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7 Seconds
Scream Real Loud
SideOneDummy
“Hardcore punk band 7 Seconds is among the most influential of any group from the first wave of Cali punk”; so sayeth the promo sheet. So sayeth the promo sheet for every punk band that was around in the mid ‘80’s, but it just happens to be true for these semi-melodic pioneers. 7 Seconds deserves the status, and Scream Real Loud deserves a listen because A) they’ve done their thing straight through the lean years, as opposed to regrouping for a little New Millennium cha-ching, and B) even after two decades, this set, recorded just last April at Hollywood’s Troubadour, sounds as young, excited, and energetic as anything you’re likely to hear from a bunch of teenagers on their first tour. The sound is great, the performances are tight, and the between-song banter about “looking out for the kids” is earnest enough to be engaging instead of hokey. The twenty-six song set includes stuff from every stage of their career, not just a couple of old favorites wedged in between new crap until the closer. Scream Real Loud is both a history lesson for newcomers, and a powerful, respectable blast from a band that continues to hang with the best. You could do worse.
Ravis Harnell
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