Kevin Seconds

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Kevin Seconds


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Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date|1961|3|24|mf=y, (Age 47) Sacramento CA
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar
Genre = Punk rock Alternative rock Folk Indie rock
Occupation = Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Years_active = 1976-present
Label = Asian Man, BYO, Positive Force, Restless, Immortal/Sony
Associated_acts = 7 Seconds, Go National, Ghetto Moments, Drop Acid
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Kevin Seconds is a singer/songwriter/musician, born in Sacramento but partially raised in Reno, Nevada. In 1988, he relocated back to Sacramento and has been based there ever since.

He founded the highly influential hardcore punk band 7 Seconds in 1979 with his brother Steve Youth. Having been their frontman from the start, he also writes their lyrics. The band signed to the Better Youth Organization label in 1982. Since its formation, 7 Seconds has released over 15 records as well as touring North America, Europe and Japan multiple times.

Simultaneously with his career with 7 Seconds, he has been engaged in several side band projects. These include Go National, Drop Acid, Mustard and the more recent project Ghetto Moments. He also has a 2-hour punk rock radio show called "Absolute Rant & Ruckus", on KSSU.com, Sacramento State University's Student Run Radio which airs Mondays from 8pm-10pm PST, as well as hosting a podcast show [http://kevinseconds.libsyn.com/] .

In 2001, Kevin and his wife Allyson Seconds opened the popular "True Love Coffeehouse" in Sacramento, CA but closed 4 years later after multiple problems with the landlord of the building. In 2006, Kevin reopened True Love in a new building, not far from the original location.

olo career

Starting as a solo artist in 1990, Kevin Seconds has toured the United States and the United Kingdom. He has also used various names for solo projects he has led, including Seed, 5'10" and Ghetto Moments. His wife Allyson has collaborated on most of these.

Some of the recorded output of these projects include:

*"Rodney, Reggie, Emily" - 1994 on Cargo/Earth Music
*"Stoudamire" - 1997 on Cargo/Earth Music
*"Heaven's Near Wherever You Are" - 2001 on Cargo/Headhunter
*"Good Morning Hannah" - 7" under the band name 'Seed' on Eating Blur

Seconds has also released split records, most notably with Matt Skiba in 2002 on Asian Man Records and a 4-way split with Jonah Matranga, Anton Barbeau and Kepi Ghoulie on Poprockit Records in 2002. Since 2002, he has been working as a solo artist and with other musicians, most notably his wife Allyson, as well as close friends David Houston, Mark Harrod and Christian Kiefer) under the moniker Ghetto Moments. He recently released a full-length album under the Kevin Seconds & his Ghetto Moments moniker called Rise Up, Insomniacs!on the Asian Man label.

Kevin also has a new old school-sounding punk band called Kevin Seconds and the Altruistics that features Shawn Hale (Daycare, the Jacks) on bass, Brian Hanover (of Hanover Saints) on guitars and Steve Smith (ex-Army Of Trees) on drums. The band has been actively playing shows since the summer of 2007, concentrating mainly in the Sacramento area. The band still has not released an album yet.

traight Edge

As with Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat, Kevin Seconds has had a great deal of influence on the straight edge subculture. Straight Edge is a lifestyle which advocates abstinence in relation to tobacco, alcohol, recreational drug use and promiscuous sexual behaviour. Kevin Seconds has written song lyrics inspiring people to adhere to this lifestyle. A song called "Straight On" from 7 Seconds' 1984 album "The Crew" illustrates some of his views.

Trivia

*Along with still touring with 7 Seconds, Kevin Seconds hosts a weekly 2 hour-long punk rock radio show in Sacramento, CA called "Absolute Rant & Ruckus with Kevin Seconds" on Sacramento State University's college radio station KSSU which streams live to his listeners at KSSU.com Mondays from 8pm-10pm PST.

*It was recently announced on the Punknews.org site that starting in July 2007, Kevin will start a songwriting project called, 'Kevin Seconds' New Song-A-Week Project 2007' where he'll write, record and post a new song on his website every week for a year.

External links

* [http://www.kevinseconds.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/kseconds MySpace site]