Tucson Local Spotlight - After 7 Tucson
- leslie051
- Apr 23
- 5 min read
After 7 Tucson is a seven-member family band based in Tucson, Arizona, known for their harmony-driven blend of rock, country, and pop music. The group consists of spouses Jason and Carolyn Adler, spouses John and Chris Woolf, their daughter Natalie Woolf, and friends Jacob Serr and Steven Hamann.
The band has roots in church and spiritual music, where they honed their vocal harmonies before beginning After 7 Tucson as a cover band in 2014. Their covers span genres from the 1960s to
contemporary rock, country, and pop. This diverse repertoire is enhanced by the fact that all members contribute vocals, allowing for a wide variety of musical styles and rich vocal harmonies. In 2018 they branched out into original music as well.
In October 2024, they released their debut original album, "Time Well Spent," which features a mix of rock, pop, Americana, and acoustic influences, all underscored by their signature vocal harmonies. It’s available as a digital download on their website, and on all streaming platforms.
The band regularly performs all over Tucson, frequently at The Gaslight Music Hall in Oro Valley, Three Canyon Beer and Wine Garden, among many other venues, including some of the wineries in the Sonoita/Elgin area, and private parties as well.
We asked After 7 Tucson 5 questions about their experiences as musicians in Tucson. Here's what they said:
What's your favorite venue to play in Tucson?
Jason: We had the opportunity to play on the Congress patio stage a couple times for the Meet Me at Maynard’s anniversary celebrations before the pandemic. Those shows were particularly fun because the crowd size brought really good energy due to the celebratory nature of the event. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Three Canyon Beer & Wine Garden on the northeast side—they have been very good to us and provide a beautiful outdoor patio that is great for live music. Also, The Gaslight Music Hall is a favorite of mine—It’s an honor to be included in their roster of Friday Dance Party bands given Gaslight’s long history of entertainment in Tucson!
Chris: Three Canyon Beer & Wine Garden always welcomes us and the people love to dance and interact there. Always a fun time.
Carolyn: Three Canyon Beer & Wine Garden. It’s a comfortable outdoor venue for us where we can mix our own sound without competing with a noisy bar or difficult acoustics. Above all, the owners and staff have been incredibly kind to us over the years and there’s always a great crowd to entertain.
Natalie: Three Canyon Beer & Wine Garden
John: Three Canyon Beer & Wine Garden. Even though it's a relaxed environment, people love getting up to dance. Would love to play more downtown stage events.
What's the funniest thing that's happened during a performance?
Jason: A buddy of mine joked that since my wife is in the band with me, I’ll never get any female attention like a rock star should…so at one of our shows, he threw underwear at me on stage while I was singing. I’m usually good about staying focused, but that broke me and it took a verse for me to recover! (For the record, Carolyn: I don’t need any female attention, haha)
Chris: When the power went out halfway through the song "Love Shack", and we picked it back up right were we left off when power was restored!
Carolyn: At the Tucson Racquet Club, we had a great set going with lots of kids and parents playing in the pool and dancing around on the grass. Suddenly, a happy, squealing toddler went streaking across the crowd, with the mother chasing behind with clothes and a diaper. Way to get the party started!
Natalie: We cover the song “Raise Your Glass” by Pink, and at the end of the bridge there’s a stop where I act like I panic, then a drum cue starts the song back up. One time the drum cue never came, and my fake panic turned into real panic!
John: I forgot the words to a song, though this is not uncommon. I ended up scatting half a verse!
What's your first memory as a musician?
Jason: I started playing guitar at 15 years old, before then my only music experience was from music class in elementary school. I guess my first memory is how much my fingers hurt for that first week or so that I started taking lessons!
Chris: Being “discovered” in high school when I auditioned for a musical. I didn’t get the part, but they insisted I join choir. That is where it all began.
Carolyn: I have fond early memories of playing in piano recitals as a kid. I loved playing duets with fellow students or my teacher. I was especially into Disney songs, and my teacher always found the coolest arrangements for me to play, from movies like "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", and "The Lion King."
Natalie: As a child, singing in the Christmas concert on my mom’s lap and looking out on all of the people watching.
John: Chris, my wife and (fellow bandmate), teaching me basic chords on the guitar in front of a fireplace.
What's your favorite song to perform:
Jason: Right now, it’s any of our original songs. We worked so hard over the last couple years to get them recorded and to get our album out into the world. It’s amazing to see people in the crowd singing your own music back at you, and dancing along to it.
Chris: I love the songs that feature the girls in our band, like "Lady Marmalade" and "Hell on Heels."
Carolyn: It’s hard to pick just one song because I love playing songs for different reasons. I really love playing our original music, especially “The Best of Me.” It just makes me happy to hear the soaring harmonies and upbeat feel of the song. One of my favorite covers to play is “Shut Pp and Dance” because I get to play a lot of fun synth patches on the keyboard and the crowd always dances to it.
Natalie: "Don’t Stop Believin’"
John: “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by the Darkness. I feel like a real rock-n-roll guitar player. That, and singing REM's "It's the End of the World." Lots of words to get out.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Jason: I have two--“Be professional, even in amateur matters” and “Always be performing.”
Chris: “Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.”
Carolyn: “The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.”
Natalie: “‘Perfect’ is the opposite of ‘done’.”
For more information about their music, upcoming shows, or booking inquiries, you can visit their website at www.after7tucson.com. Links to YouTube, social media pages, and streaming services can be found on the website.
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