Last year, I first saw young Bobby Mahoney and his band, The Seventh Son, take the stage of The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. The band, despite it’s relative young age, performed like they had been doing steady gigs at the famed venue since it first opened its doors. Their straight up Jersey Shore bar band rock ‘n’ roll evokes memories of the famed ‘old days’ in Asbury, and that’s never a bad thing. The band is undeniably fun, and who doesn’t love a lead singer unafraid to jump on a bar and sing his ass off? We were stoked to talk with Bobby himself about the new record, hanging with Bruce, and their performance tonight at The Wonder Bar.
Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son Are (Band Members & Instruments They Play): Bobby Mahoney- vocals and guitar, James McIntosh- Drums, Ryan Lizotte- Bass, Dan Cohen- guitar and vocals, Jon Alba- guitar and vocals
We Formed In: Dec 2010
We’re Based Out of: East Brunswick
The Story Behind Our Name: We took it from the first verse of AC/DC’s “Bad Boy Boogie”
You’ve Seen Us Before In Other Bands: Creating Clementine, Incapable
New Music Coming Out: “The Outskirts” music video comes out Wedneday
Our Sound Has to Be Likened To: Foo Fighters, AC/DC, Green Day, and D Generation, and Weezer
You just dropped a new record, The Outskirts this summer. How does this record stand out from the rest of your recorded music?
It is a more mature sound for sure. The songs are a little more thought out and it is very much a “guitar record” and we are very proud of it.
What did you learn about yourselves as musicians writing and recording this album?
We figured out our strengths as a band. This really is our first record as a band because our last one was more of a mismatch of friends playing on different songs. This was a group effort, from developing the songs to recording them. I spent a lot of time on the lyrics and the melodies, more so than the last record.
You’ve shared the stage with The Boss – can you talk about the experience of being onstage with an iconic performer, and did you get the chance to talk music with Bruce?
He was very cool- very soft spoken. He said “Don’t fuck up” and chuckled before the show and, “You didn’t fuck up” afterwards. Being on stage with him was an amazing experience, and I was so happy to share it with the extended Light of Day family, which raises money for Parkinson’s Research. Nothing like playing “Thunder Road” next to the guy who wrote it.
Think about the first time this band performed on stage — how do you think you’ve evolved since that date, and what’s been the biggest mistake that you’ve learned from?
We played three songs, two of which were covers, at our first gig back in February 2011 in a battle of the bands. We were only supposed to play a few high school gigs but it really has turned into something I never expected. It’s pretty cool that I’ve been able to play music with my friends for the last few years.
What’s been your proudest accomplishment as a band?
Headlining the Stone Pony multiple times, and writing two albums worth of material that we worked extremely hard on.
What do you love about being in this band?
Playing live. We do our best work live. There is nothing more fun for us than playing on stage.
There are so many bands performing in the Asbury scene right now — what separates you from everyone else?
We leave it all on the stage. 30 minute set or Hour and a half, we will deliver a high energy rock show. We are a no-frills rock and roll band and it is a badge we wear proudly.
If someone had never heard your band before, what song would you recommend they check out in order to fully understand what the band is truly about, and why?
I think “The Outskirts” sums us up well. Loud guitars, sing-along chorus, and I think it captures our live Energy on the record.
What do you have planned for the rest of 2015?
Shows shows shows. And releasing the new video for “The Outskirts” on Wednesday.
Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son performs tonight at Happy Mondays at the Wonder Bar along with Morningside Lane and the Ian Hamburger Trio.
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