Mary Lucia: with Low Cut Connie, a Dirty Picture is worth a thousand words
by Mary Lucia
May 23, 2017
Every now and then I start to feel bored with new music and begin questioning my youthful appetite for rock and roll. This week, my faith was restored by a band from Philadelphia, Low Cut Connie. Straightforward "have-a-good-time-all-the-time" rock.
They played a scorching show in the Entry on Saturday and then came to The Current studios on Monday, losing none of the enthusiasm and performance that is on display in their live show. Anyone who starts a set by asking the audience, "Who's ready to make a baby tonight?!" is aces in my book.
The band's charismatic leader, Adam Weiner, performed as a solo artist prior to starting Low Cut Connie. While living in New York City, Weiner played piano in gay bars, karaoke bars, restaurants and ballet classes, often under the name Ladyfingers. The band's song, "Boozophilia," was ranked the 31st best song of 2012 by Rolling Stone, which described it as "like Jerry Lee Lewis if he'd had his first religious experience at a Replacements show." It was also chosen by Barack Obama as one of the songs on his Spotify summer playlist for 2015. At the time, Weiner posted on Facebook that Low Cut Connie were "completely humbled and honored and confused" by Obama doing this.
Here's video of the band performing "Boozophilia" during their 2016 visit to the station:
The session Low Cut Connie did this week with Bill Deville was brilliant. There is something very special about a band who bring the noise and showmanship to a radio-interview session. Does the radio listener know that Adam Weiner is standing on his piano, shedding his jacket and shaking what his mama gave him while performing Prince's "Controversy"? I bet they'll be able to feel it without actually having to see it.
The sincerity is there while Adam recounted the surreal story of being invited to the White House to meet a fan of their music — who just happened to also be the then-Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama. WHAT?!
It is truly glorious to witness a band having this much fun playing boogie-woogie rock and roll. Can I get an AMEN? You must listen to this slice of "Hell, yes!" when it airs this Saturday. You'll hear Low Cut Connie perform three songs — a perfect fit for our Block-Rockin' Weekend!
Resources
Low Cut Connie - official site