The Connexions

With the ever changing genres of music blasting on the streets of St. John’s, The Connexions are bringing back music from the golden age of rock and roll.

Adrian House, lead singer, songwriter, and guitar player for The Connexions is looking forward to re-establishing the rock and roll scene in the city.

“It’s always been a good scene for rock here [. . .] but it would be nice to have a lot more [rock] bands” he said. “It’s sad that some people aren’t taking rock and roll as seriously anymore. It just seems like [it] is just being tossed to the side,” added Steve Doyle, drummer for The Connexions.

The band, consisting of House, Doyle, as well as MUN graduate Mark Tulk on bass, and guitarist Ryan Sheaves, began like most bands do—through conversation about jamming and musical inspirations while having a few beers.

“I was in a bar with Thom Coombes and that’s where I met Steve. We were just talking a lot of Bruce Springsteen, and Steve mentioned he played drums in Those Lasers, which I’d seen before, and so we just talked about jamming. Then we eventually got Mark and Ryan on board too,” House said.

While performing, The Connexions play a few covers, however House writes a lot of their songs himself.

“I usually just start off with a musical riff, and the lyrics just come out. My themes are simple, like love, desire, heartbreak, and then my philosophy of life comes through there, too. [It’s] just about individuality and just being yourself instead of conforming.

“There’s some really cool, and exciting music on the go [across the country] that I didn’t even know about. It’s definitely a throwback from the 60’s but it’s got that new edge from the influences out now. I hope that people here begin to listen to the good old stuff, like The Kings and Stones. If you listen to that kind of music, it’s so raw and exciting you just can’t help but just get inspired by it,” he added.

The Connexions have a fairly dedicated fan base, and it’s probably because of their stage presence. The band keeps their audience dancing and having fun, as well as connected through the song lyrics.

“We’ve had some wicked gigs. It’s just fun and we’re trying to put ourselves out there. Every show that we’ve played, there’s always a couple of people that connect with it, and always have so much fun. I don’t know what it is but rock and roll is really fun to listen to but when you see it live,” Doyle raved.

Besides being busy with shows, The Connexions are getting ready for some big adventures.
“We’ve got some big plans actually. Steve and I and Thom, in a very sort of shortened version of the band are going to go on tour on September 11, to Ontario and back. We’ve got six shows booked already, so we’re really excited for that to start,” House exclaimed.

The band is really looking forward to the next few months ahead and is going to continue to bring about the 1960s vibe with some fresh rock and roll.

Keep your ears and eyes out for The Connexions. You can check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/connexionsband - The Muse

At the beginning of Connect Four’s second song “Lotta Lovin,’” before the song really even starts, a band member mumbles: “It is what it is.” Whether intentionally part of the song or just background commentary after a messy take, the phrase “it is what it is” nicely summarizes what The Connexions are all about.

The overall tone of the four piece, guitar heavy band from St. John’s, Newfoundland is laid-back. The garage pop-rock sound from a different decade is by no means mellow but has that effortless cool vibe that that person at the party gives off without being annoying about it. Someone who shrugs and says “it is what it is,” not in excess, but when you need to calm down and remember it’s not that bad.

The opener, “Against The Tide” is one of the more upbeat of the eight from Connect Four despite the opening lyric, “I got a room in my house where I keep my wounded pride.” The juxtaposition of the darker lyrics and infectious beat is one of the reasons why so quickly, we find the strongest song from The Connexions. The steady feeling of the power-chords and the fun riff at the end, makes one of the shortest songs the strongest song.

The aforementioned “Lotta Lovin’” finds the band employing the some familiar “ba, ba, bas” while a later track, “Lover Girl” also leans on familiar lyrical tropes in their chorus singing, “ooo, lover girl.” Familiar, yes but not stale. The Connexions consistently ooze a fun feeling that makes hard not to enjoy it all.

As Connect Four continues, “Ridin’ on the Streetcar” kicks up the romances in an otherwise very unromantic mode of transportation and the final song “Set Me Free” ends things on the most psychedelic note of the record. It’s clear that the 60s/70s era rock ’n’ roll is an influence for The Connexions but between the vocal effects and the massive guitar solo that takes up the last 30 seconds or so of Connect Four, “Set Me Free” solidifies the connection to the golden age of rock music.

The Connexions do their sound well. Whether you are feeling loss or love, Connect Four is a good pick-me-up. Go 4 it, guys.

Top Track: “Against The Tide,”

Rating: Strong Hoot (Good) - Grayowl Point

A lively album of straightforward rock hooks and singalong songs in the same vein and swagger as a Stephen Malkmus song or vintage Dinosaur Jr. album — or any other modern indie rock outfit steeped heavily in everything great about 90′s alt rock. The album is also coloured by the beat-driven feel of 70s-era classic rock. Connect Four, not quite three months old, is at Fred’s music, and waiting for you.

If I made you pick a favourite song off the album, which would you pick? Any reason why?

I might pick “Lotta Lovin.” I feel like the vocal has a great energy and rawness, and I like the simplicity of the song; it’s a bit of a homage to The Troggs. I feel too like it expresses the straightforward, pared down feel we were going for with the album.
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And if I let you pick another favourite?

“Ridin’ on the Streetcar” has got a great beat, fun & edgy lyrics, and Steve layed down an amazing drum take. I love New York punk and that song has that vibe. We often close our shows with it, and it’s got a fun sing-along ending.
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Is there a song on here that’s a little different for you, or that you questioned including?

We weren’t sure about “Introduce Me” at first. We just did it at the end of the studio session at Tommy’s suggestion, with no click track. But I really like how it turned out, bit of a Pixies vibe and Len did some nice things with delay in the production.
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Which one of these songs came out the hardest or was the longest in the crafting? Why?

“Set Me Free” was hardest to mix, because we did quite a few volume changes in different sections, and Marc recorded multiple layers of feedback and other silly things like tipping his tube amp over to make the crashing noise before the ending. I’m really happy with the psychedelic feel that we were able to get out of it in the end though.
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Share a random fact about one of your songs on this album, or the album itself.

The title of “Against the Tide” was apparently subconsciously taken from the book my Dad wrote of the same title, about his battle against the status quo when he worked for government. I think we all need to go against the mainstream or even the alternative stream when necessary and just be ourselves, hard though that is.
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Name one influence on your approach to songwriting – whether it be a musician or a goal you have in crafting a song.

Paul McCartney wrote great pop songs but with a real soulful feeling to them. That’s my goal – to write something that’s catchy and easy to relate to, but that I feel deeply and honestly too. That’s the combination that really connects with people, I think.

What’s a new album you’ve been loving lately?

The last album I bought is The Modern Lovers’ self-titled debut (from 1973 so I guess not exactly “new”). It’s refreshing – joyful, honest rock ‘n roll with a charming innocence to it. The sound is a lot like The Velvet Underground, but instead of singing about drugs and femmes fatales, Richmond sings proudly about how he’s straight (i.e. sober), and wants a girlfriend instead of meaningless one-night stands. That might sound conservative but I think it’s brave.

And if I lit your album collection on fire, what’s one album you’d think to save first?

Probably Revolver by The Beatles. Possibly for sentimental value because my mom bought it in 1966, or because it’s in mono and worth $200. That can buy a lot of cheese.

There are many ways to evaluate a song. But for you, what’s one trait that makes a great song a great song? Name a song you love that fits that bill.

Yeah you’re right, and there are so many types of songs! As a rock musician I think the beat is really important, and I don’t know exactly how to define that. People talk about the Motown beat though, and all those Motown hits were built around that driving beat. Right now though, for some reason, I’m thinking of the song “Absolutely Sweet Marie” by Bob Dylan, off Blonde on Blonde. It’s got a fantastic beat, and of course amazing lyrics, melody and arrangement.
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Other than music, name something else you love.

Nature. I love the Newfoundland wilderness, and am often hiking or camping either on the east coast trail, or off trail. I also surf (I can tell you where I go but I may have to kill you). We’re lucky to live here. - The Overcast