Sonic Boom Six first appeared on the Manchester punk scene in April 2002. Some of their members were previously in the band Grimace. Their self-titled demo, recorded with Jerry Melchers, was self-released in October 2002. To promote the CD, they toured the UK with third wave ska veterans The Toasters and London ska punk/hip hop band King Prawn. They also toured with Coolie Ranx and performed as his backing band. In September 2003, they released The Turbo EP, their first release for Moon Ska Europe. This was produced by Ace (of Skunk Anansie) and Christophe. After a series of good reviews, Sonic Boom Six were invited to perform a session on BBC Radio One's The Lock Up.
After further touring with Catch 22, as well as on the Moon Ska Launchpad Tour 2004 (alongside Zen Baseballbat, Graveltrap, Babar Luck and Dumpster Pop), the band re-united with Ace and Christophe to record their second EP. Sounds to Consume was released on Moon Ska Europe in August 2004, and include the Turbo EP as bonus tracks. After tour dates with Leftöver Crack and The Suicide Machines, the band appeared on BBC2's Asian arts programme Desi DNA performing in a scrapyard, as well as being interviewed by Adil Ray for his show on the BBC Asian Network.
Sonic Boom Six performing "All In" with Itch of The King Blues. Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, 27 August 2006
In early February 2005, Sonic Boom Six replaced guitarist Dave "Hellfire" Kelly with guitarist Ben, who used to play sax, thus making SB6 a four-piece. Ben's old sax parts are now played through a sampler when performing live, or by musicians from other bands, such as Grown at Home and The Flaming Tsunamis. In 2005, the band opened the Love Music Hate Racism event on the Leftfield Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, played Belgium's Sortie 23 festival and performed at the premier of the Rock Against Racism film Who Shot the Sheriff? with HARD-Fi and Roll Deep. 2005 also saw the release of the Champion Edition of Sounds to Consume, which featured four of their original demo tracks (remixed by Tim G), three remixes, an acoustic track and a video. They also embarked on several dates on the inaugural Good To Go Tour alongside The Aquabats and Never Heard of It.
In 2006, the band recorded their second session for BBC Radio 1's The Lock Up, which was broadcast on 27 June. They were joined by Pete and Tucker from Jesse James and Itch from The King Blues. Their debut full-length album, The Ruff Guide to Genre-Terrorism, was released on 10 July 2006 on Deck Cheese Records, and in August 2006 the band played the Reading and Leeds Festivals as a last minute replacement for Paramore. They were joined again by Itch of The King Blues for a performance of "All In" (singing the parts of the song written by Coolie Ranx) and Nick 'The Blade' Horne of Howards Alias, partner of vocalist Laila, who played trombone on the songs "Bigger Than Punk Rock" and "Until the Sunlight Comes".
In May 2007, they played at the Slam Dunk Festival at Leeds University Union with Paramore and Reel Big Fish. During Reel Big Fish's set, Laila joined the band on stage to sing parts of "She Has a Girlfriend Now" alongside Aaron Barrett. She joined them again during Reel Big Fish's Monkeys for Nothin' winter tour in 2008. They played the Reading and Leeds Festivals again in 2007, on the Lock Up stage, playing not only their own material but covering the song "Sound System" by Operation Ivy. During this song, Itch from the King Blues once again joined them on stage to sing it. November 2007 saw the release of the band's second full-length CD, Arcade Perfect, on their own Rebel Alliance Recordings.
In May 2008, the band embarked on the Rude Awakening 2008 tour, alongside Big D and the Kids Table and Random Hand. 2008 also saw a second Ruff and Ready tour. This was followed by the release of a remixes, b-sides and rarities album entitled Play On: Rare, Rejected and Arcade Perfected, which the band toured in support of in late 2008. Nick Horne also joined the band as a full time member, now playing guitar and bass live as well as trombone. They played at the Hevy Music Festival on 1 August 2009.
In May 2009 Sonic Boom Six released their third album City of Thieves, once again on Rebel Alliance Recordings. August 2009 saw Sonic Boom Six open the Main Stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival.
On 8 October 2009, it was announced on the band's official website that Ben Childs would be leaving the band after the forthcoming "Boom or Bust" tour and that he would be temporarily replaced by Matthew Reynolds – current vocalist and guitarist with rock band Drawings and also formerly of Howards Alias. In February 2010 new permanent member James "Jimmy T Boom" Routh, formerly of Myth of Unity, joined the band on guitar.
Apathy Begins at Home
Sonic Boom Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've said too much. It's in my head too much.
Give me a flag to fly for something natural,
Call it an act of God. I'll be charitable.
Here we go again, they're talking about a new war.
We forgot they never even gave an answer
To why we had the last one, plenty more that we can blast on.
(Switch off) I'm going the pub, I'm turning this off.
There's strangers to save in the airwaves.
(Now they're in your home, pledge your money on the phone.)
There's hands out to me on TV.
(Tonight then we can leave the reasons all alone.)
Another mass appeal, (It's another million dead.)
Another frozen meal.
Me, me, me, me.
Woah.
But we only look down, down, down. (Look away and turn around.)
If we stop to pause at the mess we've caused,
We're talking a disaster.
Woah.
But we only look down, down, down. (Switch it off and turn around.)
We're talking a disaster.
It's the mess we make, when will we ever give what we take?
While we're reading about their health.
Yeah, we're scheming about their wealth.
Are we thinking about ourselves?
Such a fashion for narcissistic compassion.
There's strangers to save in the airwaves.
(Why the poorest ones contributing all the funds?)
There's hands out to me on TV.
(Powers that be are spending more than that on guns.)
The latest tragedy (Such generosity)
That's deemed to be worthy.
Me, me, me...
Woah.
But we only look down, down, down. (Look away and turn around.)
If we stop to pause at the mess we've caused,
We're talking a disaster.
Woah.
But we only look down, down, down. (Switch it off and turn around.)
We're talking a disaster.
It's the mess we make, when will we give what we take?
And ask ourselves why we only
Do something if it's not tragedy we planned?
So really we do nothing and there's blood on all our hands.
If we just keep giving, questions to the back of our minds
We'll live out our life in the kingdom of the blind.
Ten years flew by with the world still out of sight and out of mind.
Pushing death aside, half a million black faces hide
Under every tear we ever cried over our princess when she died.
Guess genocide was never priority for our modern media
When they were fuelling the fire for this schizophrenia
So we don't blame it upon ourselves, upon ourselves.
Self, self, self...
Woah.
But we only look down, down, down. (Look away and turn around.)
If we stop to pause at the mess we've caused,
We're talking a disaster.
Woah.
But we only look down, down, down. (Switch it off and turn around.)
We're talking a disaster.
It's the mess we make, when will we ever give what we take?
We're talking a disaster.
We hold the reigns. We're talking a disaster.
We're talking a disaster.
The lyrics to Sonic Boom Six's song "Apathy Begins at Home" reflect the idea that we are surrounded by too much information, too much tragedy, and too much apathy. The opening lines suggest that the singer is overwhelmed by what they see and hear in the world and that they have become disillusioned with the constant barrage of bad news. The mention of wanting "something natural" but calling it an "act of God" highlights the disconnect between wanting simplicity and the realities of the world we live in.
The singer then discusses the constant cycle of war and tragedy that is perpetuated by those in power, with little thought given to the consequences. The use of the phrase "me, me, me" in the chorus suggests that our focus on self-interest has led us to ignore the bigger picture of the world around us. The lyrics also suggest that we are complicit in the tragedies of the world through our own apathy and indifference.
The final verse highlights the idea that we only seem to react when tragedy strikes, rather than taking action to prevent it in the first place. The mention of "half a million black faces" alludes to the Rwandan genocide and the idea that the media and those in power were more focused on other issues at the time. The closing lines of the song suggest that we have the power to prevent disasters, but that we must be willing to take action and give back what we take from the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I see too much and I hear too much
I have consumed so much information through my eyes and ears that it is overwhelming me.
And I've said too much. It's in my head too much.
I have also shared too much information and it is stuck in my head.
Give me a flag to fly for something natural,
I am willing to support a cause that is inherently good and does not require any further explanation.
Call it an act of God. I'll be charitable.
Even if the cause is not naturally good, I am willing to attribute it to divine intervention and show generosity.
Here we go again, they're talking about a new war.
The media is once again discussing the possibility of a war.
We forgot they never even gave an answer
We have forgotten that the government never provided a satisfactory justification for the previous war.
To why we had the last one, plenty more that we can blast on.
There are many other things we could focus on destroying, but we have not questioned the reasoning behind war.
(Switch off) I'm going the pub, I'm turning this off.
I am choosing to ignore the news and distract myself with a trip to the pub.
There's strangers to save in the airwaves.
There are people in need who are being discussed in the media.
(Now they're in your home, pledge your money on the phone.)
These people are now being advertised through the TV and asking for donations.
There's hands out to me on TV.
Various groups and organizations are seeking help and assistance through television commercials.
(Tonight then we can leave the reasons all alone.)
We can ignore the reasons behind the need and donate solely out of obligation.
Another mass appeal, (It's another million dead.)
A new cause to support is being advertised, and it likely means many more people will be killed.
Another frozen meal.
We are becoming desensitized to these issues and treating them like any other mundane part of life.
Me, me, me, me.
Our focus has shifted to ourselves and our own needs.
Woah.
A moment of realization and introspection.
But we only look down, down, down. (Look away and turn around.)
We are avoiding the issues and turning a blind eye to them.
If we stop to pause at the mess we've caused,
If we were to acknowledge the harm we have done,
We're talking a disaster.
We are discussing a catastrophic event or outcome.
It's the mess we make, when will we ever give what we take?
We are responsible for the destruction and lack of giving back to those in need.
While we're reading about their health.
We are reading about other people's health issues.
Yeah, we're scheming about their wealth.
We are thinking about how to gain from their wealth or misfortunes.
Are we thinking about ourselves?
We are preoccupied with our own personal interests and desires.
Such a fashion for narcissistic compassion.
Our compassion and empathy is heavily influenced by our ego and self-interest.
Why the poorest ones contributing all the funds?
We are questioning why those who are already struggling financially are the ones asked to donate the most.
(Powers that be are spending more than that on guns.)
The government and those in power are investing significantly more in military and weapons than in helping those in need.
The latest tragedy (Such generosity)
A new tragic event has occurred, resulting in an opportunity for people to show generosity.
That's deemed to be worthy.
People have determined that the cause is worth supporting and donating to.
And ask ourselves why we only
We must question why we only take certain actions.
Do something if it's not tragedy we planned?
Why do we only act if something is an unexpected tragedy?
So really we do nothing and there's blood on all our hands.
In reality, we are not taking any meaningful action, and as a result, we are responsible for the harm caused.
If we just keep giving, questions to the back of our minds
If we continue to donate and give help and support, we can ignore the deeper questions and issues associated with these tragedies.
We'll live out our life in the kingdom of the blind.
We will continue to act ignorant and uncaring and lead a life of ignorance and mediocrity.
Ten years flew by with the world still out of sight and out of mind.
A decade has passed, and we have not addressed or acknowledged the issues that plague our society.
Pushing death aside, half a million black faces hide
We are overlooking the death and mistreatment of half a million black individuals.
Under every tear we ever cried over our princess when she died.
We have mourned the death of a political figure more than the countless individuals who have lost their lives due to societal issues.
Guess genocide was never priority for our modern media
Genocide and other acts of violence are not given appropriate attention by contemporary media.
When they were fuelling the fire for this schizophrenia
Instead of addressing and solving the underlying issues, the media is contributing to the problem through sensationalized news stories.
So we don't blame it upon ourselves, upon ourselves.
We refuse to accept responsibility for the harm caused by our inaction and ignorance.
Self, self, self...
Our self-interest and egotistical tendencies continue to drive our actions and decisions.
We hold the reigns.
We are in control of our actions and decisions.
We're talking a disaster.
We are acknowledging that the issues we are facing are catastrophic and require significant attention and action.
Contributed by Lila P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.