Led by frontman, Adam Weiner, on his piano named Nellie, Low Cut Connie gave the audience at The Recher in Towson, MD a rock show; a rock show the way a rock show is supposed to be.

Elton John has called them one of his favorite bands. Bruce Springsteen is a huge fan as well. Famed rock critic, Robert Christgau, has given two of their albums an A- grade. They’ve had a song included in Barack Obama’s Spotify summer playlist. Rolling Stone included their album “Call Me Sylvia” in their 100 Best Albums of the 2010’s.

Weiner told the audience that at one point 6 years ago, he almost gave up the dream of being a musician, but then public radio stations like WTMD in Towson and WXPN in Philadelphia started playing Low Cut Connie in their regular rotation. I was standing next to a group that works for WTMD when Weiner told this story, they all smiled immediately and one turned to me and told me she was so proud of how far the band has come since they started playing their songs.

Another big supporter was the influential Philadelphia disc jockey Jerry Blavat. Blavat and Weiner became very close friends before “The Geator with the Heater" passed away in January at 82. Weiner was visibly emotional talking about his friend saying that Blavat “was the only person in Philadelphia who believed in Low Cut Connie.” The band then played the new song “Low Cut Strut” subtitled “Strut That Ass Right Back To Class.”

The band also paid their respects to Tom Verlaine of the band Television, who also passed in January, with a cover of “Venus” off their iconic 1976 album Marquee Moon.

While the rest of the band took a short break, Weiner remained on stage sitting with his fingers caressing Nellie at center stage. He told the excited crowd that he’d only play this next song if they helped him sing along and then played a groovy piano version of Prince’s “Little Red Corvette.”

When the band returned to the stage, the energy of the show cranked up higher, ending the show with fan-favorites “Now You Know,” “Charyse,” “Beverly” and “Rio.” Playing to the crowd in the way Weiner is an expert, he ended the show on top of his piano bench throwing off his jacket, ripping his white tank top off and raising his hands as if he just won an Olympic medal. 

Low Cut Connie proves at every stop that they are worth more than the price of admission and they are a true, modern day rock band. 

Review and photos by Gary Gearhart