FEATURE: Spotlight: Panic Shack — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Panic Shack

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I am putting a run of Spotlight features out…

as there are exciting artists who are either embarking on big tour dates or have put our an E.P. or album. In the case of the remarkable Panic Shack, both can apply. They have some great dates coming up, and they released their debut E.P., Baby Shack, earlier in the month. I will get to a review of that at the end. Before that, there are a few interviews online where we discover more about the amazing group. The Cardiff group - Sarah Harvey (vocals), Meg Fretwell (guitar/backing vocals), Romi Lawrence (guitar/backing vocals), Em Smith (bass) - formed in 2018 and, since then, they have made big strides. Courting attention from stations like BBC Radio 6 Music and being tipped as ones to watch closely this year, everyone needs to get behind them! The band’s line-up has changed a little, whereas they have had different drummers playing with them. I am focusing on the ‘core members’ of Harvey, Fretwell, Lawrence, and Smith. Apologies if there are any snippets of interviews with former band members. I am keeping a close eye because, as is the way with bands who have been around for a little while, the line-up does change. In any case, I will start out with an interview that discusses their 2018 formation (as a quintet), but they are, to me, a quartet. Apologies if that contradicts how they see Panic Shack…

I am getting hung up on numbers and formation! I shall plough in to interviews! PRS for Music introduced the band in their feature from April 2021:

“Who?

Panic Shack

From where?

Cardiff

What’s the Story?

Formed in 2018, DIY punk outfit Panic Shack have been capturing the mood of the nation through the charged and pointed subject matter of their releases. Dissatisfied with the male dominated music industry, most of the members of Panic Shack began to learn their instruments from scratch when starting the band, intent on carving out a space within the local Cardiff scene and beyond.

Releasing through independent Welsh label Clwb Creative Records, Panic Shack have already garnered considerable airplay, as well as securing bookings at taste-making festivals, such as Focus Wales. Although only three official singles have been shared so far, a considerable buzz around the band is on-going, with the indie music press at large taking note of their every move.

Most recent single, I Don’t Really Like It, takes aim at the issues surrounding toxic masculinity and predatory male behaviour, accompanied by driving riffs and a melodic sensibility that elevates the band from being pigeonholed as simply ‘punk’.

The poignancy and relatability of their music is matched with a sardonic wit and often jocular approach to word-play: ‘I do jiu-jitsu, I’m gonna jiu-jits you,’ for example.

Sounds like?

An exciting and modern take on the classic punk sound, with notes of Amyl and the Sniffers, that points towards a musical ambition superseding the confines of the genre.

Predicted to?

As soon as gigs are back up and running, expect to find Panic Shack in venue near you. This is music to be fully appreciated in a live setting”.

There are a couple of other interviews that attracted me. I found one from Guitar from the end of 2020 (sorry to screw with the chronology!), where Panic Shack reject their ‘Punk’ label – and they very much flying the flag for working-class women in music:

“What first inspired you to pick up a guitar?

“We’re actually pretty new to guitar playing. Emily has played bass in another band for a few years so she’s our ‘real’ musician. As for myself and Meg, we are really new to it. We’ve basically been teaching ourselves to play ever since we decided we were going to properly form this band – so a little over a year. I guess it just came down to being fed up of complaining that there aren’t enough female guitarists and putting our money where our mouth is. Meg said it was School of Rock for her.”

Tell us about your main guitar and pedal setup…

“I play a Squier Tele through a distortion pedal and Blues Driver, and Dave’s [drummer] old guitar amp. Meg uses a Squier Strat, distortion pedal, chorus pedal and again, you’ve guessed it, a borrowed amp. Emily plays a Fender Precision (borrowed from her dad, because her Squier wasn’t quite cutting the mustard), a fuzz pedal, and whatever amp she can get someone to lend her. This set up is, of course, all temporary until we get our Fender endorsement!”

You say you formed the band to counter the growing feeling of music becoming even more elitist and closed off to working-class people – how do you hope to inspire that change?

“Just pushing as hard as we can to exist in this sphere, we hope, will inspire more girls especially those from working-class backgrounds, to have a crack at it. When we were younger all you saw were men in guitar bands, so it didn’t cross our minds that it could be something, we, as girls, could ever do. If us being a band that other girls can look to and be inspired to pick up an instrument by or write a song, then our job is done. Also in terms of guitar playing it can be super intimidating to put yourself out there when you don’t necessarily feel like a ‘guitarist’ especially when you’re backstage with a load of guys who are amazing guitar players – what we’ve learned over the past year is that music is just about conveying a message and making sound. Music is subjective and you don’t need to be shredding solos until your fingers bleed to write an amazing song – look at The Slits!”

Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

“After countless world tours we probably would’ve settled into our Hollywood mansions. Panic Shack remain at the top of every chart worldwide and we eat caviar for every meal. Meg is running for president, Sarah and Harry Styles are expecting their third child, Emily resides in her cat sanctuary, I’m back in rehab and Dave’s playing in a Beatles cover band. We haven’t really given it much thought to be honest.”

Finally, tell us something interesting about yourself that has nothing to do with guitar…

“As well as writing music together, we’re all part of Cardiff’s first mixed sex synchronised swimming team. Crazy but true!”.

I am going to end with a review for the amazing and instantly memorable Baby Shack soon. Before that, God is in the TV featured Panic Shack last month. They are, undeniably, a group with a very bright and busy future:

“Welcome Panic Shack! Good to meet you. Can you tell us a little about how you got together?

Sooo we all became friends through living and working in Cardiff but the catalyst for starting Panic Shack was Greenman 2018. We’d spoken about starting a band a lot over the previous year but after going to the festival and watching all the other artists on stage it just made us feel like we had to be up there too. We had our first practice in megs spare room the month after we got back with a bunch of shitty acoustic guitars and it all went from there really.

Congratulations on ‘Mannequin Man’. I love its frenetic energy and even though the video was produced during lockdown its perfect for the song. I believe it was filmed back in March 2021. Has it been a frustrating couple of years, or have you been able to be keep creative?

Correct! It’s been frustrating having to sit on something for so long when you just want to release it into the world but every band around the globe I’m sure feels the same way. I think at the start when we didn’t realise we had another two long years ahead of us we were quite positive and creative, trying to make the best of a bad situation though as time went on that dwindled slightly. BUT now that gigs are going ahead and we’re allowed back out into the world those creative juices are flowing and we got loads of bangerz ready and lined up for ya.

The debut EP Baby Shack is set for release 8 April on Brace Yourself Records. What is your song-writing process and what do you take inspiration from?

So our songs normally start from a silly remark that one of us might make or from a situation where one of us is pissed off, then we all kind of hype each other up and start shouting shit into a voice memo on our phones. The inspiration for our songs can come from anywhere and everywhere so be nice to us or we’ll be writing one about you next.

What gigs have you planned for 2022? Am I right in saying you formed towards the end of 2018, so did you play gigs before the pandemic?

We only played a handful of gigs before the pandemic so we FEEL like a new band but in actuality we’re old hags now haha. So far 2022 is looking like a lot of fun gig wise, we’re going on tour with Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard and we’re also playing Radio 6’s music festival which is being held in Cardiff this year. You’ll have plenty of other chances to see us too but you’ll have to wait to find out.

If I looked in your fridge right now what would I find.

My fridge is pretty dire at the minute, I’ve got a mouldy cucumber in the salad drawer, half a litre of oat milk and enough condiments to sink a ship – Em

I’ve got Covid at the minute so there’s nothing in my fridge except some mouldy salad and 5 half empty bottles of mayo – Rom

My fridge contents are basically the same just condiments and questionable veg – Saz

Can’t get hold of Meg to find out what’s in her fridge but you can always guarantee she’s got some buds in there. Peace out love The Shack xxx”.

Let’s round off with a couple of things. I would compel everyone to check out and follow Panic Shack now. Go and listen to the Baby Shack E.P. and, if you are in a position to, go and catch them live near you. An irresistible and truly astonishing live band, they are head and shoulders above so many of their peers! This is what Punktastic wrote in their review for Panic Shack’s glorious debut E.P., Baby Shack:

“Attitude can get you a long way. If punk was a reaction to glam, Panic Shack are a reaction to groups of cocksure lads clogging up the Cardiff music scene. They embody the ethos perfectly; anyone can be in a band, everyone has something to say and these five, fiery upstarts have been tearing up the local scene with their accessible, lo-fi tunes. Their debut EP ‘Baby Shack’ collects six unruly songs, each reinforcing the idea that being in a band is like hanging with your mates, and you won’t be able to resist its easy charms.

While some bands describe themselves as ‘artists’ and delight in throwing around exotic guitar scales, Panic Shack are proud of their limited ability and freely admit that upon forming back in 2018 they could barely play. Guitarist Romi Lawrence even says that when writing the songs they would just “chuck a few notes together”. It’s a direct and honest statement, reflected in the music here, which might be simple and straight-up but is also very satisfying. Whether it’s the easy strums of ‘Who’s Got My Lighter?‘ or the slicing chord riffs of ‘Ju Jits You’ it’s all urgent, bright and effortlessly catchy.

Five of the songs here are already available, so in many ways ‘Baby Shack’ plays like a compilation but that’s no bad thing, especially as it is structured to some degree with the almost experimental ‘I Don’t Really Like It’ opening things up. Beginning slowly and powered by a simple drum beat the song almost feels like a Meg-led White Stripes until it explodes into the jaunty guitar sound that defines the rest of their work. It’s a biting sound for sure, without being jangly, making for a lively weighty tone that distances them from indie-rock. It’s definitely not pop-punk polished or lacquered and there’s a layer of reality to their work that more abstract bands lack.

The band’s defining feature is Sarah Harvey’s spoken word vocals, which have the advantage of being both fun to follow and easy on the ear. She throws out some great statements on ‘Ju Jits You’ and there is something undeniably brilliant about a song that builds up momentum only to collide with the opening phrase of ‘Umm…’.

In many ways, the EP has a lot in common with the Arctic Monkeys’ first album only with a feminine zest, and the songs play out as conversations between friends. It’s not quite as brash musically but it’s a fair comparison as the two bands feel very similar, their work crammed with observations and clever lyrics. Where the Arctic Monkeys record depicted a lads nights out in Sheffield, here the stories are more specific, focusing more on people encountered in daily life, be it the strange living statue of ‘Mannequin Man’ or the woman assuming maternal instincts on ‘Baby’. Only ‘The Ick’ directly addresses romance and even then it plays out like a discussion amongst friends, albeit using a coffin nail as both a metaphor and a slick pre-chorus. While not being explicitly feminist, songs like ‘Baby’ challenge traditional gender assumptions and are wryly humorous. The best example being the line “Kids are not for everyone so ask before you give me one” which is a throwaway hook, a statement of intent and a cheeky swing at male listeners.

Tom Rees of Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard has guided the band’s career so far and as producer has really captured their vibe. This is important as Panic Shack’s whole schtick is their personal chemistry. This is explicit on the outro to ‘Ju Jits You’ which descends into a high energy-chant, but is threaded through all their work. It’s difficult to think of a record that is such a joyous celebration of friendship and this gives the record its strength. Similarly ‘Who’s Got My Lighter’ coasts on an uncomfortable verse as the words are close enough to a rhyme that they feel awkward every time they’re repeated. Luckily the song retains the band’s breezy energy and there’s a hook in the chorus to hold it together, making for a surprising hit.

Bubbling with undeniable chemistry ‘Baby Shack’ is an exciting, witty debut EP collecting the band’s work so far. Keenly crafted, with a simple sense of fun and a tonne of great observations it makes for a great listen”.

Even though I have not yet seen Panic Shack play – one of the great band names btw! -,l I have read reviews of their sets and fully intend to see them very soon on a London date. It is still sort of early days. I talked about how there have been different musicians in the fold, though it is that core and solid four-piece that have an indelible and unbreakable bond. The affection and respect they have for one another translates to their music. In turn, their fans have an enormous amount of love and respect for them. It is impossible not to bow down to the power and brilliance of…