The Connells "Stedman's Wake" Review

by Jeff Staples

A band that has persevered for four decades, The Connells, will be playing at the Norva on Friday, January 14, 2022. The band has played this area many times before. The Connells played the legendary Boathouse venue 10 times and in doing so, managed to sell more than 25,000 tickets. They have also played the Norva and other local entertainment facilities. I am happy to welcome them back!

The Connells formed in 1984 at the University of North Carolina. Original members were Mike and David Connell, Doug MacMillan, and John Schultz. The band was mostly cast in the “College Rock” genre of the alternative scene. Their debut album was “Darker Days” (1985) and in 1987, they put out a second album titled “Boylan Heights.”

On their latest album, “Steadman’s Wake” (2021), John Shultz has taken leave. Steven Potak, Mike Ayres, and Rob Ladd have been added to the lineup. This release has been 20 years in the making. It does include 3 songs from another album, “Old School Dropouts” (2021), that had been severely under-marketed. The new album also contains 8 new songs.

The LP “Stedman’s Wake” features stealthy vocals and melodic riffs in the Connells’ Classic style. Lyrically, the band has never had a “happy” pop approach. On this album, I feel that the lyrical mood has darkened a bit more. Most of the songs, through their lyrics, present a very pensive, introspective view.

On tracks such as “Fading In”, we hear of failed aspirations, unmet expectations, and a grudging acceptance of the reality that has had to be accepted. The title track, “Stedman's Wake” references the tragic events in Charlottesville and the role that the “fine people with baseball bats” played in that deadly weekend. The lyrics decry that knowledge of such evil people and their actions did not have to be known until then. The knowledge has now been forced on us, and we must recognize it.

A great track, “Rusted Fields’ offers the picture of a life that has not lived up to expectations and “Stars” gives a sort of complacent embrace of self-defeat, by proclaiming “if you are looking for inspiration, I am all out.” However on the track “Really Great” the band laments a very upbeat tune about the power of relationships, blue skies, and the reliability of a steady-on approach. I guess there is a lyrical light at the end of the tunnel.

The instrumentation on this album complements the lyrics perfectly, the tones are on target and the beat is masterful as has been the style of previous Connells’ efforts. On this record, the vocals, instrumentation, production, and more have matured from previous years. This comes with years of practice, performance, and the range of experiences that life occurrences bring to us.

I am very happy that the Connells have made a new album and that I will get to see them perform again. These are not only their songs, but they harken to the evolving sense of a generation. Please give “Stedman’s Wake” a listen.

Better yet, come hang with me at the Norva on Friday, January 14th!