Sonic Boom Six
Manchester's ska/metal/punk/dub rockers Sonic Boom Six took over Preston's 53 Degrees in an interesting environment, one they grew into and eventually excelled in.
Due to Hard-Fi playing the small club stage, Sonic Boom Six (a band admittedly still on the rise) were placed in 53 Degrees' large room, which was halved off to make for an intimate setting.
The width of the room and the size of the crowd (around 50 people) meant that the atmosphere left a little to be desired, despite the best efforts of support bands Jackpot Golden Boys and Karma Party.
Thanks fo the charisma and contagious energy of Sonic Boom Six (in particular, Laila K and Barney Boom) the crowd were helped along, and the evening developed into a great, memorable rock show.
From early tracks 'Danger! Danger!' to new single 'The Kids of the Multiculture', every song went down a treat.
Admittedly, it did take a few songs to truly get going, prompting Laila to comment that, whilst the crowd were making the "right noises", a bit more movement and energy was needed.
After a brief exchange with a fan calling out for a "skank-pit", one was opened as the band used their ska influence to keep the crowd involved and energetic for the remainder of the show.
They deserve a lot of credit for transforming the atmosphere, and the band themselves seemed to settle in and enjoy it a lot more once they got the response they deserved from the crowd.
A surprising highlight was brand new b-side 'Five Minutes With You', given an extra boost with the announcement that the video for that track was being filmed live in Preston.
Being asked to go suitably wild, the crowd responded well and kept the energy up for the remainder of the show.
It was little surprises (Barney rapping over 'The Power' by SNAP!, or Laila throwing in part of Jessie J's 'Price Tag' during 'Sunny Side of the Street') that gave the evening a special atmosphere, one that overcame any problems the combined venue and crowd numbes could've provided.
A brief heavy, encore of 'Sound of a Revolution' provided a fitting end to a great evening of live music.
Whilst the unique, genre-crossing elements of Sonic Boom Six's music may mean they won't see the mainstream success of some peers, they have all the tools to become a vital part of the live UK musical landscape.
Perfectly combining influences from metal, ska, hip-hop, dub, punk and reggae, infused into a fresh sound, SB6 have become a must-see act on the live scene, something this evening cements.
Keep checking back this week for more Sonic Boom Six content, including an interview with Laila K and Barney Boom, plus exclusive acoustic tracks filmed just a couple of hours before they took to the stage.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge