Set The Stage
Black Park, 2023
9/10
The Raleigh alt-rock legends The Connells bring us their first live recording after nearly 4 decades together, and it’s a set that spans their entire career.
“OT²” gets the listen off to a rich and dense start, where Rob Ladd’s agile drums guide the fluid instrumental, and the dreamy guitar of “Slackjawed” follows with Doug MacMillan’s cozy singing amid the energetic rhythm section of the melodic rocker.
Deeper into the set, “Too Gone” showcases David Connell’s precise bass playing in the more reserved climate of powerful alt-rock ideas, while “Running Mary” carries a charming jangle that reminds us of all the college rock greats from the early ‘90s.
Nearing the end, “Hey Wow” brings both grit and tunefulness to a calm versus rugged version of modern rock that benefits much from Mike Ayers’ thick guitar, and “Really Great” exits with a buzzing, dynamic climate that might make you dig out your Sugar records.
This is The Connells 10th album, and the first one I’ve listened to. It certainly won’t be the last, though, as their throwback formula that brings to mind R.E.M., Let’s Active and Paul Westerberg made me a fan pretty quick.
Travels well with: Matthew Sweet- Catspaw; Bob Mould- Blue Hearts