Anywhere But Here by Red Seven

Word on the street:

“Red Seven’s debut CD, Anywhere But Here, comes out of the gate firing and never lets up! The rhythm section stays tight and thumping while the interplay between vocals and guitar creates a dynamic that truly soars. Do yourself a favor and check these guys out.” ~ Chicago Music Connection

“Tight, punchy rock & roll in the tradition of the classic American formula – two guitars, bass and drums. Lean, mean and ready to be seen!” ~ Gary Gand, Owner – Gand Music & Sound

“Red Seven has some of the most interesting blends of original music I have heard in years. Energetic and interactive arrangements with a professional attitude of the highest degree.” ~ Bob Tjarks, Gabe’s Backstage Lounge

Band Bio:

Red Seven was formed in early 2005 with the addition of lead guitarist Scott Crosby. Prior to Scott’s arrival, the band had undergone several transformations (and name changes) in its pursuit of finding the right “mix” of talent to produce their now signature sound. With each member bringing a unique background of influences to the group, the songs morphed into an eclectic mix of rock, pop, punk and blues that grew into 'Anywhere But Here'.

Patrick Bazan – Lead Vocals / Guitar

Influences: “Early rock, blues, jazz and country. Too many artists to list, but pretty much everyone had an impact on my playing and songwriting – from the unknown to the greats.”

Gear: “I try to keep it simple and let Scott do the heavy work! I rotate through various guitars until I find something that works for that particular song. I’ve been using a mix of Fender, Gibson, Yamaha and Michael Kelly guitars lately through a Marshall or Rivera head / cabinet. Just a touch of delay when needed, but otherwise no pedals. Keep it simple …”

On the CD: “Most of these songs came from a mix of people and events in my life that melded into a theme of sorts. Like most songwriters, I like to leave the interpretation of a song to the listener – what it means to them might be wholly different than my inspiration, but that’s the beauty of music. You take the title track, for example. That song’s a mix of several social and personal issues, but in the end it’s just a great song that hopefully resonates with people in one way or another. Overall, I’m totally jacked about this CD and I hope our fans (old and new) will give it a listen and take something away from each song.”

Scott Crosby – Lead Guitar

Influences: “Bazan – oh, he doesn’t count? Then I guess I’d have to say all the amazing guitarists over the last 50 years. I mean there are so many great players out there, but my favorites range from Steve Howe to Eric Johnson to Jimmy Page to EVH and all points and styles in between. I listen to just about everything and take away bits and pieces of players that are doing something different. I don’t think I could nail it down to one or two guitarists or styles of music. You just take it all in and see where it goes!”

Gear: “Way too much! To be honest, I like to mess around with different sounds and create cool textures in the music that bring it to life. So I have a “few” pedals that I use to tailor my sound depending on the song. As for guitars, I really like my PRS and I pull out my Strat from time to time when I need it. I bring in a Gibson re-issue gold top, a Tele and some other axes I’ve modified to keep it fresh, but mostly the PRS and Strat.”

On the CD: “The guys and I worked together really well on these songs to develop a cohesive sound. Pat had a lot of the songs written already when I joined, but I was able to add in a lot of my own style to his tunes via my solos and one-offs just like he did vocally with my songs. The band really meshed on this CD and I like what came out – its raw in spots, beautiful in others, not perfect - but that’s the way life is and our music reflects that.”

Dave Perrone – Electric Bass

Influences: “Punk, baby! And all the hard stuff from the 60’s to today. Its pretty cool that four guys with different tastes in music can get together and bang out a CD full of great music that pulls in pieces of everybody’s style. I think you can hear different influences in our songs, but the end result is all Red Seven!”

Gear: “Who cares? I just play and try to keep it tight. I’ve been using an Ibanez bass through my Hartke amp / cabinet lately. As long as its low, deep and growlin’ I’m fine.”

On the CD: “What can I say – its awesome!! But you’re not going to believe me are you? So take a listen for yourself and tell me if I’m wrong. I need a cigarette after listening to 'Anywhere But Here' and I don’t even smoke! I have to take credit for the last song on the CD, 'Drinkin’ All Nite', and I’m glad it’s become such a club favorite!”

Keith Polifka – Drums / Percussion

Influences: “Jazz drumming was where it all began and I moved into rock a little later in my development. I think you can hear the jazz influence in some of my beats and timing, but it brings a unique style to these songs. Rather than just crank out heavy rock licks and bash the drums, these songs incorporate some really cool off-beats and cymbal rides that give the music a slightly different rhythm. I still study up on the jazz side of things with guys like Dave Weckl and Stanton Moore - their music, not the real guys!”

Gear: “I’ve been using Tama drums for some time now and mix in a variety of cymbals from Zildjian to Paiste to Sabian. Drums are pretty straightforward so I don’t mess around with my equipment too much. Just try to build up the feel and rhythm to make the song work.”

On the CD: “We tried to create our “sound” without having any of the songs sound the same, and I think we succeeded. Too many times you buy a CD and all the songs sound the same. We tried to keep it fresh all the way through and involve a lot of different styles, from rock to pop to punk to jazz. It’s all good!”

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