The
Raleigh, North Carolina-based jangle-pop outfit the Connells formed in
the spring of 1984. Fronted by guitarist Mike Connell and his bassist brother
David, the first incarnation of the group also featured vocalist Doug McMillan
and drummer John Schultz, who was soon replaced by former Johnny Quest
percussionist Peele Wimberley. In late 1984 the quartet recorded a four-song
demo; after one of the tracks, "Darker Days," was selected to appear on
the North Carolina compilation More Mondo, the Connells' ranks expanded
with the addition of singer/guitarist George Huntley, who made his debut
on a March 1985 session co-produced by Don Dixon.
With the help
of the band's friend Ed Morgan, the resulting demo made its way to the
offices of the British label Demon, which agreed to fund the recording
of enough additional tracks to complete a full-length LP. Darker Days
was released in Europe by Demon in 1985, and when Morgan returned to the
U.S., he formed his own label, Black Park, to issue the album domestically.
After the low-budget videos for the tracks "Seven" and "Hats Off" garnered
MTV airplay, the Connells won a contract with the TVT label prior to entering
producer Mitch Easter's Drive-In Studios to record 1987's brooding, more
assured Boylan Heights, which featured the superb single "Scotty's
Lament."
The edgier Fun
and Games followed in 1989, and a year later the group resurfaced with
One
Simple Word, scoring an alternative radio hit with the single "Stone
Cold Yesterday." After a three-year tour which saw the Connells add keyboardist
Steve Potak to their lineup in 1991, they finally returned to the studio
to begin work on 1993's Ring, highlighted by the single "Slackjawed,"
as well as "74-75," a major hit throughout Europe. After another three-year
hiatus, the Connells issued 1996's Weird Food and Devastation, released
concurrently with Huntley's solo debut brain junk. The group returned
in 1998 with Still Life.
Jason
Ankeny
All
Music Guide |