It’s pretty brave to choose to open a new small music venue when so many are closing. Yet that’s what the owners of The Six Six Bar in Cambridge did back in August 2022. And amazingly and against a gloomy backdrop it’s not just survived but thrived. You can see why when you walk in. It feels like a well-established alt friendly place. The bar staff look like they are having fun and want to be there. And the place is well run.
It’s a perfect platform for tonight’s opening act Be Nice to spread a bit of punk rock love. The London based four piece are melody heavy with a nod to new wave in their writing. It means they span a wide range of the music spectrum, deservingly getting a great response from the crowd. There are good ways to make your point, and bad, Be Nice are a positive, naturally inclusive bunch who do it in style.
The Soap Girls are now a well-known feature of the UK circuit. They have a spirit that draws you in and their fans are rightly passionate about them. Their message is worn in every note they play, every word they sing and every action they take. Essentially, it’s about being positive about yourself, about personal freedom of expression and not conforming to how people want you to be. It hits home so well because the music is so good. A band is nothing without well written songs and here the music is crafted expertly. You can hear how the band are developing too with newer material showing a maturing and natural progression within an already defined sound. The vocals are a broader mix of clean and heavy fry that emphasises the lyrical mood. There are some lovely harmonies too, something that’s become a bit of a trademark. It’s unsurprising that The Soap Girls are now doing so well in the US and elsewhere. In such a troubled world, for many, they provide a moment of light and clarity.
Review and Photos by Gary Trueman
Be Nice
The Soap Girls
