Sonic Boom Six: Camden Underworld

Posted by jamie on Nov 5, 2011

Sonic Boom Six, Crazy Arm, Never Means Maybe, Electric River

Camden Underworld, London

30th October, 2011

 Jamie

There’ll surely be a few frogs in throats after this one.  Our posse had come out in force to experience Sonic Boom Six’s triumphant return to the Camden Underworld, and they didn’t disappoint.  As the lights came on, we were scattered across the dancefloor, blinking, and carefully scanning the sweaty boards and shattered plastic cups for Sarah’s missing earring.

It turned up, eventually, mangled almost beyond recognition, just before Barney Boom did his best to hurry past towards the merch stand, and in the process gathering an Obama/Mariah Carey-sized entourage of delighted, exhausted punters all clamouring to swap pleasantries and sweat with him as he tried to soften the ratio of redbull to vodka in his little plastic cup.  I got a few words: “the new line-up’s really starting to come together”, he said.  He was right: it really, really is.  Two years since the last tour with Ben Childs, there’s no longer that feeling that they’re finding their feet*: this is an utterly dominant, confident performance.  

Electric River opened well.  Their Halloween masks and cover of Thriller were enjoyable, their songs were all decent, and they’d brought their own gang with them from Kent.  They seem genuinely pleased to be here, and effusively grateful to Big Cheese Magazine, whose birthday we’re celebrating, for inviting them to play.
Never Means Maybe, main support for the rest of SB6’s UK tour, are excellent: their epic, emotional take on melodic post-hardcore performed at speed.  Doors were a little bit late, so there’s scarcely time to chat, but the rooms filling up and the crowd are starting to move.  One chap needs a special mention for running half the width of the room to push me sideways in an attempt to start a pit.  I don’t mosh, and there was no one else down there.  We knocked over three people, but he did say sorry afterwards, and, in hindsight, that was pretty hilarious.  Crazy Arm, afterwards, are excellent, as well: by now the room is packed fairly solidly, and the atmosphere’s really building up.  There’s no room for another running shove, and scarce little need either, as we’re all moving nicely already.

At last, it’s time for Sonic Boom Six: it’s been much too long.  The lights dim, and, for the first time tonight, the Underworld’s PA plays something that isn’t mainstream rock: initially, it’s any piece of drum and bass, but before long it becomes clear it’s actually a remix of New Style Rocka.  Sexy Neil’s behind his kit, all of a sudden, and the band take the stage, opening with New Style Rocka obviously), and then racing through the Road to Hell and new single For the Kids of the Multiculture.  I didn’t think it was possible, but it seems like everyone in here has been as giddy for this moment as I was: instantly, we’re pogoing in unison, wedged against each other, the air a sea of fists punching out the rhythms.  For the Kids of the Multiculture, in particular, is enormous, anthemic and roared back at the band by everybody down here.  It’s not the only new tune in the set, either: Virus and Karma are in there as well: both tunes are excellent, and perfect for shows like this where we’re all pushed right against each other and moving so frantically in the sticky heat.  The fan-favourites, Piggy in the Middle, Bang Bang and Meanwhile, Back in the Real World are in there, before, a special treat, “the most requested b-side we’ve ever had”, The Dangers of Rock n’ Roll.  I’d seen they were playing this from twitter, and, like everyone down here, was giddy with excitement to see it performed in concert for the first time.  Of course, Barney doubled up to cover Ben’s verses – he also acted in for Tonn Piper on New Style Rocka – but it’s just as party-friendly on record, if a little punkier, heavier on the guitars and with the samples less prominent. 

The party’s in full swing: the new Sonic Boom Six look settled and totally confident, and it shows through the improvement in their performance and the size of their collective swagger.  Nick Horne’s guitar solo is absolutely enormous.  Barney briefly discusses the fact that they have moved away from ska and from hip-hop music on their albums, but promises that they’ll still drop those songs in their live shows.  Lily Allen’s Friday Night is a surprise cover, becoming Wyclef’s It Doesn’t Matter partway through.  Laila makes a cheeky crack about Barney forgetting his melodica – yes, he plays a melodica – and we’re almost out.  From a choice of three, we as a crowd choose Back 2 Skool, and then, after Strange Transformations and Sunny Side of the Street, we’re all but done. 

It’s fantastic to see Sunny Side get such a rapturous response: while we’ve been waiting for the new album, apparently planned for April 2012, it looks like everyone has really taken these few singles to their hearts.  Aside form Dangers of Rock n’ Roll, it’s New Style Rocka, and For the Kids of the Multiculture and Sunny Side of the Street that get the best response.  It looks like we’re going to get yet another phenomenal record next year.  Shattered, and with the venue’s curfew set for 22:30, we get a quick encore: just about everybody seems to be word-perfect on Sound of a Revolution.  Exhausted, it’s time to hunt for Sarah’s earring.  It’s mashed.  Ah well.

*Grammar nerds: if you’ve ever wanted an example of how to use “there” “they’re” and “their” in a sentence, feel free to link to this post.

Reel Big Fish: 2012 UK dates

Posted by jamie on Nov 2, 2011

Reel Big Fish will tour the UK in January and February of 2012.  Tickets are on sale here now. 

Support comes from Orange and our boys the JB Conspiracy.

JANUARY 2012

25 - Waterfront – Norwich
26 - Pyramid Centre – Portsmouth
27 – O2 Academy 2  – Birmingham
28 – Rock City – Nottingham
29 – Corporation – Sheffield
30 – University – Newcastle
31 – Garage – Glasgow

FEBRUARY 2012

1 – Academy – Leeds
2 – Academy 2 – Manchester
3 – Academy – Liverpool
4 – Sub 89 – Reading
5 – Cardiff Uni Solus – Cardiff
6 – Pavilion – Falmouth
7 – Westlands – Yeovil
8 – Hippodrome - Kingston Upon Thames

9 – Shepherds Bush – London

Get tickets here.