Rock

Low Cut Connie’s “Dirty Water” and “Boozophilia” (Yes, Both are Set in Bars)

When I used to go to bars frequently–this is a long time ago–once in a while a band would rise above the very respectable, predictable and often welcome level of competent bar cover band. At first, this was off putting: Generally, in a bar, I wanted to hear “Honky Tonk Women” and “Ramblin’ Man,” not originals. But the really good bands gradually changed the focus. They were creators, not skilled imitators. The excitement was a bit different than seeing a good cover band.

Pianists face a challenge fronting a band. It seems that Adam Weiner, around whom Low Cut Connie is structured, takes a bit of Jerry Lee Lewis approach: It’s a launch platform as much as a musical instrument. The band’s most recent album is Dirty Pictures (Part Two). Click here or on the image for the record at Amazon. Here it is at iTunes.
This video and the raw sound of Low Cut Connie brought those days back to me. I am glad I had them and I am glad they are over.  But I missed them for a moment when I watched “Boozophilia” (below). The bottom line is that Low Cut Connie is simply described: It is a good old fashion rock and roll band.

There isn’t too much information about the group at its website, which is a bit sparse, so to speak. There is a very cool audio recording of a conversation between singer/pianist/composer Adam Weiner and none other than Elton John. Among other things, the two talk about the names they have given their pianos.

The band is from Philadelphia and was formed in 2010, according to Wikipedia. The excerpts from reviews of the group’s second album, “Call Me Sylvia,” mention  and quotes AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine’s opinion that the band makes 1960s-style music without sounding dated. Most famously, Boozophilia made Barack Obama’s Spotify summer play list three years ago. That’s worthy of mention both because the guy was president and any mention of his name reminds of us of a better time.

The band’s third album, “Hi Honey” received “widespread acclaim,” according to Wikipedia. It was named the second best album of the 2015 by NPR/Sound Recording’s Jim DeRogatis. “Dirty Pictures (Part 1)” and “Dirty Pictures (Part 2)” were released in May 2017 and May 2018, respectively.

Above is “Dirty Water.” Check out the band’s YouTube channel. There is a lot of great and fun music there. (A personal favorite is “Death and Destruction.” A side note to “Boozophilia”: Check out Heavyball’s “The Perils of Midweek Drinking” for another recent excellent song set in a bar.

Our New Things: Links to Music Sites and Info on Analog Tech and Vinyl

TDMB has focused on music and musicians. We will continue to do that, of course. We're also expanding our coverage to include vinyl and analog equipment.

More specifically, we'll look at this huge and interesting world from the perspective of music lovers who want a better experience, not committed non-audiophiles.

Check out is some of what we've written so far:

-- Assessing the Value of Vinyl Records: An Overview

-- 7 Quick Tips on Optimizing Your Turntable Cartridge

-- Why Vinyl Records Continue to Thrive

-- Finding the Best Amplifier

-- Finding the Best Phono Preamp

-- What Speakers Do I Need for My Turntable?

Check out more articles on analog equipment and vinyl.

The site also is home to The Internet Music Mapping Project, an effort to list and describe as many music-related sites as possible.

Our Music

--A Tribe Called Quest to The Dick Hyman Trio (In other words, A to H)

--Indigo Girls to Queen Ida (I to Q)

--Radiohead to ZZ Top (R to Z)

Reading Music

The stories of the great bands and musicians are fascinating. Musicians as a group are brilliant, but often troubled. The combination of creativity and drama makes for great reading.

Here are some books to check out.

Duke Ellington brought class, sophistication and style to jazz which, until that point, was proudly unpolished and raucous. His story is profound. The author, Terry Teachout, also wrote "Pops," the acclaimed bio of Louis Armstrong. Click here or on the image.

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What else is there to say? Here is the story behind every song written by The Beatles. Click here or on the image.

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The Grateful Dead don't get enough credit for the profound nature of its lyrics. Many of the band's songs are driven by a deep and literate Americana ("I'm Uncle Sam/That's who I am/Been hidin' out/In a rock and roll band" and "Majordomo Billy Bojangles/Sit down and have a drink with me/What's this about Alabama/Keeps comin' back to me?").

David Dodd's exhaustive study tells the story, song by song. Click here or on the image.

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