By Donald Wittkowski
The Seven Band has been spending as much time at the Jersey Shore this summer as the tourists who crowd the beaches and the boardwalks.
“Obviously, the shore is where the party is during the summer,” said C.J. O’Neill, the band’s bassist.
For the third time this summer, The Seven Band will perform at Kix McNutley’s at 63rd Street in Sea Isle City. They will be on stage Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The last time they were at Kix McNutley’s was over the Fourth of July weekend.
The band’s other shows at the shore this summer have included stops in Atlantic City, Brigantine, Cape May and Wildwood.
O’Neill noted that The Seven Band likes the energetic crowds, the atmosphere and the venues at the shore.
“It’s one of the most popular places to play,” he said.
The Seven Band, from the Langhorne-Levittown, Pa., area, has been around for 17 years. It is primarily a Top 40 cover band, but is known to step outside the pop music realm from time to time to play some upbeat Irish rock tunes.
Dan Rodriguez, the band’s violinist, supplies the right instrument for the Irish music. He also plays keyboards and guitar.
The Seven Band has had 20 members over the years. As the members have changed, so has its music. O’Neill noted that in its early days, the band played more southern rock music and blues.
Now, Top 40 party-dance music is its specialty. Lead singer Brittney Harron runs the pop set, doing everything from Beyonce to Lady Gaga to Katy Perry to Christina Aguilera songs.
Harron is the band’s newest member, joining about a year ago. She replaced lead singer Juan Puppo, who left to compete in the first round of the “American Idol” show in Hollywood.
The other members of The Seven Band are also O’Neills. C.J.’s brother, Tim, is the drummer and C.J.’s son, Chris, plays guitar and shares lead vocals.
Originally, the band was called Old No. 7 in tribute to the Jack Daniel’s brand of whiskey. The name was changed to The Seven Band around 2007 to give it a more modern vibe.
Some may ask why a group that calls itself The Seven Band has only five members.
“We like to say that the seventh member is the audience,” C.J. O’Neill said.
