geez, its not like the major labels ever do anything like this! Also, can people send me personal "music" bios--what other music you are into, where you are, what you are doing, stuff like that. You can also answer Colin's question. I thought that it would be nice to have a run down on the members of the digest. Well, take care and keep sending the stuff in. In this issue: 1. Whose the best?! 2. 10K and Connells? (I don't know, does anyone know? -Art) 3. Brent posts Winston-Salem Interview 4. More Comments from Pauline 5. Tour dates from Winston 6. Final installment of Mike Interview "And there are fairweather friends, And there are fools besides us, Who relearn every turn and twist somehow" -M. Connell --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== =========================================================== ===================== To: #002#BH From: Colin Law Are there other Connells fans out there who really can't stand George's songs? I find myself continually programming my cd player around his cuts. Someone mentioned that he was their favorite, but by far his lyrics are the most inane I have ever heard, especially the lines about the 'whale' in (I think), Doin' You. Just wondering if anyone else out there uniformally disliked George's contributions but thought Mike's stuff was great. On another note, except for one play of Stone Cold Yesterday a few years back, I have NEVER heard the Connells on the radio in the Houston area. Of course we don't have any "alternative" radio stations which may be the problem. Still, though, they manage to draw a good size crowd when they come through. I also feel very very old at a Connells show now. I'm 25 but the majority of attendees at the last show I went to were under 18. Its odd to seemingly outgrow a group that has been getting old, same as you, for the past 8 years. Colin -----------------------------------------------------------------Colin Law \| Your cylinder shape, so unlike a cube, claw@spacsun.rice.edu \| A morsel of meat all wrapped in a tube. Dept of Space Physics \| Long brown and useless, fuzzy and fine, Rice University \| Wiener, oh wiener dog, wiener be mine. 713-527-8750 x3523 \| - from "Ode to A Sausage Dog" ----------------------------------------------------------------- =========================================================== ===================== To: BH From: David Wright art, i got 2 copies of digest #4, so yeah, it is getting through. i was watching my 10.000 maniacs "time capsule" video the other day, and in the clip "wildwood flower", which is just a bunch of tour footage from 1987 set to music, there is one shot of the maniacs standing around with a couple of guys that look just like members of the connells (sorry, i can't place names to the faces). can you or anyone else give more info on this, such as if the connells ever opened for the maniacs? if you pass it on to the list, maybe someone else will have the video and be able to back me up. -david wright ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Brent Daniels Brighter Days: Strong new album has connells hopeful about the future As Mike Connell entered his third year of law school in 1983, he began to search for something to deter the mounting pressures of academic life. The answer to his quest was pop music. LIke many youngsters in the '60s, Connell had been bowled over by the music of the Beatles. As he grew older, his love for rock 'n' roll - particularly the music of British pop bands - inspired him to play guitar and write songs for his own amusement. So when his brother, David, invited him to a jam session in 1983, Connell decided that playing in a pop band would be the perfect antidote to the stress of law school. "We got together a couple of times a week and made noise working up my songs," Connell said. "It started out as nothing more than a distraction. "All we were hoping to do was play at parties and, if we were lucky, play at a club around Chapel HIll." Connell laughed. "Now here we are, 10 years later. It was certainly not my intention to be performing in this band for a decade." The career of the Connells - Connell, guitar and vocals; David Connell, bass; Doug MacMillan, vocals; George Huntley, guitar and vocals; Peele Wimberley, drums; and Steve Potak, keyboards - has been marked by accomplishment and frustration. The connells' five albums - Darker Days (1986) [err.. wasn't this 85?], Boylan Heights (1987), fun & Games (1989), One Simple Word (1990), and the new Ring--have drawn critical accolades. The group's Anglicized sound - a melodic blend of introspective lyrics, jangle-pop hooks and gentle folk-pop arrangements - separated it from other North Carolina pop bands and attracted a growing following. For all its critical success, the Connells have not been able to attract the attention of a major label - something that it needs to do to move into the mainstream. All the Connells' albums - with the exception of Darker Days, which the band recorded and marketed on its own - have been released on TVT records, a small independent label. "It really has been a series of rises and falls," Connell said. "I don't feel we have done a whole lot of backsliding in our objectives...but I honestly wish things had progressed more than they have." When the bands first album came out, many reviewers commented on the bands' stylistic similarity to the Smiths - a melancholy British band, led by singer Morrissey, that specialized in lithe, bittersweet folk-pop. "The comparisons got a little frustrating, but I understand it now," Connell said. "Much of it had to do with Doug's vocal mannerisms. He really didn't know what his voice was supposed to sound like at that time. "I loved the Smiths, so part of me was thinking that it was great. but I also came to realize that it is not the greatest thing to be a new band and get immediately labeled as some sort of clone." To help illuminate the distinctive pop sensibilities of Connell's songwriting, the band enlisted Mitch Easter to produce Boylan Heights, its second album. The album's jangle-and-drone pop songs helped erase comparison to the Smiths--but attracted comparison to REM. "After we recorded Boylan Heights, I thought that we had made a distinctive sounding record," Connell said. "I didn't count on it being compared to REM like it was. But REM cast a pretty long shadow. They were a logical point of reference, in that we were both guitar-oriented pop bands from the South." Connell laughed. "But still..." Steady touring helped the band's next two albums, Fun & Games and One Simple Word, climb into the lower reaches of Billboard magazine's Top 200. But the success was not enough to enable the band to take its music beyond a collegiate, alternative-music audience. Frustration turned to discouragement during recording of One Simple Word with producer Hugh Jones in Wales. The Connells walked away from the sessions unhappy with the music and unsure of its future. "That whole project got away from us," Connell said. "Hugh Jones is a producer who had very definite ideas about what he wanted that album to sound like. He likes to leave his stamp on a record, and his stamp was not always what we wanted to sound like. He did things with songs that didn't make a lot of sense to us. "None of us were happy with that record, which led to many long discussions about what we were doing - and if we still wanted to do it." The band decided that, if nothing else, it needed to make an album that was fully indicative of its musical ideals. With the help of producer Lou Giordano - who has worked with such bands as Sugar, the Pixies and Dillon Fence - the band went to upstate New York and recorded Ring. Driven by Connell's strongest songwriting to date, the album strikes a triumphant balance between the band's wistful folk arrangements and its increasingly powerful popcraft. Such songs as "Slackjawed," "Carry My PIcture" and "Hey you" support evocative melodies with an exuberant guitar sound that promotes muscle and grit over the expected jangling choruses. The album captures the growing power of the band's live show in a manner that should attract the interest of listeners who favor such pop acts as Matthew Sweet, the Lemonheads and Teenage Fanclub. "I really like this album," Connell said. "I feel better about it than either of the last coupleof albums. We were lucky in that Lou Giordano was willing to accomodate our desire to put a little more bite into things. As a result, we emerged with an album that we are really proud of. "It would be nice to get some radio play for a couple of these songs, but the competition is really stiff these days. So it's now a matter of going out and playing as much as we can to see if we can't stir up some interest." Reaction to Ring has been overwhelmingly strong. College radio has played it, and MTV has shown videos for "Slackjawed" and "74-'75" on its 120 Minutes and Alternative Nation programs. Connell remains cautiously hopeful about the future. "At this point, things are going better than they have at any point in the past," he said. "It is not a dramatic improvement - but it is an improvement nonetheless. "It is reassuring to know that we are still 'alternative' after all these years, but I wouldn't mind being a little more mainstream for a bit." He laughed. "I just want to see how it feels." (from the winston-salem journal, jan. 21, 1994) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks so much for transcribing this!--Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Pauline Peterson i accidentally took myself out of what i was typing-i really should learn the commands for this damn program...anyway, once again a great show...peele is the coolest, we were on the list because they stopped one night in maple shade (by us) and he called (the weather has been really lousy around here). what a great bunch of guys-not too many bands you can say that about in this day and age. the next leg of the tour starts feb 10-no dates as of yet, once i get em i'll send them. (hopefully by friday) i think peele said that they'll be on the road until may or a little later for this one, they'll probably take breaks-they're on one right now for a week. as long as they come back again, i don't care. fan club stuff should also be out in the next couple of weeks-i'll send that when i get it too. later for you-hope to hear from you soon! i guess you got the second message-i'll bring the aquarian with me-i have way too much work to do this week for classes so i've got to hold off and catch myself up, then i'll get to the interview. i went to sea bright at the tradewinds on saturday night-great show....set list (not in order) hey you,doin you, sal, something, F & G, motel, gun, scottys, crumbles,choose a side,rnning mary,inside my head,upside down, take a bow,74-75,carry pic,slack,burden,hats off,new boy,ten pins...i think thats all of them. -pauline ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: Connells Mailing Admin Hey, please distribute this to the list!! This is not a full list of dates, but here's a few... Feb 11 - Jackson, MS @ Hal and Mal's Feb 15 - Starkville, MS @ Rick's Feb 16 - Oxford, MS @ LaFayette's Feb 18 - Auburn, AL w/ Widespread Panic (I think) at this point they're doing some LA dates, but I didn't get them. Feb 23 - Statesboro, GA @ TC Hangers Mar 1 or 2? Young Harris College in GA Mar 3 B'HAM, AL @ 5 Points Music Hall That's all I've got, and if you're going to the Starkville or B'ham show, then I'll see ya there! ---------- "Crazy women, that's the only kind I know." -- Jupiter Coyote ---------- **************************************************** WiNsToN h. BaCcUs/ThE uNiVeRsItY.oF aLaBaMa/TuScAlOoSa, Al >> **************************************************** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well here is the last part of the interview with Mike that I have been posting in parts. Enjoy the last o' it.--Art MC: I think that at some point we were all keyed into where we were headed with the song ["Hey You"]. But it is really, just really an assortment of phrases from three different guys thrown out and patched together. AJ: That's fascinating that it comes together so cohesively. MC: The way that I would characterize the song is really pretty typical of the way that our sound or songs of the last few years. 24. AJ: How would you label yourselves, if you had to label yourselves--and these exercise are always ridiculous. I have heard collegiate jangly rock which other than Darker Days I don't hear so clearly, power pop, Southern Roots Pop, there are several different labels that have been applied to you guys. How do you think of the Connells? MC: New Stream. Laughs. MC: I think we're guitar oriented, hopefully melodic pop rock. For myself anyway I was always more influenced by British bands. I grew up listening pretty much exclusively to British bands. So, the whole Southern thing it makes sense in so far as our music isn't radically dissimilar than from REM. And they [REM] cast such a huge shadow that FOR what we're doing it would be hard...it does invite comparisons. But it's never been the case that I sat down and waited for REM's new album to come out and started to write more songs. So, yeah, more than anything I think that we're preoccupied or most concerned with trying to come up with decent melodies. Lyrics that hopefully are not embarrassing or too embarrassing. That sort of thing. I don't think that the guitar sounds have been jangly, either, for the last few records. AJ: It just seems that any Southern band invites some kind of REM comparison regardless of whether or not the melodies of the songs structures themselves invite such a comparison. MC: Yeah. AJ: How do you feel about reviews of your records? Are any reviews significant for you? MC: Let me think. I get more concern about the local reviews just because I know that my Dad is gonna pick up one. Actually, I think that I avoid looking for the reviews anymore because I figure that if one that's pretty positive comes out then our manager will make a point of showing us. Hence otherwise I assume that something is going on that I just assume not see. Some less than positive reviews of the last few years have been good for me, I think to read some of the criticisms. With most reviews I realize that it is one person's opinion. Only in instances where there seems to be something...it's almost as though there is something personal going on. Sometimes things get so vicious that you can't make sense of what you are reading. Someone obviously hates or detests the band so...that you wonder if it's just the music. If these songs could instill that sort of venom or inspire that sort of venom. I love reading reviews of other people's records and I understand the function that reviews serve but I can't say that I go out of my way to find out reviews anymore. You get burned a few times and you...or you read some awful review and you become less prone to go to track down every review that comes out. 25. AJ: Is there any member of the band who lives seeks out reviews, positive or negative. MC: David over here. There is a magazine in Atlanta called Creative Loafing and any time that we're coming to town. It's not so much as a review as a preview and there's this one guy who just utterly dispises the band. And it's finally got to the point where it's almost amusing to see what he's going to say. Each time there is one thing that he says over and over, it's like I told you every time do not go out and see these guys but you keep going back so I'm throwing my hands up. He's written awful things about people that I like quite a bit--like Robyn Hitchcock, I know that he was playing in Atlanta one weekend when we were playing there and it's like.... I think that he thinks that are lyrics are a little precious or something like that. Or that I don't know what his gripe is entirely. I think part of it is the fact that in Atlanta anyway a good bit of our crowd might be more clean cut type of crowd. He probably sees that as a bad thing. Maybe we're a little too life affirming. AJ and MC: laughs. AJ: Think black album covers. MC: Yeah! Laughs. 26. AJ: Let me ask you about videos. Seven was your first video and then one or two per record after that? MC: Yeah, we actually made one for hats off. I think that, Dave, they put that on 120 minutes didn't they? DC: Yeah! MC: It was on a time or two. That was as with seven some friends of ours in Raleigh spent an afternoon with us and just made the videos. Very low budget--we just stood around drinking beer, something like that. "Over there," "Scotty's lament,"--were the two videos from Boylan heights. The video for "Something to say" that was a nightmare. I hated making that thing. 27. AJ: What happened with "Something to say?" MC: It was just an awful video and TVT found this guy who I think just missed the boat completely. He had no sense of the band, maybe, never listened to a record. I've got this wonderful image guys. His treatment that was sent down had something to do. Dave, what was the metaphore for the song. DC: The junkyard of lost ideals. MC: Yeah, the junkyard of lost ideal that was it. All these things would be heaped on. We at least put our foot down and kept that out of the video, but Jesus...it's like it looks like a bad jean ad to me. Blue jean ad. 28. AJ: How do you feel slackjawed. It seems like you guys goofin' around. There's some performance segments in it. MC: We had a much better time making that video. This friend of ours from Raleigh whose now living out in LA, his name is Peyton Green made the video, he came back and he know all of us well and understand, I think, the personality of the band and the individual members. Things were a lot looser making that video than with other videos. Although with get a gun our first drummer john Sholtz made that video. Things were pretty loose then but...it was a lot of fun. The fact that we could do it in Raleigh made a big difference, didn't have to go off somewhere. And we used all the locals in and around the city. 29. AJ: What is your general disposition toward videos? MC: I think that we understand that in this day and age it's almost imperative to at least give it a shot to make a video. To see if it can end up on MTV. But we realize at the same time that it is an awful lot of money to spend on something that you wonder how much difference it actually makes. 30. AJ: If you had to sum up the band, characterize the band--in a short statement--could you do that? MC: I'll give it a shot! I would say [pause] a bunch of guys who tried to come up with some decent songs and at least tried to avoid embarrassing themselves too much in the process. I think that on top of all that we have always made a point of...I think that John Lennon said "that to make it in this business you've got to be assholes, and we're the biggest assholes there ever where." And that quote never made sense to me until I was in a band and I could see how it would be easy to be an asshole. The band collectively could be sort of less than.... I think that we have been pretty good about being decent bunch of Guys as a band. And that to me is important. I have always tried to be fair with one another and those that we come into contact with. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Four ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "Watch an eyeball, take a free fall, off the counter's ledge." - Buffalo Tom "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #6 --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--=--==--==--==--==-- == // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1994 Fun and Games Productions Volume One, Issue Six The Small Issue --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: ** jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The manager of this digest, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Note that this is not a mail deflector but a digest! Subscription/removal requests Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Well, it seems that a number of people have responded quite quickly to the last issue, so this one comes out fast behind. In response to Winston's poll, my faves go (at this moment, and didn't we do something like this in a previous issue?) with one being the highest: 1. One Simple word 1. Scotty's Lament 2. Boylan Heights 2. Something to Say 3. Fun and Games 3. Over There 4. Ring 4. Slackjawed 5. Darker Days 5. One Simple Word Does anyone have more complete tour dates? We had a few in the last issue but I am wondering if there are some more out there. Please send in those reviews, interviews, and notices!! I am working on a transcription of an interview with Doug from Creem Magazine and my little bio that I will put in the next issue. Remember if friends of yours are not getting this, and should, let me know--the gateway is still acting mighty funny. Take care, Art "it's you I swear, it's you I swear I delight in my despair" -M Connell (as interpreted by D MacMillan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this issue: 1. Gary asks about touring 2. Francis Park bio 3. Winston wants to conduct a poll 4. Brent comments on the last issue ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Gary Assa The Connells Played at a Long Island Disco on January 27. I did not go due the moving of our office, and I was on the move committee. The show was at 1am, or so. Anyway, I hope that this did not constitute their NY appearence. It doesn't look like it was part of their tour, since I just read from this list that it starts Feb 11. Does anyone know if the 2nd leg consists of cities they weren't at in '93, or a second tour, including cities visited. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * The firsttthing we do let's kill all the lawyers _Shakespeare * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Francis Park Since Art asked for music bios in his last installment of "Boylan Heights," I figured I'd throw my two cents in. I'm a senior at Johns Hopkins majoring in history. I'm also cadet battalion commander of the local Army ROTC unit, and I will be commissioned as an Armor second lieutenant into the Regular Army. I've asked for Fort Stewart, GA (near Savannah) as my initial duty station, but I won't find out until late March where I end up. First time I saw the Connells was 1988, when I was a sophomore at St Christopher's School, a private day school in Richmond, Virginia. I liked their show but I wasn't impressed enough with them to buy either Darker Days or Boylan Heights. I decided to give them a try at the beginning of my junior year at Hopkins (granted, a five-year gap) and liked them enough to buy all of their albums. Some of the other bands I listen to include Juliana Hatfield, Belly, The Breeders, The dB's, Let's Active, Game Theory, The Loud Family, Yo La Tengo, The JudyBats, and New Model Army. I guess I should throw in Blake Babies in with Juliana Hatfield, and I'm big on early Cure as well as early R.E.M. (Reckoning and before). I also listen to a few other bands on occasion such as Ministry, and Husker Du. The only other major omissions I can think of are Catherine Wheel and The Replacements. Observant listeners (now there's a mixed metaphor) will see a preponderance of power-pop bands. Mitch Easter has had a hand in a good many of the bands I listen to, from Let's Active (where he was lead singer) to The Loud Family. Other producers' names that crop up a good bit on the albums I have included Gary Smith and Scott Litt, other power-pop producers. There's some other stuff; some Shostakovitch disks intermingled with Bach and even a little Windham Hill. If I'm feeling disconnected, I could always listen to Negativland. Most of the music I listen to religiously avoids the mainstream; even the Bach disks I have are stuff only of interest to hardcore violinists - his sonatas and partitas for unaccompanied violin are SEVERE on the casual listener. Most of the latter came from playing violin before college. I didn't do it too seriously after I graduated from St Christopher's; trying to mix my combat arms ambitions with playing the violin at the level I wanted to didn't hash out, and in any case, I'd had my hurrah in secondary school anyway. I'd been All-State and it was unlikely I'd put in the effort to make one of the national orchestras. Ah well. In a year I should be playing the finer points with a 120mm gun... Regards all Francis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: Connells Mailing Admin From: Winston Okay, every list has them, and this talk about the band not being happy with One Simple Word (my personal fave) has led me to wonder what the other folks on the list think. Yes, it's time for the "what's your fave" poll. So, with that in mind, tell ME, not the list at this address, "wbaccus1@ua1vm.ua.edu" your favorite album (rank all 5 of them from 1 to 5, and then also tell me your 5 favorite Connells tunes. Then, I'll post the results to the list. Just curious, ---------- The brain is a wonderful organ, it turns itself on when you get up in the morning, and it turns itself off when you get to class. ******************************************************WiNsToN h. BaCcUs /ThE uNiVeRsItY.oF aLaBaMa /TuScAlOoSa, Al Wbaccus1@ua1vm.ua.edu/Wbaccus1@ua1ix.ua.edu/ Winston18@aol.com **************************************************** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Brent > > Finally, I propose a plan. What would happen if everyone on the list requested '74-'75 at their fave or college (non-commerical) radio station? I think that it is worth a try, what the hell! I have been requesting the song everyday for the last week and it made a difference at my local radio station. I know in the era of narrowcasting and preprogramming it is tough...but what could it hurt? Geez, its not like the major labels ever do anything like this! > I make it a point to play at least one song a week on my show - usually more. (Slackjawed and Inside my Head (just because it followed the Blackwells' "In my head" well) today).. Only problem is we're on cable FM for at least another year, so I don't have that big of an audience to influence. > Also, can people send me personal "music" bios--what other music you are into, where you are, what you are doing, stuff like that. I've always been a fan of music with a heavy emphasis on guitars. Other favorites include - The replacements, anything Bob Mould's ever put his name on, REM, and Uncle Tupelo. (Strangely enough, all of these bands have mailing lists) > Are there other Connells fans out there who really can't stand George's songs? I find myself continually programming my cd player around his cuts. Not really. I don't like "Doin' You," either, but he's done some good songs (Inside my head, for instance). One of his songs on Boylan heights (struggling to recall the name) was good, except that it seemed like two songs thrown together.. (..hard for me to say, but i like your face, but I can't anymore.. Let's do it again).. Everytime I hear that song, I think, "what a great song," but then grimace when it gets to "I can't anymore". > through. I also feel very very old at a Connells show now. I'm 25 but the majority of attendees at the last show I went to were under 18. Its odd to seemingly outgrow a group that has been getting old, same as you, for the past 8 years. > I feel old at a Connells show, and I'm only 18. Brent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Six ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: Art Jipson jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "Watch an eyeball, take a free fall, off the counter's ledge." - Buffalo Tom "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell =========================================================== ===================== Boylan Heights Issue #7 --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--=--==--==--==--==-- == // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1994 Fun and Games Productions Volume One, Issue Seven --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The manager of this digest, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Note that this is not a mail deflector but a digest! Subscription/removal requests Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Hey its been a while. My life is non-stop excitement. Grading, reading, writing, sleeping. What can I say? It has been some time since I have seen the Connells, so I am think of a road trip--any suggestions? Does anyone have more tour information? What have recent shows been like? We need details. Please send in those reviews, interviews, and notices!! I am working on a transcription of an interview with Doug from Creem Magazine and my own little bio that I will put in. Remember if friends of yours are not getting this, and should, let me know--the gateway is still acting mighty funny. Oh, last minute addition: I am expecting the arrival of serveral Connells bootlegs. I would be more than happy to set up a tape tree sot that we could pass on this stuff. If people are interested--let me know. Take care, Art "it's you I swear, it's you I swear I delight in my (your) despair" -M Connell (as interpreted by D MacMillan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this issue: 1. Mark talks about a live-X 2. Scott talks a show 3. Winston talks about a great show 4. Mike has a twin!?! and George Connell the philosopher 5. Art's Bio 6. Brent has stuff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Mark Hughes The Connells will be on a "Live-X" Friday, 2/25 in Atlanta. The radio station is 99X, WNNX. Most Live-X performances take place at a local recording studio, have approx. 30 people (winners of contests on 99X) present and have a 30 minute duration. I will surely tape the broadcast. I DO NOT what time the Live-X will take place. As of the morning of 2/21, I don't think the radio station knew either. I will let you know when the time is announced. Hey Art - was my last posting (the first notice about this Live-X) sent out with the digest?? I did not receive the digest if so. I hoped that it was so someone could provide more information about the Connells being in Atlanta. As far as I know - there is NO show planned for Friday evening following the Live-X. I may hang out at the recording studio and try to see if something is scheduled as the last minute. If you know any other information, PLEASE let me know. Mark ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Scott Loose Well, I finally got a chance to write about the Connells performance on the 19th in Auburn. For those of you not at the show, the Connells opened up for Widespread Panic at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. I didn't have a great view from where I sat but they sounded good regardless. I don't recall the exact playlist but most of the songs came from Ring and Fun&Games with a few from Word. Since the band played as the opener, they didn't play nearly as much as I wanted to hear. The crowd got into the performance more than I expected. It would appear there's quite a following down here at Auburn. I know many people, including myself, were there primarily to see the Connells. IMHO, the Connells performed much better than Widespread. Widespread, being the headline, naturally had a better stage setup and visual show but, sorry Panic fans, listening to them I began to feel as if I was listening to the same endless song. The Connells music encompasses a wider field of emotion for me I guess. Anyway, I though the band did a great job and my only complaint was that they couldn't play longer. -Scott ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Winston Well, I did end up getting to see the Connells last Thursday night. Previously, I mentioned that it was a 21 and over show, and being 19, I couldn't get in. But, in their infinite wisdom, the good people at the Five Points South Music Hall decided to let those of us 19 and over in to the grand opening of their new bar, and plus they were really lax on carding us. Donkey and Dillon Fence opened. The latter was a decent band from Chapel Hill. The Connells played about 1hr and 45 mins, and sounded particularly good. I think that "Sal" sounds so much better now than even a year ago, and I know that they've got to be tired of playing it. I used to not care for "Upside Down" but when I first saw the Connells live a few years ago, I fell in love with the song, and they gave me no reason to rethink that stance the other night. I was disappointed that they didn't do "Try", my personal fave. I was glad to hear "Choose a Side" They appeared in a pretty good mood. Doug kept commenting on what a "good solid" crowd turned out for the show. All in all, a great evening, and I danced my butt off once again. ########################################################### ######## ##WiNsToN h. BaCcUs ThE uNiVeRsItY oF aLaBaMa/TuScAlOoSa, Al ## ##Wbaccus1@ua1ix.ua.edu/Wbaccus1@ua1vm.ua.edu/Winston18@a ol.com ## ########################################################### ######## ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TO: BH From: Ryan You enquired about George Connell, Mike and David Connell's brother in your reply. I shall give you all of the information I know in a succint manner. George Boyce Connell, age 36, is an Associate Professor of Philosophy here at Concordia. He received his B.A. degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He went on for graduate study at Vanderbilt University, where he received his M.A. and Ph.D. His doctoral dissertation "To Be One Thing: Personal Unity in Kierkegaard's Thought," was published by Mercer University Press in 1985. Dr. Connell specializes in the study of Soren Kierkegaard. In fact the late great Reidar Thomte, professor emeritus of philosophy at Concordia, wrote that Dr. Connell was the best choice possible of Kierkegaard scholars he knew. Dr. Connell lives in Moorhead with his wife Virginia, and two daughters. He came here in 1986 to replace Dr. Thomas Christenson, who is now at Capital University in Columbus. Dr. Connell remarks that his brothers do not often communicate with him. I phoned him when I found out the Connells were coming to Cornstock (Concordia's annual progressive music festival), and he said, "I'm not even going to call my brothers; I'll just wait and see how long it takes them to tell me they're coming up here!" Dr. Connell is a role model for me, as I, too, aspire to pursue graduate study in philosophy, specifically the philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard. I often have to deflect flak from people who say, "You just want to be the next George Connell." I know that could not happen, as we are two different people, and I know for sure that George is more intelligent than I am. (This is not to say I am an idiot....instead I am trying to convey how intelligent George is!) I enjoy a good conversation with Dr. Connell; he is very well-read and knowledge-able on a wide variety of topics. Currently, Dr. Connell is on sabbatical. He is probably at home right now reading Nietzsche. He told me a month back he is "boning up" for his Existentialism class next semester, which I am taking. He was my advisor for a year-and-a-half, until he went on sabbatical. (That reminds me, I should go to the Registrar's office to make sure I get my advisement switched back to him.) Overall, I have been very impressed with Dr. Connell. He is very deserving of the position he holds, whereas I, after completeting graduate school, will probably end up at Triple "A" Community College in East Orange, New Jersey, as a Lecturer in Humanities (part time, of course). I envision myself beginning a lecture with these words...."Plato's thought...," to which the class will respond "What?" And I find it strange how the Connell brothers have all gone out in such different diretions. You have Mike and David, who studied law, in a rock band. You have George teaching philosophy. And you have Mike's twin brother, whom I know nothing about. Well, I suppose I better let you go here. I hope this information was of interest to you. If you desire, you may edit this little biography and incorporate this into your newsletter. Bye bye, Ryan `````````````````~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`````````````````````````` Well, here goes the brief bio of the editor. I am a visiting assistant professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I originally hail from Minnesota which says a great deal about my music collection. I recently finished my phd dissertation on the 1991 international Teamsters election. I am 28 years old and am married (for 7 years) and have a daughter (Kathleen) who is 5 years old. I have been a fan of the Connells since 1986. I fell in love with their live sound and great melodies. What else do ya need to know!?! `````````````````~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`````````````````````````` Wow, that was pretty brief for an academic.-ed. `````````````````~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`````````````````````````` To: BH From: Brent Daniels Welp, I got a chance to see the last show on the Connells tour last week. (No thanks to TVT - I tried to get tickets through them, since the only way you could get tickets was by winning them through a radio station. But, they were very uncooperative about me doing an interview for the radio station I work at - I can't wait to see my phone bill to see exactly how long I spent on hold with TVT without ever talking to anyone) Anyway, I had to hang out at a music store for 2 hours to win tickets, but I got them. They almost screwed me over - They were doing Connells trivia questions. They asked how many members were in the band. I replied, of course, six. They said no, and called on someone else who said "five," and gave him tickets. I tried to explain that Steve is (to my knowledge) now a member of the band, but they wouldn't give me tickets. I got to answer another question, though, and got tickets. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Interesting. I think though that Steve is not part of Connells, Inc. and hence did not count. They should have said THE band or THE traveling band.--ed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anyway, it was a very cool show. Queen Sarah Saturday opened up (as usual). This band has one of the best attitudes about being an opening band that I've seen in a while. After QSS was Mae Moore. Her show was interesting, mainly because her band looks like it's made up of Suzanne Vega, the lead singer from White Zombie, and a Hare Krishna. I'm not a really big fan of her songs, though. Peele was sitting a few seats down from me during this part of the show. Anyway, they didn't play for very long (50 minutes, max). Darker Days and OSW were the forgotten albums, again (except for Stone Cold Yesterday, of course). Before playing Slackjawed, Doug said that he had a cold, so it wouldn't sound exactly like the record. Heh. Funny how the cold didn't seem to affect the other songs. Funny how it sounded exactly like the Conan O'Brian and 120 minutes performances, too. Oh well - at least he hasn't taken to lip synching to get it right. Overall, it was a cool show. Not as much energy as the other times I've seen them - but that probably has something to do with the fact that most of the people there went just because they had free tickets. Brent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end. I hope everyone had or is about to have a fun spring break! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Seven ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ `````````````````~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`````````````````````````` --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: Art Jipson jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "Watch an eyeball, take a free fall, off the counter's ledge." - Buffalo Tom "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #8 --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--=--==--==--==--==-- == // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1994 Fun and Games Productions July 9, 1994 Volume One, Issue Eight --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The manager of this digest, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Note that this is not a mail deflector but a digest! Subscription/removal requests Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Hey its been a while. My life is non-stop excitement. Writing, exercising, staying out of the heat. I have been anxiously awaiting info. on the New Boy ep. From what I understand it was supposed to come out on the first of August but got moved to the end of August because of the art work. Unfortunately, Dave is not going to do the art work as was the plan at one point. The list for the six songs is: New Boy (Ring Version) New Boy (live) Fun and Games (live) Living in the Past (live-Jethro Tull cover) Wonder Why (unreleased material from Ring sessions) Logan Street (unreleased material from Ring sessions) A video is already in the can and should be seen on 120 minutes or something shortly before the ep is released. If anyone else has info. please pass it on. Does anyone have past tour information? What were shows like? We need details. Please send in those reviews, interviews, and notices!! Bootleg alert: At this point I have collected nine Connells boots. Most are excellent, with a few in the good category. If people are interested--let me know. I would be very willing to conduct trades or to supervise a tape tree. Later, Art "it's you I swear, it's you I swear I delight in my (your) despair" -M Connell (as interpreted by D MacMillan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this issue: 1. Ryan talks about a wedding, that's right a wedding! 2. Cream article (part one) 3. The Raygun article 4. Matt talks about how he got into the Connells + other stuff 5. Greg and an old review 6. Replay of Art's review 7. Ryan and the Concordia Show 8. The Proposal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: rfischer@VAX.CORD.EDU on Sat, Jun 11, 1994 3:24 PM Art, I do not know whether or not you have heard about this, but it is some- thing you may want to mention. Mike Connell got married this past week in Chapel Hill, NC. My professor/informant, George Connell, flew down there a few days back to be at the wedding. I shall have more details this week. I have to give George some photos from the Connells' Cornstock performance, so I shall make my enquiry then. This summer, I am going to twist my parents' arms so I can get a chance to go down to Raleigh, hopefully in August. I would like to drive down with a friend. I have never been down in the southeast before, so I am really going to kick, scream, etc. to get that trip. Ultimately, I would hope to meet Mike, David, or ANYBODY, for all that it matters for an hour or so, in the midst of all the sightseeing I want to do. My parents were down in North Carolina this spring, and they mentioned how beautiful it was. So, who knows....if you should receive some ecstatic e-mail from me in August, that shall indicate that I had a wonderful trip and all those good things. Hope to hear from you, Ryan ________________________ Art, I was over to George Connell's house today. He gave me a few details about Mike Connell's wedding. It was held in a tent by a historic house near Chapel Hill, NC. Currently, Mike is honeymooning in Paris. George told me that the sales of "Ring" have apparently levelled off at about 125,000. I guess this means we should not be planning any big "break- through" parties in the near future. Maybe if they record another album.... Hmmmm. Anxiously awaiting the release of the "New Boy" EP, Ryan D. Fischer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Connells Cream vol.3 no.2 p.24 January/February '94 (Part 1) by Tom Lanham Are American audiences, on the whole, pretty stupid? This is the question Doug Macmillan is addressing while his crafty Carolina combo the Connells jangles through a soundcheck. The evidence is all there Beavis and Butt-head on the cover of Newsweek; Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" being misinterpreted as a flag waving anthem. Even Americanized remakes of definitive European films such as The Vanishing and La Femme Nikita insinuate that we Yanks enjoy being talked down to. But perhaps the most telling footnote is the Connells' curious career itself, which--after eight years and rive brilliant pop albums--still remains stuck in low indie-label gear. Is this outfit--huh, huh, huh--too smart--huh, huh, huh--for us? Macmillan isn't sure. But he's got some theories. "La Femme Nikita is the best example of that way of thinking," he says, after apologizing for his group's striaghtforward soundcheck rendition of Bob Seger's tacky "Night moves" number. "The original Frnech version was so cool--they were spoofining Bruce Willis and all those action guys. And What does Hollywood do? They turn around and film one over here! So maybe there's a danger to doing things that aren't 100% serious, things that have an element of irony to them, because there's always gonna be somebody who totally buys it." Unfortunately, these gullible people--whoever they are--were not buying Connells records. The group still resides in relative obscurity in Raleigh, NC, and continues to record for tiny TVT Records when it's not touring the East COast club circuit to put food on the table. After a spin though the latest Connells communique, RING, the tragic plot thickens. This is a great alternative-rock album, bubbling over with bright bluebird hooks and snappy lyrical patter and clipping along on an almost heroic momentum. While guitarist/songwriter Mike Connell clangs out his typically Merseybeat leads, Macmillan sings his leaders super-smart thoughts in s souffle-fluffy tenor that settles into the music like soft autumn leaves. "I've been standing slackjawed since you were here/yeah, I've been standing slackjawed," goes the memorable chorus to "slackjawed," and--although the term "slackjawed" isn't heard very often in pop music parlance--the cut sounds like an old childhood chart friend, something you might've heard on your pillow-ticked transistor late one schoolnight. Long before you learned the importance of SAT scores, that is. Maybe if the Connells had used simpler Cliff Notes terminology this song would be a big hit. Perhaps we could edit down Finnegan's Wake while we're at it, too. Keep the art basic and understandable for our slow-witted Everyman. "there's always someone who doesn't get 'Slackjawed,' and I can tell when they're not getting it, and I start laughing," says Macmillan, who doesn't speak with any perceptible snootiness. "It's when people look at you sort of dumbfounded, you know? But I like those kind of lyrics, ones that, when you hear 'em, you can visualize what they're about." A touch of frustration creeps into his voice as he admits, "Some of our songs are easier to fall into than others--they don't take much thinking to get into." Of course, when the Connells first got together in 1984, the guys were all still frat-rats in college. Degrees were forsaken, however, as the unit gelled and started touring. Mike Connell and his bassist brother David had been weaned on Southern soul, but a latent--and now-trademark--Brit rock fetish was audible by TVT album #2, the exuberant Boylan Heights. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Raygun Article Feb. '94 The Connells by Jim Desmond The Connells suffer from a bit of an identity crisis. Their pure pop sound, preppy look and teeny bopper fan base [art's angered by this comment] make it easy to write them off as lightweight. But there is nothing lightweight about RING, the band's fifth release. Taking a break from fishing off the Carolina beach, Doug MacMillan, the band's lead singer and resident free-spirit, explains that he's been listening to the new Nirvana record, which triggered some thoughts on why people can miss the boat on the Connells. "Nirvana hits you over the head with all the anger and fear or whatever they're feeling," says MacMillan. "Then later on I find myself thinking, 'Wow, these melodies are good." "With us," he continues, "it's exactly the opposite. The things that are unsettling, the skewed perceptions of things that are in the songs don't reveal themselves immediately. I don't know if our way is better, but that's how we do it." Later I met up with the band's principal songwriter, Mike Connell, over breakfast at a coffee shop on the fringe of the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where MIke was a law student and his brother David an undergrad when they formed the band in 1984. Mike, the band's yin to Macmillan's yang, became visibly uneasy when discussing his lyrics the chrous of "Disappointment," one of RING's best moments, goes "And if I dissappointed you, I'm sorry. You're a disappointment too." "I don't feel comfortable writing optimistic lyrics and I don't know why," he cautiously stated. "I didn't have a traumatic childhood or anything like that. I write in the minor key a lot and light-hearted lyrics just seem out of place. In some ways maybe it is calculated, I guess. If the lyrics were as nice or sweet as the melodies it would be too much. There would be no rough edges." On the surface, the sound of RING is safe pure pop, nothing earth shaking yet thoroughly listenable-bouncy songs, the melodic guitar lines of Mike Connell and George Huntley, the careful rhythms of David Connell and Peel Wimberley and MacMillan's sweet high vocals. But dig a bit deeper and you'll discover surprisingly intense tales of betrayal. It has never been easy getting a handle on the Connells. They are a study in contrasts. Buoyant melodies offset by Mike Connell's penchant for dark lyrics. Southerners drawing primarily from British pop bands from the Beatles to the Smiths. Studious players fronted by a singer who is most comfortable on stage when things go haywire ("When something breaks, I'm squared," he says. "When I do a goof, it's my natural personality coming out.") While hoping that RING does for the Connells what GRAVE DANCER'S UNION did for their good friends in Soul Asylum, Mike Connell is trying to keep some perspective o the position his band is now perched in. "When I stop long enough to think about it," he sayd, "I can't believe that I could compalin about selling only 100,000 records. I think of all the great bands like Big Star who never sold anywhere near that and I feel like an ingrate." [Any comments on this? I never knew Soul Asylum and the Connells were friends. Is that true?] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Matt Tomich My junior year in high school, I saw lots of the preppie kids wearing Connells T-shirts. I was like, "Who the hell are THESE guys?" Somebody described them to me as "a poppier R.E.M." I was like, as my very cynical puberty-wrenched persona of the time was apt to, "Oh, yeah, that's the last fucking thing the world needs." Now I just got done with my junior year in college. Admittedly, I'm a different guy, in big ways. And in January this year, this guy from Vanderbilt transfers into the wing where I'm an R.A. I don't even remember why I borrowed the CD of "One Simple Word" from him. Maybe I was bored with the CD's I'd been listening too. Maybe he'd been playing it. Maybe I thought their 120 Minutes performance wasn't that bad. After the chorus of "Stone Cold Yesterday", I smirked as I realized what an asshole I must've sounded like four years ago. The second song wasn't bad. "Get a Gun"...whoa, that's a keeper. Didn't care much for the song after that. But it was consistently decent after that. The CD remained in heavy rotation on my stereo for about a month. So I decided to borrow "Ring"... I don't know which one I like better. I think "Simple Word"'s production strikes me as a little more honest, but I guess that's because it's a little less slick. I think the songs are slightly better constructed on "Ring", but I have no faults at all with "Simple Word". And there's "New Boy"...and that song about the guy who needs to see himself on the wall of a "three or four star restaurant" (the name escapes me now). Everybody knows somebody like that. "Running Mary". Beautiful. Of course, none of this compares to "Waiting My Turn", but I'll talk about that later. So anyways, this guy, Chris...he loans me "Fun and Games". I don't think I got through a single listen of it without putting in one of the other two CD's. I thought thought that the sound and songs on the other two were so vastly superior...(but don't worry, I'll get to it.) So I listen these two CD's to death, and then I hear that they're playing in St. Louis over Spring Break. The only problem is that it's some radio station's birthday party concert and you have to WIN tickets. So we're in St. Louis over Spring Break anyway, and we go to this Pizza Hut and sit there with five people trying to win a single pair of tickets. After four hours and a stomachful of grease later, I got a T-shirt, but no tickets. (It was a radio T-shirt, not a Connell's T.) Luckily, when I got back to school, I found out that the Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri was having the Connells there in late April. Whew. So I call and get tickets. And there's this girl that I REALLY like named Katie, and we're in my room hanging out late on night, and I'm listening to "One Simple Word", and I'm like, "Hey, these guys are playing at the Blue Note the day after tomorrow, do you want to go?" And the day of the show, she says yeah. The day of the show: The Blue Note is about 60% percent full. Doug, the lead singer, is hanging out upstairs before the show. I guess I could've stopped him and said something when he walked by, but I didn't have anything to say that he probably hasn't already heard. I missed the opening bands because Katie and I were hanging out in this back alley that a friend of mine drank a 40 ounce bottle of Magnum on a dare (don't do it...it's evil) talking to this really interesting janitor guy that works at this warehouse. But we didn't miss the Connells. The band came out, and I was like, "Wow...they really do look like brothers. Cool." Doug was...uh... kinda intoxicated. He tried to dance or something. He was standing on the monitors at the front of the stage and almost fell off. There were these girls screaming at David [Mike] (?) Connell (the guitar player that writes so many of the songs). But I was transfixed on Mike...the bass player. Great freakin' bass player. I loved his sound...really warm...and the way he kinda bops around...you know, receding hairline and married and well dressed -- breakin' all the rock cliches -- but is still GREAT. (I assume he's married, he's got the ring.) If I were a woman (or gay), I would've been screaming for him (if he didn't have the ring.) I thought it was really cool how he and David were on the same side of the stage next to each other...you know, that they were brothers and they toured together and they were next to each other on stage. Anybody know anything about their relationship? (I saw that thing about how they have another brother who is a professor...does anybody have a copy of that? It'd have new significance to me now...) And David just smiled all the time...really seemed like a great guy. Left-handed. And their music really had that warm, sunny quality. I guess that's what happens when you live in North Carolina and get all that sunlight and spring starting in March (instead of April or May, like here in the Midwest.) The show was really good...I had a great time. They played a lot off Ring, and the songs I really wanted to hear off of "One Simple Word" ("Stone Cold" + "Get A Gun".) I thought alot of their songs lost some of their sublety (especially "Get A Gun") in the translation to the live stage, but then again they were all drinkin' imported beer and I saw them only once. They REALLY kicked it on "New Boy", definitely the climax of the night. The ending chorus, they really hit it there. I can't wait to hear the live version that's coming out...I hope they recorded it on a night that was as "on" as the one that I saw. (And I was sitting there thinking of the description of the show that I had missed in St. Louis: "They were really drunk and it was just full of radio promotion people..." Yuck. Doesn't sound like I missed much.) For the encore, they almost played "Waiting My Turn"...David started playing it, and Doug goes, "Hey, we can't do that...we don't have a cello..." It sounded wonderful anyway, they should've gone ahead and done it. But I'll save that for later... I just moved in with two roommates, one of which I went to the concert with. I borrowed one of their copies of "Fun and Games" and under new circumstances (and better weather), I've been listening to it. I don't think it hits as high as "One Simple Word" or "Ring" (even thought I somehow get the feeling that it's their 'classic' album from people that I've talked to), it's got some decent tunage on it. They definitely grew alot inbetween that and "One Simple Word"... Looking at the copyright dates, it's three years between "One Simple" and "Ring"...does this strike anybody else as a long time for an 'alternative' band? Or there an album between the two that I'm missing? And yeah, Art, "Burden" is a great song too. I was happy when they played it in concert. Okay, anyways, about that song...it has to do with my friend Katie... see, I made this tape for her, it had "Waiting My Turn" it on it, and it's her favorite song on the tape, and she was listening to the tape when this semi-truck wasn't looking when he switched lanes and dumped her into a ditch in this car accident three days after school got out, and she almost died but she's okay except for some surgery she had tohave on her hand, and I'm here for the summer and she's three and a half hours away and she just left an hour ago and my shirt still smells like her, etc. etc. etc. Ah, yeah, like you haven't heard this all before. -- M@ i261%nemomus@academic.nemostate.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------ //Skyway\\: The Replacements Electronic Newsletter and Support Group (write a letter sayin' "Sign me up!" to: skyway@phoenix.creighton.edu) (If you have trouble replying to this letter at the nemomus address,<\PRE> forward your letter/write me at: skyway@phoenix.creighton.edu.)<\PRE> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Greg Koehler Art- Well as I said, I saw the Connells on Monday. It was truly a great experience. First of all, Mike Connell has got to be the nicest person Ive ever met. During the concert he was continuously saying thanks and smiling. They played the 'favorites' like you mentioned. Unfortunately I was unable to snatch a set list. But heres a story. Believe me, this really happened. Early on, there was a bunch of guys in the front that kept yelling out Stone Cold Yesterday. Well, Doug got fed up and told them that if they bought him a shot of Jagermeister, they would sing it (like they werent going to sing it anyhow). So, they did. And it turned out that the whole band ended up recieving a shot (Mike turned his down). Anyhow, Later on, they finally played the song. The irony is that just before the chorus, the sound totally cut out. So, it was just the crowd singing. The band was confused, needless to say. Doug tried to keep it going for a while but then they realized that it was out for good. Of course we didnt take that. It was a very good crowd, and we were clapping and yelling and banging bottles. It was awesome. Mike and Doug finally came back out and played Hey Wow. Of course, doug was inaudible. Somehow, they hooked up an acoustic guitar for mike. Once again, it was just the audience having a great time. Afterwards, I hung out and Mike was very friendly. He even got some of us a beer from backstage. Very cool. I just listened. Mike dealt with a guy bagering him about the record company and another guy asking for Law school advice. Doug seemed a bit pissed or something. He and Peele seemed to know some people. George basically just walked out the door. He didnt really seem to be into the concert. I wonder if he is sick of things. Information: Mike said that they will probably try one more album and then call it quits. He says hes gettin old (35). He said that 74-75 is just a number. It signifies a turning point that we all go through. He tended not to talk about specifics of songs. Well, thats all for now. I cant wait to see them again. A full show next time. But what I saw, was truly fantastic. It had to be, even if you don't like them. Later, greg gkoehler@ucs.indiana.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Art Jipson Some people said they did not get this so...(my apolagies to the people who have already seen this). Well a big hello to all, I hope that finals and such are not too hefty for everyone in school. I know that I can't wait for summer to come. Although, the work will still continue for me (big sigh). A very big hello to all the new members! Welcome aboard. Note to everyone: I should have something worked out soon with my systems manager on doing away with all of the names at the beginning. Please "bear" with me. If your account is going to close over the summer (or end entirely) let me know. Althought the Connells will be taking a break for the Summer I still think that we could continue our speculations and obsessions. Anyway, the main reason for posting this is to comment on the Connells appearance at my own Miami University. To begin I have to say "hey!" to Dean. Yup, one of our own besides me, went to the show. It was great fun to hang out with another Boylan Heights member (and see what at least one other member looks like). I had an interview with Mike set for 3:15 (by the way the day of the show was Saturday--04/23/94--for those of you listening). I walked past some local security guards, well they were students actually. And yes, one of them is in my Sociological theory course, which made for interesting conversation. Anyway, I found Mike throwing a football around with some other guys. He remembered me right off (gosh!) from our previous interview in Cincinnati the last time that they were in the area. We shot the breeze for awhile. I asked how he was doing and he asked me about my wife. She had to work and could not come with. I was flattered that he remembered her. I asked him about his impending wedding. Set for sometime in July, I think. The interview went well. I will be posting the transcription to the digest in a week or so. He was happy, funny, and in great humor through it all. The interview was interupted by the Connells soundcheck and before Mike came back I talked to George about his solo project. It is a go. TVT is giving him creative and financial control (with some preset limit--I'm not gonna ask him that, sheesh!). He has assembled a band that includes Raleigh locals and some other musicians. Peele is going to play on a track but the Connell brothers will be noticably absent. George should start working on it in June or July. George and I talked about other music things: The Beatles, Southern Rock, the business in general and what's the best drink after a show (the answers: George Harrison, some good-some bad, TVT is ok, and it varies). Mike came and sat down with George, Dean (I mentioned him above), and myself. Mike and I finished the interview. During this part we found out that in Too Gone (from One Simple Word)--the last line is "six in my pants." You'll have to wait for the explanation on that one. After the interview was finished Dean and I went to a local bar and grill for some food. Once finished we returned to the field. Yeah, they played an outdoor show. The Indians were one of the two openers. We decided/opted for food over seeing the local band--Two Doors Down. The Indians were pretty good. Although I don't think that the neo-hippy love thang played well to the mostly-frat and sorority crowd. The Connells took the stage around 8:30. They opened with "Hey You" and although there were some sound problems in the beginning (a usual problem for outdoor shows) you could tell that this was going to be the show of a lifetime. It was. They covered material from Word, Boylan Heights, Funa nd Games, and Ring. The faves were all there and then some. I kept yelling for "Hats off" but I MIke didn't hear me, so.... Anyway, the band was tight, Doug was in a great mood and played (when doesn't he?) with the crowd. He spotted me in the crowd a couple of times and we sent hand signals back and forth. I should point out that Dean and I were close to the front. Very close. All in all the show was fantastic. They hit the highlights with: Slackjawed, New Boy (the soon to be released single on a 5-song ep), stone cold Yesterday, Fun and Games, Sal, Motel, an unusual Jethro Tull cover (got me on the title), Try, Burden, and closed with take a bow. The crowd went nuts when the strains of 74-75 started. It was great. The crowd was enthusiastic. Doug clapped, they clapped. Doug swayed, they swayed. In fact, Mike had his own fan contingent--after Mike sang Burden, many of us were yelling "atta boy Mike!" and "way to go Mike!" It was a lively crowd. I loved it. After the show, Dean and I hung out with the guys and talked to them about what a great show it was and (as always) hoping that things would only get better for them. While Jimmy was impatient (he's the tour manager if you haven't met him) for them to get going they gave away posters and things. It was great! Well, I guess that "sums it up.' I will be posting more on the forthcoming digest. I just wanted to send something out soon to you folks. Take care, Art jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Ryan Fischer Art, Cornstock here at Concordia was spectacular. The Connells performance was a religious experience for me. I had the opportunity of meeting Mike and David at George's house. I phoned George at around 11.30-11.45 on Saturday morning, and said, "Would it be possible for me to meet your brothers? I would be honored to meet them.... etc." George said, "I tell you what, why don't you come here in about a half hour or so....you know where my house is." A half an hour later, I arrived at George's house, and knocked on the door. The door opened, and Mike peeked around and said, "Hi, I'm Mike Connell." So Mike, David, George, and I sat and schmoozed at George's house for about 35 minutes. That was a thrill. Later that afternoon, I went up to the studio of the campus radio station, and Mike, David, George Huntley, and Steve were hanging around before the performance, and we discussed music for a while, but I figured I had better get going because they were scheduled to perform shortly. The performance itself lifted me to majestic clouds of musical rapture. About half way into the show, Doug announced, "This next song is for Ryan Fischer." It was "Hey You" as I recall. After the song was finished, "As long as we're at it," Doug said, "this song is for Ryan, too." And then Doug mumbled something like "Ryan, Ryan, where have you been all my life." I do not know exactly how to interpret that statement.... They ended the performance with "Stone Cold Yesterday. people started chanting "one more song--one more song--one more song." They came back and played a jazzy 12-bar thing set to a swing beat and featured Steve plunking out jazz chords on his "plastic," as he likes to call it. ("Plastic" is Steve's slang for synthesizer.) That only went on for about a minute. Then they played "Take a Bow," I think. Afterwords I went backstage and introduced myself to Doug and Peele, and I schmoozed a little more with David. It was an excellent end to an excellent show. My recollections of the show are rather sketchy because I was drunk. In other words--DO NOT DISTRIBUTE THIS, please, please, pretty please. For a more detailed account of the show, I suggest that you contact Alan Bjerga (abjerga@ vax.cord.edu), or George Connell (connell@vax.cord.edu). I will remember a great show, however, and how down to earth the band was. Especially Mike and Dave. They were very adept at conversation, and they were always gracious and hospitable. I will always recall how good they are....and not just musically speaking. And I think Doug was just as hammered as I was. Have a lovely week, Ryan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The proposal: Hey folks I would like to propose that we DO something. As the New Boy ep comes out, I think that we should collectively organize calling in to local and regional radio stations. I think that by mounting a campaign of calling radio stations, we could at least help (in some small way) people to hear the Connells. Now this is nothing major. I would suggest calling for some of the songs on the ep twice a day per radio station. My own plan is to call an alternative station in my town twice to three times a day. And to call two Cincinnati radio stations twice a day. Now, given the nature of radio programing (I used to manage an alternative station, so I know how useless requests really can be) this exercise will not change the nature of the universe. However, it can convince people to program more Connells. And how can that hurt?!!! So, check into local radio stations and let me know if you want to participate. --Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end. I hope everyone is having fun this Summer! Next Issue: Some Interviews with Mike, George, and Doug! Part Two + More ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Eight July 9, 1994 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: Art Jipson jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "Watch an eyeball, take a free fall, off the counter's ledge." - Buffalo Tom "Working in the halls of Shame...." -Uncle Tupelo "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #9 --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--=--==--==--==--==-- == // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1994 Fun and Games Productions August 15, 1994 Volume One, Issue Nine --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The manager of this digest, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Note that this is not a mail deflector but a digest! Subscription/removal requests Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Hey folks! First offs, I have to say sorry to Ryan. The computer was supposed to delete part of one of your messages. What can I say, sorry! We are a growing group over the Summer. Seven more people have joined up. Welcome to all the new members. I hope that the digest is interesting to you all. If anyone has any questions or concerns send them into me. I have started talking to the electronic support people about adding gopher sites and archives. More on that as things progress. The other day I was working on the computer and what should come on the radio but the Connells with 'Slackjawed.' I love it when that happens--the programers actually put something on that I want to hear. It really seems to just make me feel good and smile. To add to my delirium, the next song was the replacements with 'Here Comes a Regular.' I think I live for those brief moments of happiness. Several people have contacted me saying that they want to participate in the "call in" and "write in" campaign. I don't seen any need for any rules or anythin'. I just say that we coordinate calling radio stations. Several times a day should make a difference. Get your friends to do it and it will work perfectly. As far as timing goes, the single should be out on the 13th of September. The video has not been sent to MTV yet, I had my wires crossed on that one. The vid will be sent to MTV in two to three weeks. We will need to write to them so that our requests come just as they start showing the video. What do people think? Write them in a two weeks? The band plans some more touring beginning on the 4th of September. The mini-tour will run until the 29th and concentrate on the South East. I don't have any firm venues and dates, but I expect to get some soon. If anyone has some solid dates and venues--send 'em in. I have to say that I am sorry for not getting to the interview stuff this time. I have to work on publications instead. Sorry. Hey, I gotta eat too. I hope that everyone has survived the Summer and is ready for whatever comes next. I am ready for a new semester myself but could really use more time off. I am also anxious for the ep. Oh, well.... Later, Art "it's you I swear, it's you I swear I delight in my (your) despair" -M Connell (as interpreted by D. MacMillan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this issue: 1. Cream article part two 2. Ryan 3. Craig 4. Matteo 5. George Huntley Band review 6. Doug and Karl 7. Mike, the New Boy 8. Support for the proposal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Connells Cream vol.3 no.2 p.24 January/February '94 (Part 2) by Tom Lanham Of course, when the Connells first got together in 1984, the guys were all still frat-rats in college. Degrees were forsaken, however, as the unit gelled and started touring. Mike Connell and his bassist brother David had been weaned on Southern soul, but a latent--and now-trademark--Brit rock fetish was audible by TVT album #2, the exuberant Boylan Heights. That Big Ben chime is still around on Ring, in folksy songs such as "Spiral" and "Running Mary." MacMillan is quick to squeal on his compadre too: "Oh yeah, MIke was a big Jethro Tull fan growing up, back before their real self-indulgent phase kicked in." In vintage "Living in the Past," in case crowds fail to guess the band's arcane roots. But why stay in Raleigh? Why not hightail it for major-label Los Angeles after all this time? "Actually, for groups on the East coast, it's either New York or Boston," MacMillan corrects. "But I just don't see the need. I can think of several bands who've moved up there, only to find out that nothing was happening. But it all depends on your expectations as far as this business goes, so I'm just pleased to still be doing this." The Connells, in fact, had Hollywood come to them recently when rock video director Mark Pellington (Pearl Jam's award-winning "Jeremy") arrived in Raleigh to film a clip for "'74-'75," the new Ringle single. "He went to the high school in town and got an old '74-'75 yearbook and actually interviewed people from that class," says MacMillan. "You know the documentary 28 UP? It's like that. He flashes the yearbook picture on the screen and then follows it with footage of them now. The video doesn't completely evoke with what the lyrics are about but it works." When pressed, MacMillan confesses he doesn't really know what Mike Connell meant with such lines as "I was the one who let you know/I was your soryy-ever-after, '74-'75/giving me more and I'll defy." The best explanantion he can manage is, "Well, it's obvious Mike was writing about a specific experience, although he didn't elaborate. It sounds like its about a bad relationship, or it could be a family matter, and I've noticed that on different nights we play it, different things come into my head." A track you have to analyze to appreciate? God forbid! Beavis and Butt-head will take one look at the vid and declare "This sucks! Huh, huh, huh." Ultimately though, MacMillan is happy just being his low-profile self. "I like not knowing what "'74-'75" is about," he testily defends. "Because the whole point of the song is, yuo take from it what you can get." And what's so difficult to grasp about that? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Ryan I have the set list from the Connells' Cornstock performance from 16 April 1994. I do not know if you want it, but here she goes: 1. If It Crumbles (soundcheck) 2. Sal 3. Hey Wow 4. Something To Say 5. Burden 6. Doin' You 7. Upside Down 8. Disappointed 9. Try 10. '74-'75 11. Over There (dedicated to me) 12. Inside My Head 13. Slackjawed 14. New Boy 15. Motel 16. Fun And Games 17. Stone Cold Yesterday (Additional songs) Get A Gun Choose A Side (also dedicated to me, after Over There) Take a Bow (final song, after Stone Cold Yesterday) And that is it. I do not know if this is completely accurate, even though it was Peele's set list. I think the Connells may have deviated from the set plan a bit, but I really enjoyed the performance anyhow! (Interestingly, the set list has a pseudonomously written short story on the back side, entitled "A Grizzly Bus Tale"....would any one of the Connells have a penchant for human decapitation by any chance?) Well, my modem is REALLY tying up the Fischer family phone line, so it is "adios" for now. Keep sending me stuff, whenever and wherever you may get it. I am interested in the bootleg recordings, and I have plenty of blank tape, so I would appreciate some information on those recordings. Stay away from the heat, Ryan Fischer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Craig Got the summer issue of Boylan Heights..Couple of comments: yes, I believe that American audiences are dumb when it comes to the Connells..Few bands consistently write good songs, even fewer GREAT songs..The Connells differ because I have yet to dislike even one song by them! Why does this band linger in the shadows of obscurity? Are they too intelligent for the masses? Is their record company guilty of poor promotion? I mean come on..I remember when I was in college back in '87 or so that they were the new hip thing..(At least around here at U of I, Champaign,IL);..They seemed like they were about to break big, couple of vids on MTV, radio play, critical acclaim,etc.. What the hell happened? I will sorely miss them if they record one more album and then split, but who can blame them? I expected "Ring" to rocket them to success this year, but even our local "Modern Rock" station played their single sporadically instead of constantly - I guess Bjork was more alt. than the Connells or something - now they play that poor excuse of a Violent Femmes song constantly.. STILL LOOKING FOR THE CONNELLS to come back to the Univ. of Illinois!! God knows they got a good reception each time they were here!! Charley -- Gaz ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Matt I've been reading over the back issues of the Heights that Art sent me, and I'm just amazed at how cool Dave and Mike are. (And yeah, in my post, I got the two names mixed up...sorry...but I bet you guys figured it all out anyway...) But in all the interviews and the article reposts, there seems to be this tragic air...like the band isn'tdoing as well as it's supposed to and Dave is thinkin' of leaving (did Iget the name right this time?)[othat's mike, I think --Arto] after one more album and TVT is a screw job... So what are they doing now? Are they going back on tour anytime soon? It was posted that Ring capped out at about 125-150,000 copies (sorry if I misquote that)...what about the potential of the New Boy single? Why is it that everybody I know that hears this album loves it? Is the record company stupid? Don't they realize that if they push it a little harder, that they could possibly break through? It's not like the band hasn't done their part...I wonder if they noticed the dime in royalties they got when I picked up the CD of "One Simple Word" last month... Man, the music industry just isn't fair. Neither the Replacements albums "Tim" or "Let It Be" went gold...and it looks like they're letting the Connells sink as well. When that New Boy single comes out, I'm going to give the crappy station here some serious telephone hell to play that baby once a day. Hey, do any of these guys have internet accounts? Can anybody summarize the band's educational backgrounds? (I heard law school, Chapel Hill, etc.) -- Mateo i261%nemomus@academic.nemostate.edu DEFENESTRATION (de-feni-strai-tion), v.: the act of throwing a person or thing out a window. ---------------------------------------------------------------- //Skyway\\: The Replacements Electronic Newsletter and Support Group (write a letter sayin' "Sign me up!" to: skyway@phoenix.creighton.edu) (If you have trouble replying to this letter at the nemomus address, forward your letter/write me at: skyway@phoenix.creighton.edu.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Matt, as I understand it Mike has his law degree and took the bar exam in North Carolina and passed. Dave never finished his BA in art and history. As for the others, I don't know. Anyone else have more or more coorect info. --Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Lisa (FlashHerm@aol.com) Hi, Connells fans. Last night at the Brewery here in Raleigh, George Huntley and his band gave us a taste of what to expect on his soon-to-be-recorded solo disc. The band consisted of George on acoustic guitar and lead vocals (and electric guitar on one song), Peele Wimberley of the Connells on drums (first half of show) and percussion (second half of show), another drummer/percussionist who traded roles with Peele and whose name I do not know, Jack Campbell of Johnny Quest on bass, and a lead guitarist whose name I also do not know. Perhaps if any of the rest of you were there or know more about the band, you can fill in the missing names for us. They played for just over an hour and the songs sounded pretty much as you'd expect, based on the songs the George has written for the Connells over the years. A couple of songs have more of a country feel than anything the Connells have recorded. Overall I thought they sounded very good. The crowd was receptive, although George acknowledged that it's tough to come out and listen to songs you've never heard before. In attendance were David and Mike Connell and their brother John, as well as Doug MacMillan and Connells manager Ed Morgan. And lots of other folks, of course. Don't know if Ed is also managing George's solo career. George's album will be recorded in Miami sometime in August, and the Connells hit the road again in September. Almost forgot the visuals: George is now sporting a ponytail and mustache/goatee. Just thought ya might like to know that. George and band are playing again tonight, this time at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, just down the road from UNC-Chapel Hill. I'm looking forward to hearing the studio versions of George's tunes. I'll keep you posted as I hear more about his record. Lisa (FlashHerm@aol.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Lisa (FlashHerm@aol.com) Somewhere in the summer issue you or someone wondered whether the Connells are really friends with Soul Asylum. Yes, they are. In particular, S.A.'s bassist, Karl Mueller, hangs out with Doug MacMillan on occasion. (I have a newspaper article that talks about this; I'll try to find it.) The other guys in both bands are also friendly with each other, but Karl/Doug is the main connection. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for answering my question!! --Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Mike Art- this is for the digest: Hello. I am a new boy to the list. I'm Mike and I am writing to you from Areica's Heartland, Bloomington, Indiana. I saw in a past digest that Greg is also here in B-town - drop me a note! (mdenunzi). I won't waste much space right now, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'll condense my Connells history into a list. Let's see... 1. I've been a fan pretty much from the start when I bought Darker Days as a high-school kid in Chicago (I'm 24). "Seven" still rocks me. 2. I've seen the boys about six times, most recently here in Bloomington. This is the show Greg wrote about where they lost power during SCY. I figured they wouldn't come back on so I juped up on stage and got the set list and jumped back down into the arms of a waiting bouncer - later! (I got to keep the list). 3. At that gig I met Mike and Dave and Peele. I echo you all who say that these are indeed the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet. I told Peele about these two stewardesses who lived upstairs from me in Chicago after college who said they went to high school with him - he didn't recalll. 4. Whenever I'm drunk (not too often :) ) and I'm listening to the one-two punch of "New Boy" and "Disappointed", I feel like crying. Mike writes some of the most moving songs I've ever heard. The soaring guitar solos in both songs give me chills. 5. I will for the rest of my life find it inconceivable that the Connells did not (yet) hit it big. How music like theirs gets overlooked while some of the utter tripe out there sells millions of albums. 6. Once I was driving down a quiet country road at night and I saw a mailbox with a hanging metal address plate that said "111 the Connells". I pulled over and took it. (Wouldn't you have!?) 7. I'm really excited to finally find this list of fans. I'm also on lists for REM, Toad the wet Sprocket, JudyBats, and Trash Can Sinatras. If you want info. on any of these, let me know. I guess that's it. I'm waiting for the EP like everyone else. And sadly, like you others who have talked to band members, it seems that they are indeed pretty close to calling it quits. We as fans need to do all we can to help out (as Art mentioned with his 'radio call-in' plan.) Talk to you later! mike ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Robb Hi, i don't have much to say... but I think the idea about calling MTV and radio stations is a good idea. Maybe we could even post the suggestion to alt.music.alternative.... It's obvious that the Connells aren't "selling out", plus they deserve all the attention that they can get. (plus, from some of the interviews, it sounds like they really want it...) Now, this isn't something one or two people alone can do on their own. We need to get a lot of fans and even friends who don't listen to the Connells (yet) to call up and demand to hear "New Boy" when the ep and video are released. Please let me know of any differing opinions..... Robb Milacci --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== I agree Robb! Let's set something up! All I suggest is a loosely coordinated series of phone calls and written requests. We could all write to Mtv and call local radio stations. That isn't asking too much is it!? :) --Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Nine August 15, 1994 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: Art Jipson jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell "Working in the halls of Shame...." -Uncle Tupelo "You feel like kissin', when it seems that half of your face is missin'" --Richard Thompson =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #10 --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--=--==--==--==--==-- == // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1994 Fun and Games Productions October 4, 1994 Volume One, Issue Ten --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The manager of this digest, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Note that this is not a mail deflector but a digest! Subscription/removal requests Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Life sucks and then you die. To some of us this is just one among many tired cliches, for those of us working in a university--it is truth. I had us set up for our own server and all the beautiful things that would come from that. Then the university decides to kill a number of networks. Two and a half weeks of work, gone...kaput...destroyed. But, hey, am I bitter? NAH!!!! I am sorry for the inconvenience of all the names at the beginning of this, but until I am able to find a new home for us--this is home. It's not that bad is it? Don't say anything too mean, remember I am testy right now. ;) :) [for the electronically impaired these are a wink and a smile]--aw come on it's a joke. I knew I should not have stayed up this late. At any rate, I really love the new ep. The cover of Jethro Tull's 'Living in the Past' is great. Better than the original in my opinion. Of course, I am not one for prog rock. But hey, we all know the songs from the commercials: "come one now, everybody get together...." The two new tracks from the Ring sessions are very strong. I don't see why they didn't make the cd. Anybody have any clues on that? The two live tracks show the Connells strengths. I do have a question--does anyone have a tape of the entire show that the songs are taken from? I would love to track down a copy, as I would imagine some of you folks would as well. How is the call and write in campaign going? I have managed to get them added to three radio stations in the area. Anyone else? I also talked to people at MTV but I don't know what to expect with those people. Remember to write the powers at MTV--everything helps. Later, Art "it's you I swear, it's you I swear I delight in my (your) despair" -M Connell (as interpreted by D. MacMillan) "Yes, I know, but believe me it gets worse" -M Connell (Logan Street) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this issue: 1. Tour dates 2. Winston's reactions 3. JLH's Bio 4. Bill asks the big Question 5. Ryan and radio 6. Decapitation, yes decapitation. 7. Tom talks to Mike 8. Dan talks about some shows 9. Any Info on George? + info on Cracker list 10. Ryan answers our question! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: JENNIFER LYNN HALTER on Sun, Oct 2, 1994 6:56 PM Subject: TOUR! Hey Art! I was just looking through the newest RS mag and the CONNELLS are headling the new music tour- (ha- new music?) Anyway- it's the fall tour and here are the dates- Kent S.U.- Oct.10 U of Toledo-Oct.11 Drexel U.-Oct.13 U of RI- Oct. 14 U of Kentucky- Oct.17 Eastern Kent. U-Oct.18 U of SC (I will hopefully be here!)- Oct.24 U of central Fla.-Oct.26 Auburn U.-Oct.28 Tulane U- Nov.1 That's all the info there was in the mag. I wish they would have said more about it. Anyway- again, thanks for the opportunity to read about other Connells fans- They are one of the greatest bands ever!!!! LATER- JENN :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Winston Baccus on Tue, Sep 27, 1994 6:12 PM Subject: New Boy So, did anyone besides me get the new Connells ep? I like it. The new songs are really pretty good, and the live versions are nice too. Here's a list of what's on it: 1. New Boy 2. Logan Street 3. Wonder Why 4. Living in the Past 5. Fun and Games (live) 6. New Boy (live) Well worth the $10, IMHO WiNsToN BaCcUs - ThE UnIvErSiTy oF AlAbAmA wBaCcUs@uA1Ix.uA.eDu 'It's not the pace of life that bothers me, it's that sudden stop at the end.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston, I must agree! I love the two non-lp tracks. Oops, I guess I should say--non-cd tracks. I encourage everyone to go buy a copy. Sheesh, what's stopping you. Forget food, go! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: JENNIFER LYNN HALTER on Thu, Sep 29, 1994 1:43 PM Subject: my bio! Hello everybody! I'm a new subscriber to this list and I have a lot to say! I LOVE THE CONNELLS!!! I moved to North Carolina with my family about three years ago and that is when I got into them. OSW was the first album I heard and I liked it a lot. Now I have every album and I listen to them all the time. I can't pull myself away! Anyway, I am now a sophmore at the University of NC at Chapel Hill. No, I never see Mike or anyone around, but I wish!! I've seen them 5 times (3 in the past month!). All of the shows were great except one. I'll tell you about that in a minute. But first- Last year I saw them at Ziggy's in Winston Salem, NC for the first time and I fell in love with the band and the music. I've adopted a spot right in front of Mike Connell. I've ALWAYS been right up front for a performance. Anyway, later in the year they came here- to UNC and played in Memorial Hall (an auditorium here on campus). That was the biggest place I've seen the Connells in, so it didn't seem as personal as the other ones, but they were still wonderful. Now for the three shows this month. The first one was in Wilmington NC at the Mad Monk. I did not like this show as much as the others. It wasn't because of the band though, it was because of the drunk people moshing (violently) to songs such as 74-75 and Motel. I was so fed up with them (and almost injured) that I had to leave my favorite spot- and I've been in pits for the likes of Alice in Chains and the Beastie Boys. I think the guys were getting fed up with people getting hurt and everything. They didn't play very long :( But last week was one of the most fun week I ever had. First, on Wed. my roomate and I drove to Boone, NC (3 hour drive) to see the Connells. We were driving around a couple of hours before the show and we went by the club in which they were going to play. MIKE was standing outside talking on the phone. I yelled at my roommate to pull in. I jumped out of the car and said "Mike Connell!" I know I looked stupid, but I couldn't help it. He said "yeah!" Well, then I looked up and saw a sign that said "ASU ID required! (Appalachian St. U.) I was about to freak for fear that we wouldn't be able to get into the show. Mike was like- "well, let's go see if you'll be able to get in" and he took us around back to the inside and asked all these people if we'd be able to get in and it was all ok! Mike was sooo nice. He is one of the friendliest people I've evr met! OK, so we go to the show and it is really fun! The opening band was called Javelin Boot. They are from Austin Texas and they rock. I talked to the lead guy and he said it was really fun touring with the Connells. The guys were in great spirits through the whole show. There were a bunch of girls screaming at Doug the whole time, it was hilarious! The place we were in did not allow moshing, so everyone just jammed. Mike recognized us from earlier and he gave me a guitar pick! I love how much energy the band creates- it's so moving! Now, that same week on Friday night, We went back to Winston Salem. I had the time of my life! Dan, the Javelin Boot guy, recognized us and talked a lot. Then, Mike recognized us and just laughed because we were there again! After the show, I called over to Mike and asked for the set list, he gave it to me! Here it is (happened to be the same as the one on Wed.): 1) Wonder 2) Hey U (as written on the list) 3)Sal 4) Running 5)Dissapointed--one of my faves in concert--6) Doin You 7) Burden :) 8) Pawns 9) Find Out 10) Inside My Head 11) Over There 12) 74-75 13) New Boy 14) Try 15) Something to say 16) Slackjawed 17) Motel 18) Stone Cold Yesterday I can only remember one of the four songs they played in the encore-- Fun and Games :) After the show, I gave the list to this girl (a wife or daughter?) and she took it to the back for them to sign it. It is now hanging on my wall! Well, those are my CONNELLS stories. I hope I didn't bore you. Just leave in the last two shows! You are doing an excellent job! Thanks! I am interested in Bootlegs- It's surprisingly hard to get them here in Chapel Hill. JENN :) PS: I think Mike Connell is a musical genius-anyone agree with me on that? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well, I certainly think that Mike is one heck o' a musician. Not to mention one hell of a guy. --Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Jonas William A on Tue, Sep 13, 1994 5:37 PM Subject: Hangin' out I work in the University Center at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. We had occasion to host the Connells back in January as part of our grand opening festivities. After 6 years of wanting to see them live but for various reasons not being able to, I finally got to hear them play in person. I must say I was not disappointed. Not only was the music good, but it was a genuine pleasure spending time with the band and getting to know them a little bit. Having just breezed through the last several postings, the burning question seems to be, "Why haven't the Connells made it big yet?" I would asked the same question. Perhaps they don't want to buy into all the BS associated with making it big. Maybe they're too nice. Maybe the record company isn't doing all it could. Maybe, maybe, maybe. I guess there really isn't one good answer. Hanging out with the guys (especially Mike) before and after the show was a really good time. It certainly makes hosting a concert for 900 much more enjoyable than just dealing with managers, roadies, sound and light techs, etc. Going to the Green Leafe (one of three local bars) after the show was a nice touch as well, where the guys mixed with students and townies as though they had always been there. I guess the genuineness of the whole event is what made it worthwhile for me. I might add that the show coming up in Richmond at the Virginia State Fair is a free show when you pay admission to the fair itself. I'm not sure what the price is to get into the fair. I'm pretty sure I'll be there, though, and would encourage others to try and make it. Later. Bill ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What do you guys think? Do the Connells not want to make it "big?" --Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: rfischer@VAX.CORD.EDU on Tue, Sep 13, 1994 5:28 PM Subject: RE: Dates and Release Plan Art, Nice to hear from you. I am anxiously anticipating the availability of the New Boy EP here in the Fargo-Moorhead area. I called a local record store today (the 13th), and they asked me to try calling back on Friday, as they are expecting a shipment to come in at that time. I like your idea of the calling plan. Unfortunately, we are stuck with some pretty lousy radio stations up here. We only have one station that played Slackjawed on light rotation and '74-'75 on moderate rotation, and that station is Q98 (sort of "we-try-to-please-everybody-but- we-don't-play-Janet-Jackson" station). You probably get my drift; rock, but no pop or R & B. But I will not give up hope. I am going to give Q98 a try, and have a few friends phone in, as well. Wish me luck.... When, oh when, will the Connells swing up to the jolly ol' Upper Mid- west. A Minneapolis gig would be nice. A Fargo gig would be better. I think (at least during the school year) that the Fargo-Moorhead area could support a Connells concert. We have two universities and one liberal arts college up here, as well as a burgeoning "underground" music scene. Enough to fill a venue? I do not know. Time to wander to Choir. Have a lovely week! Ryan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What do people think of the New Boy ep? We're waiting.... --Art ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Mike on Tue, Aug 30, 1994 12:30 AM Subject: RE: Connells Digest Hey Art- For the next digest: Someone mentioned something about decapitation in the last issue and asked what relation this may have to the Connells. Well, when I spoke to Mike here in Bloomington a few months ago, we were talking literature, and he said he had been reading a book about capital punishment and the like while on the tour bus, and mentioned, among other things, decapitation. Hmmmm. Is his new bride aware of this? Anyway - I'll talk to you later on, Mike ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Tom W Florian on Fri, Aug 19, 1994 12:31 AM Subject: Re: Connells Digest MY NAME IS TOM, I AM 25 YRS. OLD, AND I HAVE ONLY BEEN ON LINE FOR 2 DAYS, AND I CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW EXCITING IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE FIRST REPLY I HAVE RECEIVED ON A SUBSCRIPTION. I AHVE BEEN THIS IS THE FIRST REPLY I HAVE RECEIVED ON A SUBSCRIPTION. I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINCE 1985, I HAVE SEEN THEM 7 TIMES, AND HAVE 1 LIVE TAPE THAT I MADE AT A CONCERT IN LOUISVILLE, I HAVE AN AUTOGRAPHED FLYER AND A VIDEO TAPE OF GEORGE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH TVT RECORDS. I HAVE HAD A CORRESPONDENCE WITH MIKE FOR A COUPLE O YEARS. I AM A SONGWRITER AND THEY HAVE BEEN A BIG INFLUENCE ON MY MUSIC. ANYTIME THEY COME AROUND MY AREA, I ALWAYS GO TO THEIR CONCERTS, AND AM ALWAYS PUMPED UP AFTER THEIR SHOWS. MIKE CALLED ME IN THE SUMMER OF 92, I HAD JUST GOT HOME FROM WORK, HE SAID, "HEY TOM, WE JUST GOT IN TOWN, I THOUGHT I WOULD CALL AND SEE IF YOU GUYS WERE COMING TO THE SHOW TONIGHT, I WILL PUT YOU ON THE GUEST LIST, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TICKETS" (WE HAD TICKETS ALREADY, BUT GAVE THEM TO A FRIEND OF OURS.) IT WAS SOOOOOOOO COOL TO THAT HE CALLED, I THOUGHT MY CHAIR WAS GOING TO FALL BACKWARDS!!!! IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT CONNELLS FANS CAN GET TOGETHER, BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO A RESPONSE. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!! TOM --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== To: BH From: CAPT. DANIEL J. FLORIAN on Wed, Aug 17, 1994 3:43 PM Subject: New guy to the list Hello there fellow fans, Just wanted to introduce myself (Dan) and relay some Connells stuff: My favorite albums (in order) are Darker Days, Boylan Heights, and Ring. The albums/CDs are good, have some great songs, but just aren't in the same league as those 3 (IMO). I've seen them twice: once in St Louis and last year in Colorado Springs. Last year they had an in-store appearance at a local record store in the Springs. I was few hours before the show. Probably less than 20 fans showed. I was embarrassed that so few showed up. On the other hand I got to talk to the band a lot (Mike was especially nice), take some pictures, got my CDs signed, both my wife and I got a Ring T-shirt (one we had the group sign), and got 2 signed Ring posters. The show was great. Mike had on a Luna shirt and Doug had on an Unrest shirt. That's enough babbling. I'm glad this list is here. I'm also on a Costello, Toad, Billy Bragg, and XTC lists. Favourite band of all time is The Go-Betweens. Dan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Winston H. Baccus on Thu, Aug 18, 1994 12:48 PM Subject: Huntley Solo Any word on a release date for Huntley's solo album? I e-mailed the President of TVT records and he never told me. BTW, If any of you guys are into Camper Van Beethoven, or Cracker, there's a new mailing list for them. To subscribe, e-mail Majordomo@lists.stanford.edu with subscribe campervan-etc in the body. David Lowery reads the list and posts when he feels like it, and Jonathan Segal also posts updates to the list. -- WiNsToN "Think I'd stay in Dixie, if I had my choice." --Cracker "Sweet Potato" --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== To: BH From: rfischer@VAX.CORD.EDU on Mon, Aug 15, 1994 7:10 PM Subject: The educational background of the Connells Art, Something for a future issue.... [how about this one? Sorry.... --Art] A question was raised in BH (issue nine) pertaining to the educational back-ground of the Connells. Here is a rundown-- David B.A. in studio art/art history, UNC-Chapel Hill (took 5 years) Mike B.A., J.D., UNC-Chapel Hill (Mike passed the bar in N.C., but has never practiced law) George B.S., UNC-Chapel Hill Doug--Attended ECU, Greenville, NC for a few years, but never finished Peele Attended college (where? I don't know) for a while, quit That is all I have for now. I think the reason why Doug and Peele never finished college was because they are younger than the others, and the band pulled them out of their studies. One thing you may deduce about David, Mike and George, though, is that they are intelligent. UNC-Chapel Hill is a prestigious institution with a reputation for accepting a low number of applicants, while rejecting very many. (Doug and Peele strike me as being intelligent people, too--especially Peele.) George Connell [Mike and David's older Brother] gave me the inside scoop on all of that. He told me where Peele attended college for a while, but I forgot the name of the institution. But I do specifically remember that three out of the five of them have college degrees. George's B.S. degree from Chapel Hill was in some obtuse subject dealing with statistics. As it has been postulated many times in BH, maybe the Connells are "too smart" for the masses. Hmmmmmm.... Later, Ryan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the next issue: Mike and George talk to us! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Ten October 4, 1994 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== * Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: Art Jipson jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell "Working in the halls of Shame...." -Uncle Tupelo "You feel like kissin', when it seems that half of your face is missin'" --Richard Thompson =========================================================== ===================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boylan Heights Issue #11 --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--=--==--==--==--==-- == // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest (c) 1995 Fun and Games Productions January 18, 1995 Volume One, Issue Eleven --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: ** jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The manager of this digest, Art Jipson, and the school's facilities that this list is produced from, Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, are not responsible for the contents of the following mailing except for that which they themselves have originally contributed. --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Remeber: Send everything to one address. Your contributions. Personal letters to me. Note that this is not a mail deflector but a digest! Subscription/removal requests Everything is one address: jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu We're waiting to hear from you! --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== The "I Suppose" Page Hi! Remember me? "I am alive, alive I tell you. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!" I am back, well...for the most part. I took some time off from the list to finish my doctoral dissertation. I know, "Art whad ya thinkin'?" My priorites have been strange for some time but at last that hurdle is done. Now, who would be interested in the diss as a monograph? There is tons of stuff to talk about. I have kept in contact with George and it seems that his record may or may not ever see the light of day. When last I spoke to him (several weeks ago), TVT was not interested in releasing it without some re-mixing and re-engineering. I talked with George at Length when I saw the band in Cleveland and from what my lawyer friend and I could figure out--George is in a tough position. Since the members of Connells signed the record contract as individuals, TVT has total option on the record. Talking to other people, this would mean that TVT is the actual "owner" of the record and they can do whatever they want with it. George could try to shop the record to other labels but if people don't want to buy out TVT, end of story. He is remixing (see below) and that gives us some hope. On happier notes, I hope everyone had a great holiday. I actually got a x-mas card from the band signed by everyone at black park and the Connells. It was a great (yes, I guess I would be considered a nerd, why?) little suprise for me. My wife seems to think of me as some kind of strange slave to the Connells. She just doesn't understand. Although, she once spilled a beer on Mike and he didn't care. I mean, that's love. Well, the ep did ok but not as well as we would have liked. Apparently the new boy vid never saw the "light of day" on Mtv. The &%%^(_&%$ bastards! I am finally near completion with the creation of a listserv to supplement this list. I still want to put together a digest but some of the technological and bureaucratic impediments to a Connells list are gone. We should be able to get one up and running within a week or so (I would love to give a date but, uh...I have hit so many walls, I am sure there are more hurdles). The listserv list would allow for instantaneous spreading of info and would allow for automatic archives and all of the other listserv pluses. I would see this as an addition to what we are doing with the digest. If people have strong opinions on this, let me know and we can debate the issue. I talked to Sharon at Black Park and she had some news (as of 01-17-95): 1. The Connells are demoing songs and looking at different producers for the next lp. They will be off the road until it is released. 2. Apparently George has started to remix his lp. It looks like it may now be released. Lets keep our fingers crossed. 3. Ring has sold in excess of 120,000 copies. The New Boy ep has sold in excess of 10,000 copies. 4. The Connells are doing well in Germany. Yes, Germany--the land of David Hasselhoff music loves the Connells. Ring is #94 on their lp chart and the single '74-'75 is a top 20 hit. They are going to tour over there. 5. Black park is going to be getting its own e-mail account at America-On-Line. As soon as I know what it is, I will let the list know. Well, that's about it. If anyone has any great new quotes for the end of the list, let me know. I need to change them, they are becoming a little stale. Although, I am unsure what purpose they serve... Happy new year and take care, Art "it's you I swear, it's you I swear I delight in my (your) despair" -M Connell (as interpreted by D MacMillan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this issue: 1. Anyone have tabs or chords? 2. Auburn 3. Jenn Could not go 4. Minnie Mike Interview 5. What other lists are available? 6. Boots? 7. How I found the Connells 8. The Big Boy/Connells connection 9. Connells and Javelin Boot 10. First Connells experience 11. Reflections of Cleveland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To: BH From: Mike Date: Oct. 20 Art Do you or anyone on the list have guitar chords/tabs for any of the records? If you don't, perhaps you could give me the names of someone on the list you know who has then, or put out a general request for me in the the next mailing. I'd appreciate it. Muchos Gracias! Mike ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Winston Date: Nov. 1 I got to see the Connells again last Friday night for the umpteenth time. They were prety good, but seemed just a little tired. It was a part of the tour that they're doing for Rolling Stone with Lotion, a pretty good band, btw. They played their normal staple of tunes, and did play "Try", a personal fave of mine. The next night they played in Tuscaloosa, and appartently drew a pretty big crowd. Hope they had more energy than they did in Auburn. **************************************** BBBB AA MM MM AA * Winston Baccus / University of Alabama * B B A A M M M M A A * wbaccus1@ua1ix.ua.edu / ROLL TIDE ROLL * BBB AAAA M M M AAAA * Crimson Tide - #8 in AP Poll - 8-0-0 * B B A A M M A A ****************************************** BBBB A A M M A A ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Jenn Halter Date: Nov. 3 Hi guys! The Connells are playing tomorrow night at the Ritz in Raliegh, a big homecoming, and I CAN'T GO!!! I'm very upset (I will be in Atlanta). Anyway, tonight on WRDU 106.1 they were on live. They said that after this weekend they will take a couple weeks off then head back up to New York for a couple more shows. "Ring" is being released in Germany next week. "74-75" is becoming pretty popular with the radio stations over there and in England. David and Steve were not there, but all the other guys were. They played "Doin' You", "Living in the Past", and "Fun and Games". They sounded great. Doug's voice is in tip top shape. The show should be good. I think that's all. I taped the whole thing- it's only about 20 min. long, but it is a great 20 min. Well- that's all for now! I'm very pissed that I can't go to that concert. I'll just listen to a lot of Connells while I'm in Atlanta to make up for it! Later- JENN :) ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Brent Daniels Date: Nov. 8 I got a chance to interview Mike last Saturday. Unfortunately, my tape recorder garbled most of it, so I can't transcribe it. Anyway, here are the main points. THe New Boy video may never air. Mike said that he heard TVT had accepted it at least for 120 minutes (I guess he meant MTV), but he doubts that it will see the light of day. I asked if it might be released on a compilation of videos, and he said that there had been talk of that. That was the only informative part, really. He talked about TVT some (actually, I prodded him to dis TVT some).. TVT is in the black with the Connells for the first time, now (with Ring).. Other labels were talking to the band about switching over before Ring, but TVT demanded a price about 4-5 times their real market value to let them out of their 8 record contract..That's the story of the threatened lawsuit (which, obviously, didn't work).. He also said that they would probably switch producers again for the next album. They put on a really good show. The set list was basically the same as the last one sent to the list. Brent ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Dan Florian Date: Nov. 10 I just read your posting, and got excited by something you said in it. There is a Billy Bragg list?!* Please send me info as soon as possible. I am a huge Bragg fan. Thanks, Sully ps: Anybody know of a Pogues mailing list? ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I am curious as well, what other lists are people on? I am on the replacements, uncle tupelo, sugar, richard Thompson list. What lists would people recommend? --Art ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Buckley Winfree Date: Nov. 10 Hello I would like to receive information on The Connells. And I'd be interested in any live tapes if anyone has some. Please send me info. about them. My E-mail address is f2425421@oduvm.cc.odu.edu Thank you, Buckley ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Buckley, I have several great to good Connells boots. Send me a note if you want more information about them. --Art ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Spencer Nilsson Date: Nov. 10 Although I now live in Nebraska, I only moved here this July. I used to live in Virginia, and not to far away from the good ol boathouse in Norfolk. I managed to get over to the boathouse to see the Connells a number of times, and I also saw them at Tracks at UVA. I have to say they are one of the best bands to see live and their music is just great. My favorite cd is definitely Boylan Heights. My Fave songs include Scotty's Lament, I suppose, and Fun and Games. Now that I live in Nebraska I don't get that many(any so far) opportunities to see them perform and I am wondering If they ever plan on making it out towards Lincoln- where i go to school, or Omaha which is my permanent home. Talk to ya later. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Michan Connor Date: Nov. 16 A friend of mine introduced me to the Connells when we were driving to Big Boy. He had a case of tapes, and I noticed in amongst the various hardcore releases a copy of "Ring". I almost drove off the road when I heard this album. It was just so good. I think that the fact that Kieran listens to the Connells is a testament to how good it really is. It's music that anyone with a heart and a brain can listen to and really enjoy, even if you also like Straight Edge punk music. I can't believe that this band hasn't become huge (Everyone that borrows my CD has bought their own soon after), but I guess that that means I can go to a show without my telescope. I missed the Chicago show in late October, only because of a chemistry midterm, but I'm waiting for the next one. By the way, I realize that you're supposed to slag on the newest album and praise the old ones, but I can't imagine the others being much better. Unfortunately, the Connells were a little tough to find out in central Massachusetts, so I don't have any means of comparison. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo There are lots of origin stories that we have not heard. Send them in! --Art ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Buckley Winfree Date: Nov. 16 Hey I was wondering if anybody else saw Javelin Boot with The Connells when they were on tour. I could of gotten one of their Cd's for only $10 at the concert but I didn't have enough money. Now I'm trying to get one, but no music store around here in Norfolk, Va. has even heard of them. If anyone has one of their cd's could they please write back and let me know if they would copy it for me if I gave them blank tapes. Also does anybody know if they are still on tour with The Connells? I new on this list so I don't know many people, but if you could please respond back.My name is Buckley Winfree and my address is f2425421@oduvm.cc.odu.edu Thanks ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Matthew Trokenheim Date: Nov. 19 Hello Art and fellow Connells fans. I just joined the list recently and am very excited about hearing from all of these new people who love the Connells. I have never really known other's who were available for dialogue on the subject. I'm a senior at Columbia University in NYC. I first heard the Connells when I was about fifteen years old and my oldest brother gave me Boylan Heights to listen to. I think Over There was getting airplay at the time. I was captivated! I'm not sure if Boylan Heights or Fun and Games is my favorite album, but these days Ring just might be eclipsing both of them. Its so beautiful. I've seen them four times and tonight (11/19/94) will be my fifth. The first time they opened up for the Replacements on the One Simple Word tour. The best show was at Maxwells, a really small venue in Hoboken, NJ. I was right up front. Doug's dancing around had dislogded his set list from the floor in front of him, so I was holding down the corner so he could see what he was supposed to be singing next. The most recent show, last year some time, had moshing problems. I was extremely angry as were many fans. Several fights almost started; not a pretty sight. I wasn't even aware that there was an ep coming out until I recieved issue number nine of this mailing. Do they have any releases other than the full length albums and the Darker Days ep? Hey Dan - I hear you like the GoBetweens. Are you also a fan of the Church and the Mclennan/Kilbey side project Jack Frost. Thanks For Being A List! -----Matt------ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo To: BH From: Art Date: January 16 these are just some thoughts of the last show that I saw. I saw the Connells in Cleveland. It was homecoming. I must have sat in the car for 30 minutes just trying to get to the club. It was annoying but I kept saying..."it will be a great show!" It was. Although a number of noticable songs were absent (they did not do Scotty's and several of the older Boylan Heights stuff) the performance was solid and joyful. I mean, I hate to go to a show and the band is like, (try speaking in some high pitched english accent: "Our music is painful, it is not something to enjoy!!" The Connells clearly love to play and the Music hall was a great venue. Nice accoustics, good visibility, great band. Lotion opened. I think that the lead singer sounds remarkably like Bob Mould. The single and video, he sounds just like the man. It's just an opinion, so don't flame me or anything--I don't say it as a way to diss Bob or anything. They were quite good. I bought the lp and it's ok. It hasn't grown on me like some other purchases I made at that time. While Lotion finished I talked to George. Man, the guy has headaches with his label (as I alluded to at the beginning of the digest). From what he said TVT considers helping the Connells to "break" is their challenge. Good, from my vantage point. I want the Connells to be able to pay their bills. It seems that when a band finally gets to the point where they receive some recognition and compensation that everyone yells, "sell out, sell out!" Take the del Fuegos for example, they wanted to pay some bills so they do a beer commercial. Sure, the corporate boogyman (or woman) is dangerous but how long can you play bars and not be able to pay your family's bills and like it? The Connells were great. High energy, Doug loved the crowd. They stayed mostly with stuff from RING and some songs from WORD. Played almost all of the EP. It was a great night. Also, at the end of the show while some of us were waiting to talk to the band (and avoiding the gestapo security), I met the guy who took the picture of the figure that adorns the new boy ep cover. He was a neat guy. Apparently his agency sends out the pictures and hopes someone bites. He was a Connells fan, so that made it all the better. The figure actually is so small that he had it in his wallet. Well, that's it for now. Art ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // Boylan Heights \\ The Connells Electronic Digest Volume One, Issue Eleven January 15, 1995 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== --== Subscriptions, comments, contributions: --] jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu [-- Manager: Art Jipson jipson_art@msmail.muohio.edu --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--== - "Watch an eyeball, take a free fall, off the counter's ledge." - Buffalo Tom "Be my Burden...." -M. Connell "Working in the halls of Shame...." -Uncle Tupelo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please send questions, comments, and additions to admin@onesimpleband.net

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First Eleven Issues of The Boylan Heights Digest