[piano intro] - [Announcer] "Shaped by Sound" is made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the North Carolina Arts Council within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

- Shaped by Sound.

[shutter board snaps] - 13 North Carolina artists.

[upbeat music] Their songs, their stories.

This stage.

[record needle crackling] [upbeat rock music] [melodic rock music] [melodic rock music continues] [melodic rock music continues] [time signature quickens] ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ I fought windmills ♪ ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ I saw angels ♪ ♪ I know my place in this ♪ ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ I had visions ♪ ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ You were in them ♪ ♪ I found my place in this world ♪ ♪ Well, it's you I swear ♪ ♪ You I swear ♪ ♪ I delight in my despair ♪ ♪ You I swear, you I swear ♪ ♪ Giving me the right ♪ ♪ You who lied ♪ ♪ It's you who lied ♪ ♪ When you had to swallow pride ♪ ♪ You I swear ♪ ♪ You I swear ♪ ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ Thoughts escaped me ♪ ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ Words escaped me ♪ ♪ I know my place ♪ ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ I had visions ♪ ♪ So surprised ♪ ♪ You were in them ♪ ♪ I found my place in this world ♪ ♪ Well, it's you I swear ♪ ♪ It's you I swear ♪ ♪ I delight in my despair ♪ ♪ You I swear, it's you I swear ♪ ♪ Giving me the right ♪ ♪ It's you who lied, you who lied ♪ ♪ When you had to swallow pride ♪ ♪ You I swear, it's you I swear ♪ [upbeat instrumental music] [melodic instrumental music] ♪ It's you I swear, it's you I swear ♪ ♪ I delight in my despair ♪ ♪ You I swear, it's you I swear ♪ ♪ Giving me the right ♪ ♪ It's you who lied, you who lied ♪ ♪ When you had to swallow pride ♪ ♪ You I swear, it's you I swear ♪ ♪ It's you I swear ♪ ♪ It's you I swear ♪ ♪ I delight in my despair ♪ ♪ You I swear, you I swear ♪ ♪ Giving me the right ♪ ♪ It's you who lied, you who lied ♪ ♪ When you had to swallow pride ♪ ♪ You I swear, it's you I swear ♪ - I'm here with Mike and Doug from the Connells.

Thank you both for being here at PBS North Carolina.

We are really, really stoked to have you here.

I'll tell you that like, a lot of people in these rooms are just like over the moon that you've joined us.

- Well, thank you.

- Thank you so much.

It's like such a joy and a pleasure to have you here.

- Thank you so much.

Thanks for having us.

- Yeah, thank you.

- We're really flattered.

- We're excited.

I want to just go ahead and jump right in.

And you all started this group out of a garage in Raleigh, right?

- It actually started a little before that.

A couple of us were in school in Chapel Hill.

- Right on, okay.

So in NC.

- And so for one hour Friday afternoons, my younger brother David and the band's first drummer, who was one of Doug's best friends growing up, would just get together and play whatever was on the radio.

We would've started this in '82 and on into '83.

And then it was September of '84 when we finally played out for the first time.

- There was a lot going on musically.

There was a lot of places to play.

There was parties to play and a lot of bands.

- I mean, this was just before things really took off in Chapel Hill.

- Yeah.

- You know, with Polvo and Superchunk and all those bands.

And so we would play some, what we, you know, we'd call anchor shows in the south where we could make some money.

- Yeah.

- Enough.

But I mean, we would play, say in Atlanta and then might get lucky enough to play a show in Louisiana and then nothing between there and Arizona or California.

Yeah, those were pretty lean years early on.

- Trial by fire, yeah.

I mean, you know- - Right.

- I'm glad we did it, man.

'Cause it was the only, it's the best way to promote a band or a promote a record, I think.

[up-tempo indie rock music] ♪ You never think to occupy my time ♪ ♪ And you never require ♪ ♪ And you never lean to much ♪ ♪ And it's always been this way ♪ ♪ It's wearing thin ♪ ♪ Your words come crowdin' in ♪ ♪ And I want you to know ♪ ♪ It's the stuff that stirs things up ♪ ♪ And follows me away ♪ ♪ So write my name and carry my picture ♪ ♪ There's nothing wrong ♪ ♪ I'm willing, I'm willing ♪ ♪ I will lead you on ♪ ♪ Write my name and carry my picture ♪ ♪ There's nothing wrong ♪ [upbeat guitar instrumental music] ♪ You never think to occupy my time ♪ ♪ And you never require ♪ ♪ And you never lean to much ♪ ♪ And it's always been this way ♪ ♪ So write my name and carry my picture ♪ ♪ There's nothing wrong ♪ ♪ I'm willing, I'm willing ♪ ♪ I will lead you on ♪ ♪ Write my name and carry my picture ♪ ♪ There's nothing wrong ♪ ♪ Ahhh ♪ ♪ Nothing to say now ♪ ♪ Then deceive me ♪ ♪ Ahhh ♪ ♪ Nothing to say now ♪ ♪ And it seems all right until ♪ ♪ Nothing to say now ♪ ♪ Ahhh ♪ ♪ And deceive me ♪ [upbeat instrumental rock music] [upbeat instrumental rock music] ♪ So write my name and carry my picture ♪ ♪ There's nothing wrong ♪ ♪ I'm willing, I'm willing ♪ ♪ I will lead you on ♪ ♪ Write my name and carry my picture ♪ ♪ There's nothing wrong ♪ [upbeat outro music] [upbeat outro music] [upbeat outro music] - We've talked a bit about y'all having these early tours in the United States, but at some point, you all go overseas into Europe.

- [Doug] Yeah.

- Can we talk a little bit about that?

- So in '93 we went up to Woodstock, New York.

- Yeah.

- With Lou Giordano, who had been Husker Du's sound man.

We recorded an album, "Ring."

- There it is.

Yeah.

- That one.

[James laughs] And- - This one.

- So the third song on the record, "'74-'75."

- Yeah.

- It got a little bit of airplay here in the States when it was released.

- Yeah.

- At the New Music Seminar in New York City, two guys from a label in Germany came over and approached the president of TVT records, our record company, Steve Gottlieb, and said, "We're interested in licensing the bands for release in Germany."

And Steve Gottlieb said, "Well, that's fine, but unless and until they take off in England first, they're not gonna do anything."

Yeah, so they struck a deal, a licensing deal with estimated sales of maybe 2000 copies - We were getting faxes showing our positions in the charts and I thought it was somebody was playing a joke on us.

I was like, this can't be happening.

- I was at home one day in Raleigh and got a call from Steve Gottlieb.

- Yeah.

- And he said, "Congratulations, you got your first number one."

We had gotten to number one in Germany, knocked either Sting or Madonna out of the number one spot, so... - Take that, Sting and Madonna.

- Both of you.

- Yeah.

- But I was like, you gotta be kidding me.

So... - Cool.

- I mean, it is kind of hard to believe.

Yeah.

- Yeah.

- But the song connected for some reason.

- So that was, you said it was in 1995.

- It was '95.

- But you were, so you were having success and had a good amount of success in the United States then, 'cause you were, like you just said earlier, you're, you know, getting 13,000 people to a show in Raleigh here.

- We were doing okay.

Yeah.

- Right.

You were making a lot of movement, - But nothing like this.

- All of a sudden you make this massive leap though, right?

- Yeah, there was nothing to prepare us for what happened.

[melancholic acoustic intro music] ♪ Got no reason ♪ ♪ For coming to me ♪ ♪ And the rain running down ♪ ♪ There's no reason ♪ ♪ And the same voice ♪ ♪ Comin' to me like it's all slowing down ♪ ♪ And believe me ♪ ♪ I was the one who let you know ♪ ♪ I was your sorry ever after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ ♪ It's not easy ♪ ♪ There's nothing to say 'cause it's already said ♪ ♪ It's never easy ♪ ♪ And when I look on your eyes ♪ ♪ Then I find that I'll do fine ♪ ♪ When I look on your eyes ♪ ♪ Then I'll do better ♪ ♪ I was the one who let you know ♪ ♪ I was your sorry ever after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ ♪ Giving me more and I'll defy ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're really only after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ [acoustic instrumental hook] [melancholic guitar music] [melancholic guitar music continues] ♪ Got no reason ♪ ♪ For coming to me ♪ ♪ And the rain running down ♪ ♪ There's no reason ♪ ♪ And when I look on your eyes ♪ ♪ Then I find that I'll do fine ♪ ♪ When I look on your eyes ♪ ♪ Then I'll do better ♪ ♪ I was the one who let you know ♪ ♪ I was your sorry ever after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ ♪ Giving me more and I'll defy ♪ ♪ You're really only after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ ♪ I was the one who let you know ♪ ♪ Your sorry ever after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ ♪ Giving me more and I'll defy ♪ ♪ You're really only after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ [emotive instrumental music] [melancholic vocalization] [emotive instrumental music] [melancholic vocalization] ♪ I was the one who let you know ♪ ♪ Your sorry ever after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ ♪ Giving me more and I'll defy ♪ ♪ You're really only after ♪ ♪ '74-'75 ♪ [music slows to a finish] - How do you think that you're shaped by sound?

- I don't know what I would do without music.

I'd have to, I have to have it.

I mean, I can't imagine not being able to go, you know, in a certain mood, go to a certain song or album and use it to brighten my mood, [chuckles] or whatever, you know?

- [James] Yeah.

- And, [clears throat] but I, you know, that's about as good an answer I can think of right now as far as how it's shaping.

- So for me, I'm older.

I was born in '59, so I was well aware of, you know, the Beatles by say the second grade, Stones and the Monkees and Dylan.

And so at very young age, it was like, "Whatever these guys are doing, I want some of that.

- I want some of that.

- Yeah.

- So I started playing guitar at an early age.

It's been this thing all my life.

For me, initially it was, if it wasn't from England, I wasn't interested in it.

- Yeah.

- Well, maybe with the exception of Dylan, and the Byrds and a few others.

But even grew up in Macon, Georgia, you know, a few blocks, a few miles from the Allman Brothers, where they were living and recording, but yeah, music has been, you know, the most sort of vital part of my existence since I can remember.

- And then the punk rock movement happened at just the right time.

- Yeah.

- Thank God, you know.

And that just kept me going.

Yeah.

[punchy bass intro] [upbeat rock music] ♪ My brother told me ♪ ♪ What had happened on that day ♪ ♪ Although I knew ♪ ♪ The feeling did not hit me right away ♪ ♪ Sleep into a dream ♪ ♪ I thought that it was real ♪ ♪ I knew that it was alright ♪ ♪ I knew that he was alright ♪ ♪ Fell asleep into a dream ♪ ♪ And thought that it was real ♪ ♪ I knew that it was alright ♪ ♪ I knew that he was alright ♪ ♪ And all seven knew that I would see him again ♪ [upbeat instrumental music] ♪ My brother told me ♪ ♪ What had happened on that day ♪ ♪ Although I knew ♪ ♪ The feeling did not hit me right away ♪ ♪ The time was wrong, the feelings strong ♪ ♪ Will I see you today ♪ ♪ And then I thought of what we said ♪ ♪ And I've seen it too ♪ ♪ Will I see you today ♪ ♪ And I fell asleep into a dream ♪ ♪ I thought that it was real ♪ ♪ I knew that it was alright ♪ ♪ I knew that he was alright ♪ ♪ Fell asleep into a dream ♪ ♪ I thought that it was real ♪ ♪ I knew that it was alright ♪ ♪ I knew that he was alright ♪ ♪ Then all seven knew that I would see him again ♪ [punchy bass instrumental music] [upbeat instrumental music] ♪ Then I fell asleep into a dream ♪ ♪ And thought that it was real ♪ ♪ I knew that it was alright ♪ ♪ I knew that he was alright ♪ ♪ Fell asleep into a dream and thought that it was real ♪ ♪ I knew that it was alright ♪ ♪ I knew that he was alright ♪ ♪ And all seven knew I would see him again ♪ Like we were talking about earlier, how the scene was when we started.

I mean, I was in school in Greenville.

- Go Pirates.

- Yeah.

Pirate Pride.

And I mean, there was no music scene there.

So for me there was kind of a big deal to be around the triangle.

And to me it was kind of, it was exciting, you know?

- Yeah.

- And so whenever I can, I try to go see bands play and it seems like there's still a lot of people, you know, playing live music.

I mean, it's a great way to get to, you know, especially after the pandemic and everything.

It's really such a great activity for a communal activity.

You know?

I don't know, hopefully, you know, there'll continue to be guys getting into the garage, guys and gals going into garages and starting bands.

You know?

I think it's possible.

- Yeah.

- Duke, UNC, NC State.

- Yeah.

- And so many other schools right here.

I mean, it's so fertile, this area.

REM had demonstrated that, you know.

I know ultimately they moved to parts further west and stuff, but the fact that those guys stayed in Athens for as long as they did.

- Yeah.

- You know, they're a southern band, started, you know, playing small clubs.

They paved the way for a lot of, not just southern bands, but- - You know, a lot of bands throughout the country, yeah.

- They blew things wide open.

And so they, you know, we just had to look to REM and say, well, you know, if they can stay put- - Why not us?

- If they can stay home, why can't... - Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Thank you all again for being here.

- Thanks for having us.

- We're massive fans.

And just, it's so special to have you here.

So thank you, thank you.

We really appreciate it.

And yeah, it's been great talking to you.

- Thanks very much.

Great interview, thank you.

- Awesome.

Thanks.

- Yeah.

[restrained instrumental rock music] [instrumental music continues] [defiant instrumental music] [melodic trumpet hook plays] ♪ All right, pure delight ♪ ♪ To see you stand in all your glory ♪ ♪ Oh the joys when your boys ♪ ♪ Hit distant soil ♪ ♪ I hope to try ♪ ♪ To answer those who criticize you ♪ ♪ Lead the sheep in their sleep ♪ ♪ To slaughter ♪ [melodic trumpet hook plays] ♪ Won't abide, pushed aside ♪ ♪ Let me know when you've decided ♪ ♪ I'll decline when the sign ♪ ♪ Says "Over There" ♪ ♪ Their game has a name ♪ ♪ Force and fury, fact and fiction ♪ ♪ Sound the call, and the walls ♪ ♪ Will tumble ♪ [defiant instrumental music] [melodic trumpet hook plays] ♪ All right, pure delight ♪ ♪ To see you stand in all your glory ♪ ♪ Oh the joys when your boys ♪ ♪ Hit distant soil ♪ ♪ Won't abide, pushed aside ♪ ♪ Let me know when you've decided ♪ ♪ I'll decline when the sign ♪ ♪ Says "Over There" ♪ [melodic trumpet hook plays] [melodic trumpet hook continues] [final chords ring out] - [James] Thanks for joining us on "Shaped by Sound."

If you'd like to hear more of our discussion from today, you can find it over on our website at pbsc.org/ShapedbySound.

Or you can find them on our PBS North Carolina YouTube channel.

[upbeat music] ♪ Close enough to peel it off ♪ ♪ Slate gray, any day ♪ ♪ Winding down and brought to ground ♪ ♪ Slate gray year ♪ ♪ Nothing much but it's enough ♪ ♪ Just hangin' around ♪ ♪ Wear it plain like cellophane ♪ ♪ Strange, strange ♪ - [Announcer] "Shaped by Sound" is made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the North Carolina Arts Council within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

♪