Connie Dungs

Last updated
The Connie Dungs
Origin Ashland, Kentucky
Genres Pop punk
Rock
Years active1994–2001; 2011; 2013; 2019
LabelsMutant Pop Records
Plan It X Records
MembersChris Griffith (percussion)
Wayne Griffith (bass)
John Spears (guitar)
Past membersBrandon Tussey (vocals)
Mike Webb (guitar)
Rob Lowe (guitar)
Dave Berger (guitar)

The Connie Dungs were an American punk rock band from Ashland, Kentucky, formed in 1994.

Contents

Biography

The Connie Dungs described themselves as "a poppy snotty punk band similar in style to The Ramones and, later, Jawbreaker". [1] They existed as an active band from 1994 to 2000, taking part in over 20 releases during that time. The Dungs gained some degree of prominence in the American underground punk scene based on sporadic concerts around the middle U.S., including Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Beginnings

Brandon Tussey met Wayne Griffith at a record store where Wayne worked. They had a similar taste in music and Brandon eventually asked Wayne if he wanted to start a band. Wayne got his brother, Chris Griffith, to play drums, and coworker, John Spears, to play guitar. A few months into 1994, the Connie Dungs began performing at local shows in Eastern Kentucky. During this early period they recorded and released two cassette-tape demos (Songs for Swinging Lovers and Nice Guys Finish Last), which were sold exclusively at shows. Both Songs for Swinging Lovers and Nice Guys Finish Last were later collected on one album, Songs for Swinging Nice Guys, released in 1999 on Mutant Pop Records. [2]

Their first official release was a split 7-inch with fellow local punk band Tugboat. These demos and early releases resulted in a 7-inch single with Chicago indie label Harmless Records. Missy and Johnny was selected in 1995 by Shredder Records as one of the top punk singles of the year and was included in volume three of their annual compilation, Shreds. [3]

Underground Punk Success

After signing with Mutant Pop and releasing a series of singles and albums, more buzz came by way of positive coverage from numerous major underground punk publications, including Flipside , Punk Planet , The Probe , Jersey Beat , and maximumrocknroll . Two writers at maximumrocknroll were particularly enthusiastic about the group: George Tabb and Mykel Board. [4] Board once wrote: "They're my new favorite band. In case you haven't heard, they've got the best punk vocalist since H.R.! ... I love you!". [5] The band even made an appearance in the December 1996 issue of Guitar School magazine in the article "The Great Unknowns: The Best and the Brightest of Today's Unsung Punk Bands." [6] [ citation needed ]

John Spears left the band in 1996, and was replaced by Rob Lowe. Zac Damon (of Zoinks!, Squirtgun and Screeching Weasel fame) provided back-up vocals for the second LP, Driving on Neptune. The third LP, Earthbound for the Holiday, featured back-up vocals from Mass Giorgini, the prominent pop punk producer who was a member of later incarnations of Screeching Weasel and a founding member of Squirtgun. Mass also had a hand in recording, mastering, or producing several Connie Dungs releases. Rob Lowe and the band parted ways in 1999 for unspecified reasons. Rob was replaced with Dave Berger of Spodie. The band recorded songs with Dave that would go on to appear on the Mutant Pop SRCD, titled "Turntable." He also played on the group's final album, Eternal Bad Luck Charm.

Break-up and later projects

The band played their last show August 19, 2000, at the Mutant Pop Festival in Warren, PA. This was the same day their 4th and final LP, Eternal Bad Luck Charm, was released.

Following the break-up, the three permanent members (Brandon, Chris, and Wayne) started a new band with a less pop-oriented direction, A Radio With Guts. Brandon also played some solo acoustic shows, including a gig with pop punk luminary Dr. Frank.

In 2007, Brandon restarted the band with an entirely different lineup and played a few local shows. In 2009, Tussey put out a solo album under his name. It was called "Outfitted for the Apocalypse." He also did spoken word work under the name Compost Press.

Reunions

The band has had several reunion shows. The first, featuring the original four members (Brandon, Wayne, Chris and John) was in July 2011, at the V Club in Huntington, WV. A month later, they made their way to Baltimore, Maryland to the Insubordination Records Festival, more commonly known as Insub Fest. [7] The band also performed at the V Club in Huntington, WV on October 12, 2013. [8]

Permanent members

Former members

Discography

Full-length albums

  1. 1997 The Connie Dungs (Mutant Pop Records)
  2. 1998 Driving on Neptune (Mutant Pop Records)
  3. 1999 Earthbound For The Holiday (Mutant Pop Records)
  4. 1999 Songs For Swinging Nice Guys (Mutant Pop Records) (both self-released cassettes from 1995 on one CD)
  5. 2000 Eternal Bad Luck Charm (Mutant Pop Records)

EPs and singles

  1. 1995 Connie Dungs / Tugboat Split 7-inch EP (Smalltown Kids Records)
  2. 1995 Missy and Johnny 7-inch EP (Harmless Records)
  3. 1996 I Hate This Town 7-inch EP (Mutant Pop Records)
  4. 1997 Connie Dungs / Operation: Cliff Clavin split 7-inch/CDEP (Plan It X Records)
  5. 1997 Connie Dungs / Automatics (USA) split 10-inch EP (Cool Guy Records)
  6. 1997 Connie Dungs / Slowpokes split 7-inch EP
  7. 1997 No Chance 7-inch EP (Mutant Pop Records)
  8. 2000 Turntable CDEP (Mutant Pop Records)

Demos and other releases

  1. 1995 Songs For Swinging Lovers – self-released cassette sold at shows, 200 copies
  2. 1995 Nice Guys Finish Last – self-released cassette sold at shows, 200 copies

Compilations

  1. 1995 Shreds Volume 3-American Underground '95 (Shredder Records) – "Missy and Johnny"
  2. 1996 The New Breed, Volume 3 (G.I. Productions) – "I Hate This Town" (vinyl version on CD)
  3. 1996 Back Asswards (Interbang Records) – "Kill Me In My Sleep" (exclusive version)
  4. 1996 The Best of Bumfuck Egypt Music Compilation 7-inch (Molasses Grave Records) (5 bands) – "Wonder Boy" (exclusive track)
  5. 1997 Grease – The Not So Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (Dummyup Records) "Those Magic Changes" (Sha Na Na cover)
  6. 1997 It Should Have Been a Record (Ape City Records)- "Used to be Cool" (exclusive version)
  7. 1998 How To Be Punk – Volume 1 (Cool Guy Records) – "Teenage Punks On Talk Shows" (exclusive version)
  8. 2000 Transylvania Style Punk Rock (Wornout Records) – "Barbara" (album version)

Source: Discogs [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarves (band)</span> American rock band

The Dwarves are an American punk rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois and based in San Francisco, California as of 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bored Suburban Youth</span>

Bored Suburban Youth was among the hardcore punk bands that rose up in the Southeastern United States in the "second wave" of the 1980s. Along with bands such as Bedlam Hour, Massappeal and The Sex Mutants, BSY contributed to the nascent punk scene in the decidedly un-punk environs of the politically and socially conservative New South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MDC (band)</span> American punk rock band

MDC is an American punk rock band formed in 1979 in Austin, Texas, subsequently based in San Francisco, and currently Portland, Oregon. Among the first wave of bands to define the sound and style of American hardcore punk, MDC originally formed as The Stains; they have periodically changed the meaning of "MDC", the most frequent being Millions of Dead Cops. The band's lyrical content expresses radical left political views and has proven influential within the punk subculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poison Idea</span> American punk rock band

Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric's Trip</span> Canadian indie rock band

Eric's Trip is a Canadian indie rock band from Moncton, New Brunswick. Eric's Trip achieved prominence as the first Canadian band to be signed to Seattle's flagship grunge label Sub Pop in the early 1990s. The band had a minor hit in alternative circles with the single "View Master", from the 1994 album Forever Again.

Bush Tetras are an American post-punk No Wave band from New York City, formed in 1979. They are best known for the 1980 song "Too Many Creeps", which exemplified the band's sound of "jagged rhythms, slicing guitars, and sniping vocals". Although they did not achieve mainstream success, the Bush Tetras were influential and popular in the Manhattan club scene and college radio in the early 1980s. New York's post-punk revival of the 2000s was accompanied by a resurgence of interest in the genre, with the Tetras' influence heard in many of that scene's bands.

Sweet Baby was a pop punk band that originated from Berkeley, California, and was part of the 924 Gilman Street scene. They were signed to Ruby Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doom (British band)</span> English hardcore punk band

Doom are an English hardcore punk band from Birmingham whose first lineup were together from 1987 to 1990. Despite its short existence, the band is considered pivotal in the rise of crust punk, a genre of punk rock that takes influence and elements from extreme metal. They recorded for Peaceville Records and are cited as an early precursor to grindcore. Doom were also a favourite of BBC Radio DJ John Peel.

Toxic Reasons were an American punk rock band, formed in 1979. The band released nine full-length studio albums between 1982 and 1995.

The Frantics was an American punk rock band from Clinton, South Carolina, United States. Founded by Kevin Mac (vocals/guitar), Timmy Timmy (guitar/vocals), Anthony Price (bass/vocals) and Todd Skeleton (drums/skinny). Drew Perry replaced Skeleton on drums in late 1998, but only recorded a handful of songs with the band.

The band formed out of high school in 1995, and began recording immediately. Frantics toured the U.S. through 1999, releasing two albums and two more singles during that time .

They have toured with and/or supported touring bands including AFI, Parasites, Cletus, Against All Authority, The Pull-Outs, Blanks 77, Flatus, The Vandals, MU330, The Bouncing Souls, The Force, Zeke and Mustard Plug.

2005 saw a one-time "reunion" show for the Frantics, playing to raise funds for a cancer-stricken local club owner that booked them during their heyday. Within a year of reuniting, Kevin, Anthony and Drew formed The Black Kites, who released a four song EP and played shows through 2008.

In 2018, the Frantics were named the representatives for South Carolina in Kerrang's "The United States of Punk."

Parasites are an American pop-punk band. They were formed in the late 1980s by guitarist / singer Dave Parasite and bassist Ron Nole in New Jersey. Dave later relocated to Berkeley, California, and continued with a new lineup during the heyday of Lookout! Records and the Bay Area pop-punk revival.

Heart Attack was an American early New York hardcore band formed in 1980 and active until 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero Boys</span> American hardcore punk band

The Zero Boys are an American hardcore punk quartet from Indianapolis, Indiana fronted by Paul Mahern that debuted in 1980. Other members include bassist Scott Kellogg, drummer Mark Cutsinger and guitarist Dave Lawson. The band was known as one of the few popular hardcore bands from the Midwest, as the scene was mostly dominated by bands from the coasts.

The Stisism Band, later known simply as Stisism, was an American punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York.

Glen Cummings is an American thrash metal guitarist best known for his work in Ludichrist and Scatterbrain.

Sewer Trout was an American punk rock band, formed in Sacramento, California in 1985. The group's uptempo bass lines and fast-paced songs would serve as a basis and influence for many of the later California pop punk bands of the 1990s. The band consisted of Jim MacLean, his brother Hal MacLean (drums), and Keith Lehtinen, with Erik Benson joining as a second guitarist after meeting Hal at Sacramento State. Although Benson's progressive rock influences eventually led to the band's break-up and re-joining as the Well Hung Monks.

<i>Betrayal, Fear, Anger, Hatred</i> 1981 EP by Nomeansno

Betrayal, Fear, Anger, Hatred is the first EP by Canadian punk rock band Nomeansno. Released in 1981, it and the "Look, Here Come the Wormies / SS Social Service" 7-inch split single from the previous year are the two official Nomeansno releases from their origins recording in their parents' basement before becoming a live band. Originally self-released in a limited vinyl run, the EP since has been re-released by the band's Wrong Records imprint on 7-inch and included on reissues of the band's 1982 debut album Mama.

Le Shok was an American electropunk band from Long Beach, California. The band was made up of members of various other punk bands from the area and existed from 1997 until early 2001, releasing numerous seven-inch records and splits, releasing one full-length album, and touring the United States twice.

Adrenalin O.D. was an American hardcore punk band from New Jersey that existed from 1981 to 1990. They were best known for playing fast-paced music accompanied with humorous lyrics.

<i>Its a Girl!</i> 1989 studio album by Sweet Baby

It's a Girl! is the only studio album by Berkeley-based pop punk band Sweet Baby. It was originally released on vinyl and cassette in January 1989 through Ruby Records, a subsidiary of Slash Records/Warner Music Group.

References

  1. "Local punk rockers reunite for 2 shows". 7 July 2011.
  2. "Home". mutantpop.com.
  3. "Local punk rockers reunite for 2 shows". 7 July 2011.
  4. maximumrocknroll, issue No. 197
  5. maximumrocknroll, issue No. 193
  6. Guitar School Magazine, December 1996
  7. "Local punk rockers reunite for 2 shows". 7 July 2011.
  8. https://www.vclublive.com/event/149465
  9. "The Connie Dungs". Discogs.