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.
Do It Today
Sonic Boom Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Which way do we turn? I cast my eyes outwards to the world,
It seems to me the more that we learn, the less we're sure.
Which way do I live? If life is all taking and no give in it,
Do I live life as a hypocrite when I admit so much of what
You said was true? What can one person do?
And yet I guess I knew. (Which way? Which way through?)
Because you smoke your drive away. (Why the delay? Gotta do it today.)
You are the one who has that say
On one condition. You gotta do it today.
We are the ones that hold today
So choose a mission.
Which way do I turn? I know I'm not getting any younger, feeling disillusioned now.
How long can I wait until I be sure?
And no one can have the answer now. All we do have is what our time allow.
All we do know, is the time is now and that's here today.
The only thing I'm sure; answers I'm waiting for
Don't knock upon the door. (Which way? Which way through?)
Years fly past, so pin your colours fast
Instead of searching for the mast. (Why the delay? You gotta do it today.)
You are the one who has that say
On one condition. You gotta do it today.
We are the ones that hold today
So choose a mission.
Which... way... would you?
Yeah, we gotta do it today.
You are the one who has that say
On one condition. You gotta do it today.
We are the ones that hold today
So choose a mission.
We can't know everything, but if we are moving
Then we'll be improving or we'll be doing nothing.
Behind the screens and books (We can be everything) but no-one knows it all (We can be anything),
This flight is worth a fall (we can be everything) and though our voices are small
The only chance we have to shout it loud enough
Will be to seize the moment and say... gotta do it today.
We are the ones that hold today
So choose a mission.
The Sonic Boom Six song "Do It Today" questions the direction in which one should turn in life. The singer wonders whether they are living life as a hypocrite since they admit to the truth in what others have said about them. There is a sense of disillusionment in the lyrics as they struggle to find the answers they seek. The chorus suggests that one has the power to choose a mission or a direction in life only if they act on it and make decisions today. The song urges listeners to stop waiting for the perfect moment to take action and instead seize the opportunity they have now.
The song's lyrics encourage listeners to take action and make changes in their lives to achieve their dreams. The band's message is that there is no better time than the present to do what needs to be done. The choice is up to the individual, but they must take that first step to initiate change in their lives. The imagery in the song also suggests that if one is moving, even if it means taking a fall, they will learn and improve. This song serves as an anthem to motivate those who want to make changes in their lives but are hesitant to take the first step.
Line by Line Meaning
Which way do we turn? I cast my eyes outwards to the world,
Feeling unsure about which direction to go in life, I look to the world for guidance.
It seems to me the more that we learn, the less we're sure.
Despite our constant learning, we are left feeling even more uncertain.
Which way do I live? If life is all taking and no give in it,
Wondering about my purpose in life, and questioning if I am just a taker and not a giver.
Do I live life as a hypocrite when I admit so much of what You said was true?
Acknowledging that someone else's feedback might be valid and indicates that I might be living in a way that contradicts my beliefs.
What can one person do? And yet I guess I knew. (Which way? Which way through?)
Reflecting on my own abilities to make a difference and feeling a sense of direction despite uncertainty.
I'm cliché is all you've left to say Because you smoke your drive away. (Why the delay? Gotta do it today.)
Recognizing that others might view my aspirations as trivial, but understanding the urgency of taking action now rather than waiting.
You are the one who has that say On one condition. You gotta do it today.
Realizing that I have control over my life and choices, but also understanding that I must take action immediately.
We are the ones that hold today So choose a mission.
Acknowledging that the present moment is within our control, and that we must choose what we want to do with it.
How long can I wait until I be sure? And no one can have the answer now.
Feeling hesitant about making a decision and understanding that there might not be a clear answer.
All we do have is what our time allow. All we do know, is the time is now and that's here today.
Realizing that we only have a limited amount of time to make decisions, and understanding that the present moment is when we can take action.
The only thing I'm sure; answers I'm waiting for Don't knock upon the door. (Which way? Which way through?)
Feeling unsure of what to do and understanding that I cannot just wait for answers to present themselves.
Years fly past, so pin your colours fast Instead of searching for the mast. (Why the delay? You gotta do it today.)
Understanding that time moves quickly and I must make decisions faster rather than waiting and searching for certainty.
Yeah, we gotta do it today.
Emphasizing the urgency of taking action immediately.
We can't know everything, but if we are moving Then we'll be improving or we'll be doing nothing.
Acknowledging that we cannot have all the answers before making a decision, but taking action will lead to improvement rather than stagnation.
Behind the screens and books (We can be everything) but no-one knows it all (We can be anything), This flight is worth a fall (we can be everything) and though our voices are small The only chance we have to shout it loud enough Will be to seize the moment and say... gotta do it today.
Recognizing that the potential for success lies within ourselves and that we should take risks to achieve it, even when others do not believe in us.
Contributed by Reagan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.