It’s only rock-n-roll, but we like it

Lawrence and Cedarhurst-based bands 7 Splinters and Wasting Sailors officially formed less than a month ago and came together to play their first show as individual bands and together at the Backstage Club in Woodmere on June 28.

Band mates of the 7Splinters, Zach Brown, Mike Rosenfeld, Josh Wein and Bernard Sabag and band mates Yoni Klinger, Jake Brown, Gabe Poncho and David Shetrit of Wasting Sailors said there is nothing like playing in front of a crowd.

“The joy of entertaining a crowd is the best high that you can achieve,” said Klinger, a Hebrew Academy of Nassau County student who is the lead vocalist and bassist for Wasting Sailors. He said he and his fellow band members are Republicans and thought of the name in a reference to George Bush “wasting soldiers” in Iraq.

Rosenfeld, a Nassau Community College student, plays bass and sings backup for 7Splinters. He thought he would be too anxious to enjoy the Woodmere gig. “I thought I would be a lot more nervous than I was but I was pumped to be on stage,” Rosenfeld said.

Shetrit, who just graduated Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School in Woodmere, said both bands played cover songs at the June 28 gig but that they will be working on originals soon. He has been playing the drums his whole life and came into Wasting Sailors when they were in desperate need of a drummer. “It’s awesome being on stage,” Shetrit said. “I want to spend the rest of the summer playing more shows.”

Brown, the guitarist and lead vocalist for 7Spinters and son of Village of Cedarhurst trustee Ari Brown, will be attending the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan this fall. He hopes to line up more shows in Long Beach, Cedarhurst and Lawrence before having to start college. “It’s good to balance both,” Brown said about juggling school and his band.

When asked about the music scene in the Five Towns, band members said they could often be found at Music Hub in Cedarhurst. “The owner there is really nice and he doesn’t care when we come in and take over his store,” Rosenfeld said.

Music Hub owner Michael Dworetsky said both bands are extremely motivated and he enjoys their young spirit and love for music. “When they come into the store, they go into a side room to practice and they get really loud but it sounds really good,” he said. “For kids their age, they have a lot of talent.”

Despite forming recently, both bands have big plans for the summer. Shetrit said he hopes to bring music to the community and Rosenfeld added that the Woodmere show was the biggest thing to happen in the community. “We started something new so we want to see where it goes,” Rosenfeld said. “Maybe one day, we’ll open up for Metallica.”