I’m ashamed to admit that before this gig, I hadn’t heard of the four-piece Welsh punk band Panic Shack, and I can’t think of a time I’ve ever been so happy to be enlightened! Liverpool must have done something to get in the good books this week, because the city has been blessed with not one, but two performances from the band. I had the honour of attending the Thursday night performance at the Arts Club. Part of the group’s national tour, there’s certainly a lot to celebrate with the recent release of their fantastic single ‘Gok Wan’, and a debut album set for mid-June. A comment on the toxic culture of ‘body improvement’, the girls not only have a lot of important things to say, but some great music behind it too.
Arriving at the venue bang on doors, we climbed the stairs unsure what kind of crowd would greet us. Even half an hour before the first band was due on stage, a few eager fans were already holding their place at the barrier. As people began trickling in, the room became home to a very apparent buzz of excitement- certainly one of the strongest atmospheres I’ve felt at a gig in a while. At around eight, the touring support act The Pill burst (and I use this word in its dramatic sense) onto the stage with a scream of feedback.
A great warm-up for Panic Shack, with a range of engaging songs from mullet hatred to online grooming, the crowd participation was high, and it felt like a great time was had by all. With an impressively thick sound for a trio, I’ve caught myself several times this week chanting their quirky lyrics.
By the time Panic Shack hit the stage at around nine, the room was full and limbered up for some fun. Having listened obsessively to the handful of songs available on Spotify in the days leading up to the gig, I was already familiar with the high energy punk-rock the band create.
Even with this in mind, I was not prepared for just how a phenomenally high energy performance the four-piece are capable of harnessing. From the second they stepped onto the stage to their devastating exit; there was no space for a thought external to the room. A tight-knit group, the way they bounced off each other was a real testament to the power of female friendship- there was rarely a moment without four smiles lighting up the stage. I personally don’t think there’s anything better than a band who thoroughly enjoys the music they create, and wow, do Panic Shack tick that box!
Running through a set of their EP Baby Shack, with some bonus features from their latest singles and unreleased material, my only possible criticism of the set could be that I wanted more! Throughout the set we were treated to stunning choreography involving intricate legs-in-the-air floor work, coordinated ‘tit bouncing’, and even some Beyoncé-esque bend and snap moves. Not a note was missed throughout this lively performance, and I found myself particularly mesmerised by the fingers of bassist Em Smith who really zoomed up and down the fretboard with her melodic lines.
A musical highlight for me was Girl Band Starter Pack, featuring really cool three-way dialogue between guitarists Meg Fretwell and Romi Lawrence over more crazily good lines from bassist Em. Simple yet catchy guitar hooks really added to the texture of this one, popping out between the heavy instrumental interludes. There was also something addictive about the vocal delivery from frontwoman Sarah Harvey. Bouncing the clever lyrics against the backbeat of the drums, she created some rhythmically catchy lines designed to get caught in the brain for days.
The only appropriate way to end this review is by urging you not to just take my word for the fabulousness of Panic Shack. Grab a ticket for one of their remaining tour dates and get yourself down to experience it firsthand! An evening of guaranteed fun, I can promise you you’ll leave the venue absolutely buzzing, and perhaps, as we did, with new dreams of starting your own punk-rock group!
Review by: Katie Slater
