Bobby Conn

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and this is the thread, where the people they tell me, things, things about Bobby Conn. and this is the thread, the thread where i listen, to what they say.

― gareth, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

He's the cod-soul novelty act Maura likes - other than that I don't know much about him.

― Tom, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Initially very sceptical... my first exposure to him was seeing him live and it didn't come across too well. My guess is that if I'd have known the songs beforehand I'd have been blown away - as it was it felt like a bad novelty act, sub-Moldy Peaches in-joke. Dragging audience members on stage... furry glove puppets... OTT make up... singing along to a backing track (NB: apparently he usually plays live with a band, so I may have caught him on a bad night).

Then I got the Record, "The Golden Age" and suddenly it all started to make sense. The style hopping can sometimes seem a little self conscious, forced even, but when it works ("You've Come a Long Way", the title track) it sounds pretty amazing. Haven't heard any of his other stuff, but I'd be keen to check it out, and I'd definitely want to see him play live again. The "FM rock" tag he seems to be carrying is a little off target I reckon... I'm not really sure what I'd compare him to though. Maybe Jonathan Richman if he'd spent the 90's doing coke with Liam and Noel.

― Andrew Williams, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Stay ignorant. The more I know about him, the less I enjoy his music.

― K-reg, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It would be good if he was a cod-sole novelty seafood act. Embroiled in a legal battel with Fish, no doubt.

― Tim, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

So good. So very good. Marries absurdity with full-on rocking better than Alice Cooper.

― Sterling Clover, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I have a single of his ("Never Get Ahead") given to me by someone who knew him in Chicago, or something like that. It's ok. I'm not in a rush to hear his other stuff, but it isn't bad.

― Sean, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

He was/is part of the Chicago snotnose noiserock scene that surrounded Milk of Burgundy in Wicker Park. "Bobby Conn" part of same group of bands as Th Scissor Girls, Quintron, Flying Luttenbachers. Many of these bands don't know how to tune their instruments. You're dealing with a kind of willed outsiderness. They'd probably get along with Lars Van Trier really well.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 1 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm sorry, but the guy's fucking great. "irritainment," the term i think coined by some WFMU person sometime, applies here. and i have to love anyone who writes choruses like "i don't need no kids and no money!" and "you're never gonna get ahead/givin' head to the man" and sings them over super-dope trash soul/funk.

― your null fame, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

Hanging out with him a few weeks ago was the coolest night I ever spent in Baltimore. Believe the hype! This might be the most hardworking, true to the plan, band (and person) out there.

― Sahara Loeb, Tuesday, 27 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

There's something about him fundamentally uninteresting (which I should note is a much worse crime in my book than being fundamentally unlikeable).

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 27 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm not taken with the new album yet (the first of his that i've heard). will report back more later.

― gareth, Thursday, 29 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i used to see him at the kinko's or at jewel grocery store or at the laundromat. he always looked lost. and he's real short. and looks like he's wearing a wig. my wife would always say, "that's bobby conn." and i'd say, "oh."

― james, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The new album, after one spin, doesn't rock nearly as hard as the previous one. For all those interested in checking him out -- go for Rise Up instead.

― Sterling Clover, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What's this? Another Chicago resident?

― Kerry, Monday, 3 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sterl, you had to tell me that now didn't you, after i've already gone out and bought, and been disappointed by, The Golden Age

― gareth, Tuesday, 4 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah. I bought the new album too, so we're in the craptastic boat together. But I think it may be a grower -- he certainly funks up the noize more than the usual Chicago crew. But this one does feel like a goofy cousin of late-period post-rock sortof a The Sea and Bop Gun. Wheras the previous album felt totally unique and outside any particular scene.

― Sterling Clover, Tuesday, 4 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

quite like the track 'california' on the chicago..........2018 compilation. wouldnt buy his album tho.

― ambrose, Tuesday, 4 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i think the golden age is quite good, actually! i like especially the bit of over-the-top glam excess in its middle. but then again i have been listening to lots of t rex and the sweet lately, so.

if you can find his first 7-inch, i'd get that, and 'rise up!' and the vinyl version of his first album, which is pretty much all killer, no filler. (i love the cd but i think the vinyl packs more of a punch.)

― maura, Tuesday, 4 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

I dont know about the rest of you fine folk, but I heard Bobby on the Rise Up! tour and have been ABSOLUTELY hooked ever since. There is definitely genious there. For those of you that like his previous stuff, give "The Golden Age" a few listens before judging it too harshly. There are some real gems on there ("Angels" and "whores" being but two), but the album is a tad hard to swallow right away if your used to his previous stuff. The man obviously prides himself on his innovation, which I feel he greatly succeeds in accomplishing. For "the Golden Age" to be too much like his older stuff would be to defeat his own purpose. Unfortunately it involves confusing a few fans along the way. Its nice to see a little discussiion like this going. I'm from Toronto and nobody here even knows who the fuck he is. Cheers.

― JG, Wednesday, 19 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

four weeks pass...

have not been able to find mr.conn anywhere in memphis or columbus ohio. heard the wonderful sounds of bobby from my ex, who took the c.d. with him would love to give bobby $ so that i can here rise up. thanks

― mickie, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Bobby Conn used to go by the street name "shorty roughneck." His former bandmate "Ross G" went by the street name "johnny sweet." Together they played in an incredible rock band called, simply "short and sweet."

They have incredible songs. I roadied for short and sweet 12/22/96 and made a crap sounding cassette boot of the show. Million times better than this Conn crap. Songs like:

-Rod and reel (chilling tale of fishing with dad) -We're not gonna rock like there's no tomorrow... (cuz tomorrow, we'll be rockin again). -Rock and roll food chain -When my love landed on you -Plus their theme song, i believe titled "short and sweet"

Infinitely more challenging, engaging and honest than this Conn con... feel duped? You outta...

assatoli v.

― assatoli vegomite, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ah...the majesty that is the internet! what a glorious time we live in...i really love all of your feedback, and you! xoxoxo

― robert robert conn, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

HMMM. Though it is, much to my surprise, an actual domain name.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i emailed that fucking 'robert robert conn'. very interesting response, probably not the actual 5'4" bobby, though. the person sent me a link to a talent agency in chicago and a midget 5-piece jazz- fusion ensemble called the little butchers. then he asked me about rainbow hats and i told him a secret. if you wanna know about the real bobby conn, just surf around the net. there's tons of info. he is in europe on tour right now.

― lisa vaughn, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i emailed thebbc@k.st to give them some shit about being stupid and impersonating bobby conn, but it was returned because "mailbox at this address no longer active". i tried it several times, and my friends as well. i suppose that shithead got more than he bargained for and closed out his address or put a block on it. dumbshit! www.bobbyconn.com won't get you past the damn 'welcome' opening page. he is in europe, though, lisa...you weren't making that up at least! (midgets, rainbow hats, sheesh...get real already. )he was here in amsterdam and he rocked perversely.

― franz verhoeven, Wednesday, 16 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

four weeks pass...

Saw Bobby Conn live on Saturday in London. Absolutely wild. And he touched my face with his furry mitten!

― Daniel, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

I just saw Bobby Conn for the 12 time (it actually may be more that that but I stopped keeping accurate count--the joys of living in Chicago). He was brilliant as usual. I have to say that this past show was one of the best I've seen of his. Not bad for a late Sunday night (March 10) concert. They played a little off of every album, such as, Angels, Axis 67, Maria B, Baby Man. Virginia was at the show and they of course played the song Virginia. She also accompanied the band on a few other songs. They also played two songs that I hadn't heard before. Bobby Conn said that they were going to be on the new album, but he didn't say when that was coming out. Oh, and he is now sporting a mustache, which was kind of disturbing and yet intriguing.

― Rachel, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

bobby conn at joe's pub monday night... AWESOME. is this guy blacklisted from getting media attention or something? he and his band rocked. I also love his politics.

― skizaor, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm reviewing his album for the nme tonight. hooray. i love bobby conn! new album rocks!

― griffin doome, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I am so glad to hear that griffin. I looked up some old reviews yesterday (not that anything will change my glowing opinion of him) and people are such haters. they're afraid of performance art. they're slaves to "cool", which was bobby at age 4, but he's way beyond that now.

― skizaor, Wednesday, 17 December 2003 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I have an track on a mini-disc I recorded off a white 7" that said Bobby Conn. This all happened many many years ago and I've been through his whole back catalogue trying to find that track. There are no lyrics, just someone singing along to the instruments, sounding more like a wah-wah or muted brass than a voice. It's not much to go on, but someone might know it.

― nick.K (nick.K), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

new album is ace, the bestest thing he's done since the self-titled debut... ludicrous, hilarious and acidic.

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

i saw him live before hearing anything on tape, and i didn't know what to think about it, didn't know if he was a genius or a faker, which in the end must be a good thing in my book.
when i finally got to hear some of his recorded music, i loved it, and i'm looking for more of his stuff since then.

― joan vich (joan vich), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

when is The Homeland supposed to be out, anyway?

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

late january

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 17 December 2003 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

anyone heard "king for a day" or is bobby conn off the radar (again)?

― 7seasjim, Saturday, 17 March 2007 11:58 (eighteen years ago)

Kinda hated to do this, but at least he's an interesting failure here, which is more than most people can say, thus in his way, really is King For A Day: [[link Paper Thin Walls ]]/http://paperthinwalls.com/singlefile/item?id=388/paperthinwalls.http[[link]]

― dow, Sunday, 18 March 2007 02:30 (eighteen years ago)

[[Removed Illegal Link]]

― dow, Sunday, 18 March 2007 02:44 (eighteen years ago)

What th? I was king for a day til I tried to do this shit (honest). Anyway, the one which violated the laws of math was the same as in first attempt.

― dow, Sunday, 18 March 2007 02:46 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

WTF ? haha this hit is unreal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm9dzLxLvxc

― oscar, Friday, 2 May 2008 19:04 (seventeen years ago)

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