April 11,1991
Page 5
The Connells
Local band
draws crowd
of 1000
Russ Smith
The Pendulum
The Connells, a local band from
Raleigh, played for approximately 1000
people Sunday night in Alumni Gym.
Enthusiastic fans could be seen on
top of their friend's shoulders just to get
a better view. Some students were being
passed around the tops of fans heads.
"The concert was a blast," said
senior David Kuehl. "They were so loud
it was incredible. I had a really good
time."
"I had a lot of fun," said Mark
Zolkowski, director of hospitality for the
band. "I thought I was going to be
waiting on them hand and foot but they
were so cool. They told me to have a
good time during the concert. They put
on a great show.”
"As far as the crowd control went,
the concert went better than we
expected," said Kathy Kern, director of
student activities. "The students were
mostly well behaved. Even the Elon
Police didn't have any problems."
Tallies of ticket sales were
incomplete at press time but Kern said
approximately 1000 people purchased
tickets. "Last year about 1500 people
attended the Smithereens' concert. There
were also more complimentary tickets
last year. The laser-light show that the
Student Union Board sponsored this year
limited our budget so we had to sell
*nore tickets."
Kern said that there was more
interest in signing the Connells than
any other band. "Everyone wanted the
Connells. They were the group everyone
Was talking about. When we heard they
were heading out West, nobody wanted
to book another group. Luckily they
added a few southern dates and we got
them."
The Connells can familiarize with a
college atmosphere. "We played our first
gig at a fraternity house during the
summer at North Carolina State," said
^oug MacMillan, the Connells' lead
singer.
"We had a friend who lived there
and asked him if we could play. He said
Sure, so we played about seven songs
over and over again. The people there
'^crc just looking at us. We were
i.1/
. ."?■
IK
% JL.
Elon students dance in alumni gym while enjoying music played by The Connells. ScottLandng/The Pendulum
terrible."
"We started off as a college radio
band, " MacMillan said. "We're
basically a rock-pop band. Our songs
have a dominant vocal melody."
The Connells' success has led to
fame and fortune, but they haven't let
popularity get in the way. Some might
even call The Connells a "laid back"
band. "I went fishing at Elon’s lake,"
MacMillan said. "I know I got a bite, I
know it. I didn't catch anything though.
I haven't landed any lunkers yet. I just
like to catch anything."
MacMillan said that life on the road
isn’t always glamorous. "Sometimes we
play four or five times a week.
Sometimes we play more than six days
in a row. We like to relax on the bus,
talk, and drink a few beers. We get a
vacation in May and June, where we'll
probably be in Raleigh, " MacMillan
said.
"I didn't know what I wanted to do
when I was young," MacMillan said. "I
guess everybody thinks it'd be kind of
neat to be in a band. I definitely didn't
want to work in an office."
After playing together for six years,
MacMillan said he still has a hard time
"We started off as a
college radio band.
We're basically a
rock-pop band. Our
songs have a domi
nant vocal melody."
listening to their early works. "We were
pretty bad the first two years. I have a
hard time listening to our first album
just because I don't like the way I sang."
"I've only written a couple of
songs," MacMillan said. "It's a
laborious task. As far as a favorite song
goes, it depends upon the night. It
varies from night to night."
"Our most memorable gig thi> year
was in Philadelphia. We opened for the
Replacements. Our nuck broke down on
the way up there. We had to rent another
truck, put all of the equipment into it
and get to Philadelphia. We were
supposed to be there at five but didn't
arrive until seven-thirty. We went on at
eight. It was so wild," MacMillan said.
Soott Lansing/Thc Pendulum
Lead singer... Doug MacMillan