Sonic Boom Six, 12th February 2013, Chinnery’s Southend

Southend-on-Sea on a cold Tuesday in February is not known for being a hive of activity, but in Chinnery’s an established ska/punk band were ready willing and able to warm Southend seafront up a bit. Manchester’s Sonic Boom Six are a band I have known of for a long time, but only recently really got into. They lean more towards the heavier side, with a bit of angst, a few heavy bass lines and driving guitar moments cut in amongst the bouncing reggae rhythms normally expected from a ska band.

There were four bands on the bill tonight, first were Killatrix. Opening the festivities at the early time of 7:30 is never easy, the crowd was a bit cold and sober but Killatrix got a few hands raised. It’s hard to pin point their style, which is a bit of a pain for a reviewer, so I’d describe them as an electro-breakbeat-house-metal-goth-punk band, with some strong female lead vocals. The use of pre-recorded samples sounded pretty good, but it does mean the band have to stick to the song and not go off on a candid jam session like some live bands. Vocally strong with some booming beats and a nice use of slide on a double bass for one of their more banging tracks showed that Killatrix have the skill to be a well rounded band.

Norfolk/Essex band, Under the Influence, were next up. Young and energetic they blasted onto the stage without introduction, which caught a few of us off guard. They had a kind of nu-metal feel to them, but the MC was trying to hype the crowd up a bit like the drum and bass MCs from a few years ago. Hardcore style tracks with shouty vocals, these youngsters were making me feel a bit old, angrily bouncing all over the stage with a bit of head banging in-between.

The front man really was working hard to get the crowd going but the crowd wasn't quite young or angry enough, undeterred they managed to slowly get some of the crowd onside with a massively aggressive cover of a Chase and Status track and they showed promise and if Chinnery’s was a bit busier they’d probably have gotten a stronger response.

The LaFontaines, Scotland’s finest hip hop band, have been the main support for Sonic Boom Six on the current tour and they got the crowd moving a bit with some great tracks. Managing to get the room warmed up a bit with their mash-up sound of indie rock, ska and drum and bass flair, plus some full on rap with a side of well tuned singing. A few jokes and some cheerful banter between songs cemented the care free feel I was getting from the group (even with the odd social commentary style lyrics). Plenty of head nodding and good fun and as the venue started feeling it The LaFontaines got better and looked like they were enjoying themselves as they ended the set with ‘Shark in the Water’. I met the front man as I bought an EP of theirs, he seemed up for a laugh, plus he liked my jacket, so he obviously has an eye for good taste. A short break and we were suitably limbered up for a good old skanking!

Sonic Boom Six have been around since about 2002 and still know how to get people moving. Heavy skanking down the front and lots of crowd participation, getting down, jumping up, hands high and spirits higher, SB6 really worked those in attendance well. A cover of The Streets’ ‘Push Things Forward’ got pretty much everybody singing along and even a couple of scuffles in the crowd did little to dampen the party mood SB6 had brought us on this chilly Tuesday. Playing a good selection of classics and newer tracks from their latest self titled album, SB6 accounted for all tempos from the slow and melancholic ‘Gary Got a Gun’, the skank-tastic ‘Piggy in the Middle’ all the way up to the leg kicking partner flinging almost metal tracks from along the band’s back catalogue. It was great to see a band that was willing to change the intensity so readily and do it well. We were treated to a very early SB6 song, ‘People Acklike They Don’t Know’ which was good for the old school fans (of which I spotted a few) and relative newcomers to the band like myself.

It almost felt like a greatest hits show, the crowd loved every song and I couldn't stop grinning and head banging as they nailed every drop and every rhythm change, but ska punk is an excellent genre, even more so for me when you aim towards a heavier sound. SB6 have built up a loyal fanbase, for ten years they have been working away, creating social commentaries and unique tracks and haven't changed too much, just enough to keep things fresh and that is a very difficult thing to do. (Also they don't over load on trumpets like most bands in the same genre, but that's more of a personal issue I’m trying to get over.)

I had a great time, a proper good knees up and my mates and I managed to say hi to a couple of band members by the merch stand. Really nice guys and very appreciative to those that came out to see them, which is always good for a fan to see.

Get some SB6 here - www.sonicboomsix.co.uk

Or some LaFontaines - http://thelafontaines.co.uk/

Under The Influence can be found here - http://www.undertheinfluenceofficial.co.uk/

And Killatrix are here - http://killatrix.bandcamp.com/