A trail of crumbs to the best live streams on the web.
When all is said and done, we will all have our memories of the moment we are living in. For some rock and roll faithful, one of those memories will be Adam Weiner and Low Cut Connie’s raucous concert series, Tough Cookies.
For all of us who have had to talk, or present, to a screen on zoom, you know that the energy Adam Weiner creates during each Tough Cookies performance is no small feet. Performing for a screen is just so one way. There’s no energy of the crowd to feed off. Not to mention the choice of groupies suck.
A merch collection more generous than Weiner’s sweat glands.
On the band’s web site, you’ll find a link to a bounty of Tough Cookie merch. The most limited of which are ripped shirts straight off the back of Weiner himself. A long standing bit of a Low Cut Connie show is Weiner ripping off one of his trademark wife beaters.
The shirts when available come with a signed poloroid taken at the moment of their destruction. Proceeds from each T go to Appel Farm Arts Camp. A New Jersey art & education program for kids.
Now if damaged pre-worn rock star apparel isn’t your thing. And I completely understand. You can underline your appreciation of the Tough Cookies series with t-shirts, tank tops, baseball Ts, sweatpants, posters, pins and bangles.
Live from the spare room.
One can only imagine that back on March 11, Weiner was freaking out like the rest of us. After months of hearing about some virus having its way with China and Europe, things got serious in North America. Right in the middle of a game, the NBA shut down leading to the cancellation of live entertainment. Like everything. Everywhere. No sports, no theatre, no music.
Everything just stopped. As did the income of anyone who made a living entertaining us. Globe trotting athletes, comedians and musicians found themselves shut-ins.
The days of multiplatinum performers requesting nothing but red M&Ms has been replaced by musicians who have to tour to earn a living. The streaming formula just doesn’t pay what vinyl and CDs once did. So back in March, a lot of working class guitar heroes found themselves sitting at home instead of hitting the road.
Adam Wiener of Low Cut Connie was no exception. He also had a double album waiting in the wings. Private Lives was released on October 13. Throughout LCC livestreams, peaks of the new material has been frequent. And it’s fantastic. Which must have made it that much harder knowing that they couldn’t take the new material out on tour.
Right out of the gate, Low Cut Connie’s live streams have been recognized as some of the best on the web including in this Rolling Stone article.
Live unpolished rock and roll.
If you haven’t seen any of the shows, I suggest starting with the very first. Available here on Low Cut Connie’s FB page. 7 months later it doesn’t have the emotional weight of the moment, but still the energy of Adam Weiner and guitarist Will Donnely will lift your spirits. I think my favourite part is that they start broadcasting with the image on it’s side. The fact that they weren’t 100% clear on how to create a FaceBook Live only adds to the beauty. This is live unpolished rock and roll with nothing but a piano, a guitar and a lead singer in a robe. Spoiler alert for the uninitiated, Weiner ultimately ends up in some stage of undress before the end of each show.
On the first of Low Cut Connie’s live streams, you’ll note that the show was going by a different name back in March 19. The shows are dubbed Live From South Philly. Tough Cookies didn’t come until later. As did the merchandise and the Patreon membership. Unable to tour Low Cut Connie has not only had to find ways to get their music heard, but they’ve also had to get crafty with how to pay the bills.
Tough Cookie merchandise is about economics, but it is more than that.
It’s about buying into a idea that music can lift us up through difficult times. Live music and performances can connect artists and fans. It’s about commemorating a moment and a band making the most of that moment.