As heroic elders of the 1980s posicore genre, 7 Seconds replaced hardcore punk's sheer bellicosity with tuneful melodies and a stalwart sense of hope. Beginning as skinheads forming a community in Reno, they soon became stalwarts of a West Coast second-wave insurrection as their tunes evolved from terse straight-edge pleas to increasingly pop-tinged singalongs steering punks toward unity, justice and tolerance, and more. In the late 1980s, as punk often became mired in gang wars and ultraviolence, 7 Seconds sought softer musical traits, but they never fled the scene or became sloths. Re-energized since late-'90s return to form Good to Go, the band continues showing punk's potential to guide spirits, not just sweaty bodies, on new album Leave a Light On.
Wed., Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m., 2014