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The Connells at Town Point Park in Norfolk, VA - 6/9/02
It was a scorching afternoon,
and yet the crowd multiplied, going from about 10 or so diehards who appeared
way before the sound-check (like me) to well over 300 in less than fifteen minutes.
The Connells know that they can always draw a crowd in Hampton Roads
no matter the venue and it had been far too long since their last show in
the area. Here is where I get to gripe: I have nothing against the Pat McGee Band, who headlined the
event, but whoever decided to have the Connells take the stage first needs a
lesson in music history. The
Nells have influenced countless bands and developed an international fanbase
over their eighteen-year history. How
can the Pat McGee Band really compare to that at this point in their career? Ok, griping over. The
Connells took the stage at about 2:30 and opened with one of their
much older tunes, Over There. Noticeably
missing from the lineup was lead guitarist George Huntley, who has been absent
from the bands recent shows. In his place was an excellent stand-in: Mike Ayers, a friend
of Huntleys who actually co-wrote the old Connells favorite, Sal.
Next they played Carry My Picture, Maybe, and Something To
Say, as the goal seemed to be to touch on each album.
While the band cranked out these songs with their normal ease and
elegance, I found myself hoping they would soon play some of the songs from their
newest album, Old School Dropouts. Let
me just say that when a band has been together for eighteen years, and their
biggest fans are willing to forgo hearing old favorites in order to hear the
new songs - is there a better accomplishment for a band?
The Connells delivered with what is perhaps the best song on
Dropouts, the textured Bust, blowing away the lo-fi version that
appears on the album with their stellar live performance. Ayers guitar jangled perfectly in the open air, and David
Connells bass, which carries this song, was right on cue.
As is usually the case at Nells shows, lead singer, Doug
Macmillan was in rare form. In
between songs, he teased a guy in a Leonard Skynard shirt, saying that he was
just waiting for a request for Freebird.
He also frequently called out to the wandering beer boy with the
backpack, inquiring as to whether he was selling Bud Ice.
The more reserved Mike Connell, amused by the stage antics
of Macmillan, laughed along with the crowd. The band debuted a new song Dumptruck, which was
co-written by Macmillans young son. The
song seemed appropriate for the thirty-somethings that dominated the crowd,
toddlers by their sides and on their shoulders. At one
point, I counted 10 children under two, up by the stage, in the arms of
their parents who were singing along to every song. For better or worse, the
Connells fanbase is aging, even though their music remains timeless. One song that always stands out at Connells shows is Running Mary. The
band seems easily able to translate the songs earnestness into its live
performances. As with many
of the songs on Ring, the disillusioned lyrics and sad tone came across
readily. Another standout
was Leper, where Mike Connells backing vocals made all the difference
in the delivery. As is common with these festival-type events, the set was far
too short (about an hour and fifteen minutes), and there was no encore. Closing with Stone Cold Yesterday, the Connells
energy drew many from the crowd up to the front.
Each time I see the Connells play, I worry it will be the
last time. But looking on stage,
its easy to tell why these guys have stayed together for eighteen years, and
why they could be together for eighteen more: they love the music they make, and
they have a great time playing it for their fans. Sunburned
but smiling, half the crowd left, and the other half stuck around for that other
band.
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