Panic Shack aren’t interested in the keys to the boys’ clubhouse or fighting with sharp-elbows for a seat at the table. They’re with you, out there: in the pit, at the bar, in the group chat – and their sound, collar-grabbing punk missives which walk the line between smoking area banter and a restless rage for a world we live in, refuses to sit politely.
It’s that sense of inclusiveness that permeates everything Panic Shack do: a band writing killer, off-kilter songs whose guitarists could barely play four chords when they formed, having dusted off guitars from the attic. It’s the kind of trajectory you could compare to a modern Young Marble Giants or ESG, but those bands rarely sounded this fun or alive. You could say there’s no one out there doing this right now, but that would probably defeat the point.
The band’s frenetic live performances whipped up a devoted legion of fans on the Cardiff music scene despite having barely a scrap of music available online. The hotly-awaited arrival of their 2022 debut EP sparked an instant connection, equal parts mayhem and state-of-the-world reflection, selling out its vinyl edition immediately and elevating Panic Shack to a must-see live act, touring alongside the likes of Los Bitchos, Orlando Weeks and Yard Act. It arrived with a torrent of acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music and Radio 1, with tastemakers including NME, DIY, Dork, Upset and Guitar Magazine championing the band.
