ATOMIC 7 TAKE 2 THE CASE OF BRIAN CONNELLY’S UNDERPANTS
By Eric Schulz
There once was an issue of MAD magazine named “Snappy
Answers to Stupid Questions.” The gist of the issue was that a
stupid question was asked and then followed up by a barrage of
witty comebacks. The following email interview with former
Shadowy Men From a Shadowy Planet and current Atomic 7
guitarist Brian Connelly made me think I was trapped in MAD
magazine. Atomic 7 may be an instrumental band, but as
Connelly shows in this interview he isn’t at a loss for words. The
band recently released a follow–up to 2003’s Gowns By Edith
Head titled ...en Hillbilly Caliente. Atomic 7 nukes the Starlight in
Waterloo on Thursday, July 8th.
ECHO: How did you come to a partnership with Mint Records?
Brian Connelly: When I first talked to the folks at Mint I think they
thought I was Brian Connelly from the Sweet. They could smell
another “Ballroom Blitz” or “Fox on the Run” so they let me do
whatever I wanted. When they found out they were getting me and
an instrumental go go dance band, they tried to be all cool like
they knew it all along. They were too embarrassed to back out of
the deal.
My relationship with Mint has been great. Although, we did
break up for about a week when I caught them slutting around
and putting out other peoples’ records. We made up under the
bleachers and can now proudly hold hands walking down the
halls. Oh yeah, and I worked with Neko Case (signed to
Mint) for a couple of years.
ECHO: On en Hillbilly Caliente the other instruments (bass and
drums) really shine. The guitar is still the centre of attention, but
the bass and drums seem to have more life vs. Gowns By Edith
Head. The last time I interviewed you, you said your ideal was for
everyone in the band to write together. Was en Hillbilly Caliente
more of a collaborative effort this time around?
BC: Gowns By Edith Head was recorded with an unamplified stand
There once was an issue of MAD magazine named “Snappy 
