For Furman’s own student band The Lucky 7s, songwriting begins with lyrics — “riffage” comes later. “I always start with one lyric,” explained singer and guitarist Will Jackson ‘27, “and then I just build a song around that one lyric.”
Drummer William Nix ‘27, the other half of the duo, came up with the line “cigarettes and bowling alleys” to encapsulate the feeling of being a reckless teenager, and the rest began to fall into place on the two hour drive to a “dead-end gig at a random bar in Hartwell, Georgia.” Thus, their first single “Cigarettes and Bowling Alleys” was born.
Jackson and Nix share a love for music that started with writing parodies of songs in second grade, but they didn’t become an official band until the end of their sophomore year of high school. The band name happened later, too. Jackson kept the name “on the back burner” until they needed one to compete in a battle of the bands.
Their debut album “Cigarettes and Bowling Alleys,” which came out last summer, is a compilation of all the songs they had written up to that point.
Inspired by Green Day and The White Stripes, The Lucky 7s use hard-hitting, grungy rock to make songs that people can relate to. The title track is a hard rock song, demanding the listener’s attention as it explores teenage overstimulation and being burnt out.
“You’re supposed to go out of high school, and then go to work for like, forty years of your life, and there’s so much stuff happening,” Nix said. ‘Cigarettes and Bowling Alleys’ rebels against the rat race by holding on to the carefree attitude of being a teenager and demanding a break from society’s expectations. The song is a favorite of both members, not just because of its message, but also because they feel it best represents their energy as a band.
Jackson and Nix explain that while there isn’t an “overarching story” in the album, each song contains its own story that is meaningful to each person in its own way.
Their song “Spotlight” helped Jackson be honest about not only his stage fright, but also his desire to self-isolate and hide his emotions. Meanwhile, Nix was inspired to write the song based on his past experiences in high school theater when he was “striving for affection from the powers that be” trying to please his director.
Nix also notes the connection between “Spotlight” and their other song “Surprise.” Both songs touch on being involved with something toxic, whether it be performing or being in a relationship.
While “Cigarettes and Bowling Alleys” is Jackson’s favorite track in terms of style, he feels a special connection to the last song on the album, “To Whom It May Concern.”
“I had finally found the words to express how I felt,” he said. “I feel like I had learned a lesson and kind of put that to words for other people.” With a more lyrical focus, the song is a stark contrast from the rest of the album, making it that much more piercing as we feel Jackson’s heartbreak alongside him.
The Lucky 7s’ attention-grabbing, gritty sound paired with their relatable lyrics creates a strong debut album that can resonate with anyone.
The Lucky 7s have an exciting year lined up. They are opening for Teezo Touchdown on April 12 at FUSAB and SGA’s spring concert, and along with more gigs, they anticipate putting out a new album sometime later this year.
