Sonic Boom Six describe themselves as ‘Manchester Punk Rock Genre Terrorism’, however, it is often hard to know what genre to place this energetic foursome in. Looking around the half-full Wedgewood Rooms tonight, there are punk kids, ska kids and emo kids out in force. In that respect then, it would seem that SB6 are terrorising genres by refusing to stick to just one.
Opening band Splendid Eddie were doomed from the start; doors had been open barely 15 minutes before their stage time, and many people were preoccupied by the bar or catching up with their mates to pay much attention to the kilted frontman and his slightly mis-matched band. This is a local band with potential, if only they can decide whether they want to be ska, pop punk or hardcore, and if they can get a little less self concious on stage. In stark contrast, second band Lost On Landing ooze confidence, and own the stage as if they were headlining. The Southampton based quintet clearly had a small section of devotees in the audience, and put on a clean and polished performance that showed any local bands in the crowd exactly how it is done.
Main tour support Pickled Dick also had many fans in the audience; however, they didn’y just play to them, they certainly made an effort to win over the rest of the crowd with their incredibly smiley, incredibly stupid, Offspring-tinged “pop songs”, as lead singer Domb Thumb insisted on referring to them. Monochrome-haired guitarist John Cosgrove goofed about the stage like a live action Sideshow Bob, and this band proved a perfect fun filled opener for SB6.
The tiny Wedgewood Rooms soon filled as soon as it got closer to SB6′s stage time, and by the time the band were onstage the devotees were out in force. Playing a set that draws mostly on latest album “The Ruff Guide To Genre Terrorism”, diminutive frontwoman Leila K’s boundless energy soon transferred to the crowd, and there were pits aplenty. Abandoning all instruments except drums for “Monkey See Monkey Do” allows the rest of the band to display their showmanship, and let the crowd see that this is a band of equals, not just one fronted by a pretty face. However, this is also a band that appreciates all their fans, new and old, and the obvious excitement on their faces as they realise people know their songs is priceless, even more so when Leila spots someone with “an old school Boom tee”, and proceeds to dedicate the next two tracks (from breakthrough CD “Turbo EP”) to that person in the front row.
All in, this is a band with a conscience, a band for the fans, and a band who are well worth seeing. As it is so incredibly hard to pin them to one genre, everyone should go and see them, as they have something in their show that appeals to anyone and everyone; especially people who love seeing a band playing for the sheer fun of it. [8]
Words: Fran Hammond
Photographs: Fran Hammond
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