Unity: As One We Stand Together7 Seconds Rocks the ICC ChurchBY THOMAS LUZAITIS

At first when I heard that 7 Seconds were playing at the ICC Church in Allston,

I was a little intimidated that a band of such legendary character and prestige was going to be playing after a long absence from touring and recording.

The first band that opened up for 7 Seconds was The Briggs, a fast, crunchy punk ensemble, whose fans were pretty obvious-decked out in studded jackets and mohawks every color of the rainbow, skankin’ in the pit. Next up on the bill was Champion, a hardcore band similar to Comeback Kid, With Honor, Terror, and even Minor Threat, who they even covered by playing “In My Eyes.” The hardcore kids all stepped into the pit doing their slam dances and letting their kicks fly high.

Now not to say that 7 Seconds are too old or anything, but they look like they could be in their late 30s. As I looked around, I saw that half the people I was standing next to seemed to be in their 30s, making me realize that this band has been around longer than I have. Even Kevin Seconds said that he could remember his first show in Boston at the Paradise in 1984. That’s two years before I was crying and soiling diapers.

What makes this band have such staying power? Why has this band survived the test of time? Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the driving message of the band’s always-poignant lyrics; unity, peace, and living life to its fullest are the messages that punctuate every song. Just as I can see these thirtysomething guys next to me belting out lyrics and feeling the message, I know I myself must feel, if not the same, something close to what they do.

This idea of “Unity” portrayed in 7 Seconds lyrics was taking shape in front of my very eyes. The punks along with the hardcore kids had all come together to see 7 Seconds. Left and right I saw kids screaming the lyrics in each others’ faces. 7 seconds played a few songs from their new record Take it Back, Take it On, Take it Over! but most of the songs that they played came off of their album The Crew-classic songs like “Just Not Boy’s Fun,” that Kevin dedicated to all the hardcore ladies in the scene, and one of my favorites, “Young Till I Die.” They also played two covers, “If The Kids Are United”, and “99 Red Balloons,” both of which made the audience go completely apeshit.

The atmosphere of the show could only be described as intense. Kids were flying off the stage into the crowd, and the pit was a non-stop concoction of dancing and energy. Everyone was animated to such an extent that the temperature inside the auditorium could have easily been 90 degrees, the heat so intense that the people in the back who weren’t even moving had beads of sweat dripping from their faces. All in all, I would like to think that by being at this show, I witnessed music with an ageless meaning and a timeless message.

7 Seconds is currently on tour with The Briggs. Check out www.sideonedummy.com for more info.