KEVIN CONNOLLY

PRESS RELEASE

Writing and performing for over thirty years, Kevin Connolly has carved out his own way of writing American songs and earned a reputation as a passionate performer. 

Connolly has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe while maintaining a strong presence and tie to his New England roots. Working the college and coffeehouse circuit solo, Kevin has also played major festivals including Newport Folk, SXSW, Kerrville Folk and Bumbershoot. Kevin’s songs have appeared on network television shows and in major motions pictures as well as independent films. 

He has made a dozen albums so far and the "Violins Sirens" recordings dates back to the early nineties', but the resulting album makes his CD debut only right now, in mid 2023, when two Italian enthusiast decided to embark on a  rescue mission for this gem. It was originally released on cassette in a very limited number, for sale at gigs. Thus it remained criminally underrated and laid in the vaults for decades. 

Kevin has the following to say about the album: ‘Violin Sirens’ (The Lost Cassette) is a "live in the Studio" recording made one snowy day, more than thirty years ago. Having just moved back from Italy, I was a little lost. Waiting tables in Harvard Square and gearing up for several years of solo touring, I had leftovers in the form of ‘band’ songs. And I had a band full of giants: the late Steven Paul Perry on guitar (right off a tour with John Hiatt), Frank Corby on drums, Tom Sheppard on bass and on blues harp Jim Fitting. We didn’t practice much and did no overdubs. Ducky Carlisle recorded the whole thing in a rat infested band rehearsal space next to Fenway Park. We went live to ½ inch tape, to DAT, then cassette (for sale). Yes, cassettes. When a friend gave us a very old car (with a cassette deck) I listened to these songs, very loud for a good part of that summer! So... decades later the time has come to put this old recording on CD and, of course, digital platforms. No vinyl though ... and... no cassette! - enjoy!.  

INSIDE LINER NOTES

THE STORY OF “VIOLIN SIRENS” or “THE LOST CASSETTE”

Kevin:

‘Violin Sirens’ (The Lost Cassette) is a "live in the Studio" recording made one snowy day, more than thirty years ago. Having just moved back from Italy, I was a little lost. Waiting tables in Harvard Square and gearing up for several years of solo touring, I had leftovers in the form of ‘band’ songs. And I had a band full of giants: the late Steven Paul Perry on guitar (right off a tour with John Hiatt), Frank Corby on drums, Tom Sheppard on bass and on blues harp Jim Fitting (Sessions Americana, The The, Treat Her Right). We didn’t practice much and did no overdubs. Ducky Carlisle recorded the whole thing in a rat infested band rehearsal space next to Fenway Park. We went live to ½ inch tape, to DAT, then cassette (for sale). Yes, cassettes. When a friend gave us a very old car (with a cassette deck) I listened to these songs, very loud for a good part of that summer! So... decades later the time has come to put this old recording on CD and, of course, digital platforms. No vinyl though ... and... no cassette! - enjoy!.  

Renato:

Although I never met him, Kevin and I became sort of long distance friends over the years. First time I contacted him to order a CD, I praised the Violin Sirens cassette to the extreme and blamed him for never thinking of a CD release. The second time I started the conversation by saying “I am the one that once told you the Violin Sirens cassette is special … remember?”. Jokingly he promptly replied: “Of course! You were the only one :)”. Fast forward to 2023: in a phone conversation with Kevin, I made it very clear that it is criminal such a great album not being available to the discerning buying public and I offered to release it on my newly created label. It took him one second to redeem his original sin, or crime, and confess : “Ya, I think it’s a good idea… “. I guess he was sick of me and figured out it was the only way to get rid of such a menacing overseas guy. Then he added: “You sure people still buy CDs?”. I replied: “Music lovers will! And, by the way, let me take the risk”. So, thank you dear music lover for reading these notes and thus funding future projects.

Recorded by Ducky Carlisle at Room 9 on June 25 & July 31, 1991

Kevin Connolly – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Steven Paul Perry – Electric & Slide Guitars

Tom Sheppard – Bass

Frank Corby – Drums

Jim Fitting – Blues Harp

All songs written by K. Connolly. All Rights Reserved / Copyright 1991

Artwork: Cinzia Pinto Bottani / KC Photo: Paul Trainor

Special thanks to Jerry Potts and brother James

And thanks to Renato Bottani for the idea, belief and trust

TRACKING LIST

01. GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY 4:30

02. TAKE ME TO THE SEA 2.55

03. A LITTLE PEACE 3.34

04. SOME SAY THE DEVIL'S DEAD 4.03

05. DANCING IN THE KITCHEN 4:44

06. COOL RIVER

07. RIVER OF DOUBT (STILL STANDING)

08. CLIMBING UP MOUNTAINS 4:20

09. FULL MOON PARADISE 4:02

10. JUDGEMENT DAY 3:50

11. HIGHWAY BOY 3:18

12. BRING BACK MY LOVE 4:32