As word association games go, the one you play with Seven Mary Three isn’t very exciting. Exactly: “Cumbersome.”
The 1996 hit came out of nowhere and defined the young band for a generation. You couldn’t escape the song then, as its minor-key melodrama played out all over radio and MTV.
“It opened every door and it shut every door at the same time, and I think it’s taken us 10 years to kick them back open,” said founding member and singer Jason Ross.
Ross has gone on to lead 7M3 through five more albums, including the excellent new “day&nightdriving(cq).” This is a band that fans of the Old 97’s, Bottle Rockets and Lucero should be hearing, but even some 7M3 fans have a hard time letting go.
“I’m very thankful that there are people who take the time to get past it and … give us a listen because I think they’re pleasantly surprised. But at shows now I’m most excited about playing songs off this new record, and even during the quietest songs there’s still some guy yelling ‘Cumbersome’ at the top of his lungs,” Ross said.
“It’s, like, how far out of the shadow do I need to be? Outside of changing my face and my name and moving to the moon and creating some alternate per8son8ality that’s putting out these records. It’s the Internet, man. ‘Cumbersome’ is always out there.”
7M3 will perform Thursday at the Phoenix Hill Tavern, 644 Baxter Ave., with 650north, Virgin Millionaires and Evil Engine #9 (8 p.m., $18, $22 day of show).
Ross has a soft spot for Louisville.
“We’ve made a lot of friends there, and it has one of the best record stores (Ear X-tacy) in the world, so we love coming there. It has a small-town feel but also a real feel for culture.”
