Fave Pianists Of Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner

Not unlike Alice Cooper, Low Cut Connie is actually one man. That would be frontman/pianist/songwriter Adam Weiner, who originally founded his group as a four-piece back in 2010 before having it eventually evolve into his alter ego.

The Philly resident toiled away for years before fully committing to becoming a full-time musician after President Barack Obama added the Low Cut Connie gem “Boozophilia” to his inaugural Spotify list, an event that has since become an annual occurrence. And while this gesture didn’t automatically gain Low Cut Connie a record deal, Weiner admits it was a game-changer.
“When that happened, it was bizarre and earth shattering,” Weiner recalled. “When the list got put out for the first year in 2015, it was big news at the time. It was all iconic musicians—Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Low Cut Connie was the ‘one of these things is not like the other’ part of the list. It didn’t necessarily change my career. It wasn’t that kind of thing. I knew it was time to quit my day job and put the gas pedal down with the band..”

Since the pandemic hit, Low Cut Connie has changed gears and kept the rock and roll mojo going via Tough Cookies, a livestream concert for a virtual audience streamed out of his South Philadelphia home since March 19, 2020. What began as a one-off gig, evolved into something far greater than its origins.
“What started out as me with no set-list, no rehearsal and no plan basically turned into a variety show format where I do theme sets, tribute shows and interview all kinds of people,” Weiner explained.
As someone who was originally inspired by seeing The Chipmunks live and being entranced as a four-year-old by Tom Hulce’s Mozart in the 1984 film Amadeus, Weiner was happy to share his favorite masters of the ‘88s with Long Island Weekly.

Professor Longhair (December 19, 1918 to January 30, 1980)
“He sort of created the world of New Orleans rock and roll and R&B piano. He created it and he put a certain kind of rhythm into piano playing that hadn’t been there before. His emphasis was as a rhythm player much more than playing melody and that’s how I am as well. He’s a real hero of mine.”

James Booker (December 17, 1939 to November 8, 1983)
“He is the real kind of New Orleans piano. I don’t think anybody ever played better than him. Piano players all try to be the whole band. You’ve gotta try and be the rhythm section and lead at the same time and Booker was that. He was the whole deal. He didn’t need other musicians with him. Booker could play the phone book and make it interesting.”

Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935 to present)
“He sort of put the footprint down for all of us. He’s certainly the most exciting rock and roll piano player. Jerry Lee is technically proficient and a very skilled piano player.”

Little Richard (December 5, 1932 to May 9, 2020)
“Like me, Little Richard wasn’t technically proficient. He was all heart and soul. I take a lot from Little Richard. To me, he was the greatest performer in rock and roll.”

Elton John (March 25, 1947 to present)
“He’s become a buddy and we all know that he’s just a phenomenal piano player. What he did was elevate the piano in music globally and that can’t be overstated. He’s that guy.”