Monday 18th January 2010 @ Academy, Bristol
With Support From: Sonic Boom Six

The floor was sticky with beer and teenage sweat as support act Sonic Boom Six revved up the atmosphere, gearing up the night to be one of those gigs you’ll be bragging about for the next six months.

Reel Big Fish are a band from California formed back in the retro days of 1990, you can tell it’s ska as the t-shirt colours get brighter and there’s a group of guys dressed as bananas! The band’s raw, indulgent passion for the genre gives out an ultimate happiness. Their songs make you realise how epic it is to feel a bit exceptional and a little bit odd. Brown Eyed Girl was a big crowd pleaser with the upbeat rhythm complimenting the walking bass line characteristics; needless to say it was pretty whimsical. Trombonist, Dan Regan, and trumpeter, John Christianson, made it more comical with choreographed can-can leg kicking - mother would be proud!

And just when you thought the night couldn’t get any better, Sonic Boom Six singer, Laila Khan, collaborated with the guys with her style of punk, hip-hop and reggae moulded into one; it was a bit too amazing to have this musical form all at once.

I was going slightly deaf at the climax of Scott’s A Dork that embellished in the crowd’s enthusiasm whilst Sucker brought out Aaron Barrett into his element as the bright and breezy songster, engrossing with the fans and the band. With Reel Big Fish you are with the best company as the crowd formed as one massive clapping, skanking, off the hook sweat machine. It shows that in some cases it pays to keep that unusual style and to never grow up!

www.reel-big-fish.com

Skye Portman