Whether you know it or not, chances are you’ve attended an event deejayed by TJ Connelly. After all, he’s been the DJ in residence for Red Sox games at Fenway Park since 2005, and just completed his third season in that same role for New England Patriots games at Gillette Stadium. For audiences of tens of thousands, Connelly has curated the soundtrack of championship parades, clinches, comebacks and scores of other sports memories (and probably some forgettable moments, too). Every party host knows there’s a unique alchemy to keeping visitors entertained and engaged, but that’s just a day at the office for Connelly —who is also tech-based entrepreneur and co-founded the restaurant industry’s popular onthebar app. Patriots invited him for a tryout with the team during a prime time matchup against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. The Pats fell into a deep hole, inspiring Connelly to blast Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” that year’s monster single, throughout the stadium. After the Patriots got lucky enough to complete the titanic comeback and win the game in overtime, they invited Connelly to join the organization. RELATED:Where to watch Super Bowl LI in Boston “TJ the DJ,” who spun for the legendary independent radio station WFNX and can now be heard on college stations WZBC and WMBR, characterizes the art of deejaying a sporting event as something between a party and a mixtape. If you play something the crowd loves, they let you know. But he finds the opposite to be true, too.“If you play something and it kills the energy, you can feel it,” he says. “And you can feel it times 68,000 people.” “It’s basically like your job is being a transistor for the crowd,” he continues. “Your job is to take what they’re giving you and amplify it, and keep it from getting too low.”
Connelly spends hours and even days formulating plans to heighten the experience for both Fenway and Foxboro faithful. Sometimes it pays off big, like two weeks ago during the AFC Championship Game at Gillette, when even Tom Brady and Bill Belichick admitted to enjoying a massive crowd singalong to Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer.” RELATED:Taste of the NFL brings together football, food and fundraising Connelly will be watching Sunday’s matchup from his couch at home, but listen closely: You should be able to hear some of the team’s favorite hits in Houston. Connelly provided Super Bowl organizers with a selection of the team’s signature tunes, to be played in key moments. Like all New England fans, TJ the DJ is hoping to have cause to celebrate on Sunday night. If the football goes well, he’ll get another opportunity to play hits for an excited crowd, and unite a community through music. As he says, “That’s a lot of what it’s for, right?” TJ the DJ’s Super Bowl playlist for Pats fans Tom Brady takes the field The Patriots score Martellus Bennett makes a clutch grab The Pats need a big play The Pats clinch theirlatest Super Bowl win
The songs you’ll want to play for every moment this Sunday.
“Public Service Announcement (Interlude),” Jay Z
It’s the star QB’s traditional entry music.
“This Is Our House,” Bon Jovi
The team’s official TD song since 2009 comes courtesy of Bill’s longtime pal.
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” Whitney Houston
The TE made it his pom-pom song at the AFC title game.
“Your Love,” The Outfield
Sox and Pats fans alike have decided this is their comeback anthem of choice.
“4’33”,” John Cage
The four-and-a-half minutes of harsh silence echoes the coach’s brand of intimidation.
“One More Time,” Daft Punk
Isn’t it obvious?
How TJ the DJ keeps Patriots fans on their feet
Connelly believes that to do his job well, he needs to maintain the perspective of a fan, joking, “I don’t want to start thinking of Tom Brady as ‘The guy who throws the football at work,’ you know?”
Bill Belichick grimaces on the sideline
