7 Blue Skies
Encyclopedia
7 Blue Skies is an alternative rock
band formed in 2004. The group is well known for their high energy live performances, as well as for always performing barefoot. The band has since broken up.
, in which Germain signed off "Good luck, 7 blue skies!" The band determined the name to mean "have a nice week," and decided to use the name. This was later revealed to be a typo, as the intended line was "Good luck & blue skies!" (the & is located above the 7 key).
The album was released in the summer of 2005, and saw sales of several thousand copies. The album attracted the attention of Mike Grippo, an A&R
from E-Klectrik Music Group, a division of the GoDigital Media Group. On February 28, 2007 the group signed to E-Klectrik Music Group and began working on their next release, "Last Night."
Although failing to appear in the Billboard Charts
, "Last Night" saw strong sales with more than 20,000 units shipped in its first week, and was greeted by fans at a sold out album release concert at The Social in Orlando
, Florida
on July 7, 2007 (07/07/07). The event was dubbed by Axis Magazine as one of the top ten events in Orlando in the summer of 2007.
. These videos can be found on the group's YouTube
and Vimeo
pages.
In 2008, the song AOS and was included on the soundtrack of Loaded (2008) starring Jesse Metcalfe
.
and Andy Stickel is sponsored by Warwick
basses, although he began playing Ernie Ball
basses in 2008.
songs and performing them live. On 07/07/07, the band covered "The Distance
" and was joined on stage by a three piece horn section, backup singers and a Vibraslap
player. The performance was included on their first DVD 7 Blue Skies - Live @ The Social. More recently the group covered "Arco Arena" and "Comfort Eagle," the performances of which will be included on their upcoming DVD Traversing The Blue Skies.
In 2008, Adam Monroe
of Ashes Divide
covered "Last Night" on piano.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band formed in 2004. The group is well known for their high energy live performances, as well as for always performing barefoot. The band has since broken up.
Band name
The band's name was chosen following an email from producer Ron Saint GermainRon Saint Germain
Ron Saint Germain is a record producer, engineer, and mixer who was born in post-war Frankfurt, Germany into a career Air Force Family. He has helped several up and coming artists enjoy a long career in the music industry, and has even taken to naming bands...
, in which Germain signed off "Good luck, 7 blue skies!" The band determined the name to mean "have a nice week," and decided to use the name. This was later revealed to be a typo, as the intended line was "Good luck & blue skies!" (the & is located above the 7 key).
History
Jon Shaffer, Adam Schulman and Andy Stickel formed the band and posted an ad online for a singer and drummer in 2004. Ramsay and Garitta responded to the ad and arranged a rehearsal and from there the band was born. The group entered the studio to begin recording what would be their first release 'Exhausted' in May 2004 with producers Sam Verella and Jason Laughton.The album was released in the summer of 2005, and saw sales of several thousand copies. The album attracted the attention of Mike Grippo, an A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
from E-Klectrik Music Group, a division of the GoDigital Media Group. On February 28, 2007 the group signed to E-Klectrik Music Group and began working on their next release, "Last Night."
Although failing to appear in the Billboard Charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, "Last Night" saw strong sales with more than 20,000 units shipped in its first week, and was greeted by fans at a sold out album release concert at The Social in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on July 7, 2007 (07/07/07). The event was dubbed by Axis Magazine as one of the top ten events in Orlando in the summer of 2007.
Schulman's departure
In March 2008 the group left E-Klectrik Music Group and parted ways with guitarist Adam Schulman. Upon Schulman's departure, Rick Garitta began playing guitar in addition to continuing to provide lead vocals. Schulman was the only member of the band to not perform barefoot.Promotional videos
The group frequently uploads homemade promotional videos. On St. Patrick's Day of 2009 the group uploaded a video of guitarist Jon Shaffer and bassist Andy Stickel waking singer Rick Garitta up with a leaf blower. This video is a follow-up to the Kung Fu parody released less than two weeks prior, featuring Rick Garitta and Andy Stickel squaring off with Dave Medairos of the band TraverserTraverser
A traverser may be a*Traverser an American progressive/alternative band* Transfer table in railway terminology* Container crane in marine/shipping terminology...
. These videos can be found on the group's YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and Vimeo
Vimeo
Vimeo is a video-sharing website on which users can upload, share, and view videos. It was founded by Zach Klein and Jake Lodwick in November 2004...
pages.
Appearances in film and television
The group's music has been featured in movies and television shows around the world. In early 2009, the group was featured on The Edge television show. The group can also be frequently heard on the soundtracks of many European television shows. Most recently, Disappearing Act was included on the Belgian television show Shockproof.In 2008, the song AOS and was included on the soundtrack of Loaded (2008) starring Jesse Metcalfe
Jesse Metcalfe
Jesse Eden Metcalfe is an American actor, best known for his role on Desperate Housewives as John Rowland. He is also notable for his portrayal of Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on the soap opera Passions and his starring role as the title character in the movie John Tucker Must Die.-Early life:Metcalfe...
.
Sponsorships
Jon Shaffer is currently sponsored by Fryette AmplificationFryette Amplification
Fryette Amplification of Burbank, California is a manufacturer of high-quality hand built electric guitar amplifiers & speaker cabinets. The company was originally founded as VHT Amplification in Studio City, Los Angeles, California by Steven Fryette in January 1989 and was the first to produce a...
and Andy Stickel is sponsored by Warwick
Warwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
basses, although he began playing Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball was an American entrepreneur, musician, and innovator, widely acclaimed as a revolutionary in the development of guitar-related products. He began as a club and local television musician and small business entrepreneur, building an international business in guitars and accessories that...
basses in 2008.
Covers
The band is known for occasionally covering CakeCake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
songs and performing them live. On 07/07/07, the band covered "The Distance
The Distance (song)
"The Distance" is a song by the American alternative rock band Cake. Released in 1996, "The Distance" was the second single from the band's second album Fashion Nugget, and considered one of their most popular songs...
" and was joined on stage by a three piece horn section, backup singers and a Vibraslap
Vibraslap
A vibraslap is a percussion instrument consisting of a piece of stiff wire connecting a wood ball to a hollow box of wood with metal “teeth” inside. The percussionist holds the metal wire in one hand and strikes the ball...
player. The performance was included on their first DVD 7 Blue Skies - Live @ The Social. More recently the group covered "Arco Arena" and "Comfort Eagle," the performances of which will be included on their upcoming DVD Traversing The Blue Skies.
In 2008, Adam Monroe
Adam Monroe
Adam Monroe, also known as in non-canon feudal Japan, is a fictional character portrayed by David Anders in the NBC science fiction drama Heroes. The character first appears in the second season episode "Four Months Later...", although the legend of Kensei is referenced several times during the...
of Ashes Divide
Ashes Divide
Ashes Divide is an American rock band formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel, who had also formed A Perfect Circle. Howerdel is the primary songwriter, musician, producer, and vocalist for the band....
covered "Last Night" on piano.
Conspiracies
The name "JP Sergens" is given credit for many different job titles associated with the group. He sometimes appears under management or creative director. Most notably, he appears as the art director for the album "Last Night". The band claims that they have never actually met Mr. Sergens.Plans for future albums
In a late 2008 interview with MTV, Rick Garitta confirmed that the band is currently recording its third full length album, with a release date yet to be determined. Garitta also confirmed that the band has been in close talks with several record labels, although a deal has yet to be reached.DVDs
- 7 Blue Skies - Live @ The Social - 2008 Independent Release
- Traversing The Blue Skies - Date TBD Independent Release
Singles
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Exhausted" | Exhausted |
| 2007 | "Last Night" | Last Night |
| 2007 | "Waiting" | Last Night |