Sumo Cyco - A Pleasant Surprise
It's been one hell of an Autumn for live music, and I was determined to take it easy throughout December, but I was so impressed by Sumo Cyco back in April that I'd been craving another round for a while, and couldn't say no.
Sumo Cyco is the new project of Canada's Skye Sweetnam, who you may know as the teen popstar who supported Britney Spears on her Onyx Hotel tour. One look at her now will tell you that the old Skye is very much dead, replaced by her new punk-as-fuck alter-ego, Sever.
Perhaps I'm just a skeptic by design, but I am guilty of serious prejudice regarding the ability of Sever to perform live, who I figured would be somewhere in the 'poor' to 'average' region. I am now proud to admit that I was very very wrong - her voice is amazing - one second it'll be as sweet as honey, the next she'll howl loud enough to wake the dead.
Taking to stage dressed both like she's ready to play hockey, and simultaneously like she's ready to go to war, Sever leads her band of 'cycos' into set opener "My Name Is Rock And Roll", during which an oblivious crowd were treated to huge riffs and even bigger, soaring vocals.
"The Ugly" and "Go Go Go" follow, and it's quickly clear that the day's 2pm crowd had already been won over, and that was before the completely fearless Skye Sweetnam jumped off the stage, opting to sing from atop the bar instead - a feat we were all treated to during the band's latest single, "Like A Killer".
Another standout moment of the show arrived about half-way through, when the band performed a cover of Macklemore's massive hit "Can't Hold Us", and surprisingly made it their own - with Skye's impressive vocal range making itself apparent once more.
Over and over again throughout the set, we're reminded of what an awesome front-human is performing in front of us. This is a band that can have a truly exciting future, and recent videos posted on the band's Facebook page point to a collaboration with the almighty Benji Webbe (Skindred), a thrilling prospect that could help propel Sumo Cyco to where they clearly should be.
Sumo Cyco are my favourite thing to come out of Canada since I heard Billy Talent II in 2006, and I wholeheartedly believe that everyone who likes both punk and metal should check them out. You won't regret it.
COMMENTS
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Love it!
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Great review
