Posted on October 21, 2009 - by Emma Stone

Sonic Boom Six + Skints + Sounds of Swami

Sonic Boom Six © Emma Stone

The Cockpit
Leeds, UK
11 October 2009

Tonight’s gig promises a punk- ska- reggae- hip hop infusion.  To kick-start the night, Keighley quartet Sounds of Swami launch into a tirade of loud, riffy tracks, the length of each around two minutes.  As a last minute addition to the bill, the ‘Swami boys still give a blinding performance regardless of the crowds apparent lack of enthusiasm, notably on personal favourite ‘Identity Crisis’ and anti-BNP anthem ‘Lion’s Share’.  With the promise of a debut album in the works (to follow on from their two released E.P’s), I’d say these four are certainly ones to watch.

Sounds Of Swami © Emma Stone

Next up The Skints; a young, upcoming band hailing from East London.  For any Skints newbies in the crowd tonight, I imagine nothing will have prepared them for the amount of dancing they will indulge in over the next 40 minutes. Bassist Jon Doyle’s infectious bass lines prove impossible to resist dancing along to and made all the more frustrating by how damn easy he makes it look.  Their mellow reggae tunes would make the perfect Summer soundtrack; ‘Contemplations of the Modern Rude Boy’, sung by guitarist Josh, is an immensely catchy tune.  Singer Marcia’s musical talent is enough to make any music student green with envy.  From flute to melodica, keys to saxophone, back to melodica once more, she is flawless in her playing.

At the time I thought some songs might sound better if she were given the opportunity to sing more on them and I was proven right with the final song of the set which showed off her soft, soulful voice. They even pay reference to reggae greats, dropping the hooks from Tenor Saw’s ‘Ring the Alarm’ and Dawn Penn’s ‘No, No, No’ giving Marcia a chance to take the lead.  Many lungs join in from the crowd to add voice to more well known songs ‘Murderer’ and ‘Sociopath’ with main vocalist cum drummer Jamie K, who’s ability to sing and drum faultlessly continues to leave me

The Skints © Emma Stone

dumbstruck.  With their first album also out soon, The Skints have certainly burst onto the underground scene and taken it by storm.

Any band who’ve had seven years of touring, countless gigs and recorded three studio albums together could in no way be blamed for succumbing to emotions on each and every night of their guitarist, Ben Child’s, last ever tour.  But rather than casting a depressing black cloud over the show, Sonic Boom Six ensure they deliver the kind of energetic, passionate performance that has got them to where they are today.

An amazing medley of old songs (‘People Act Like They Don’t Know’)  and new (‘Bright Cold Day In April’) with Ben’s self-penned and touching acoustic rendition of “Floating Away” performed with vocalist Laila K setting the mood for the perfect send off.  The mood and energy levels are soon lifted in the room though as the opening bars to ‘All In’ kick in leaving not a single soul not jumping along, a circle pit at the front in full swing.

There is no faulting their set with each song given full justice; every hit of the snare is bang on, every lyric spat with determined deliverance, guitars and bass played with immaculate timing.  A crowd plea to bring back the notoriously uncool ‘Skank’ and ‘Through The Eyes Of A Child’ is rewarded with a sea of eager faces and Laila’s reassurance that if anyone can do it, the people of Yorkshire can do it.

Watching Ben, Laila and Barney’s relationship onstage, three born entertainers, it seems an almost impossible task to find someone to fill Ben’s shoes. I’m sure they will find someone more than capable to do so but the bitter thought that this is Ben’s last tour is a tough one to comprehend for fans of SBS.  A chapter in Sonic Boom Six’s history was made and I think it’s safe to say everyone in the audience was privileged they were there to share it.