PANIC SHACK & THE PILL
Nowt particularly new but blooming heck this was FUN
NAC
PANIC SHACK don’t do anything particularly new or original but they do it with such passion and such joi de vivre. This is the third time I have seen them and the third time I have been blown away.
The thirteen song (including encore) set features all six songs from the (excellent) Baby Shack mini-LP along with Meal Deal and six songs from the forthcoming self-titled debut album. Set closer The Ick is an absolute classic and - for me - the best song of the set but new songs Gok Wan, Girl Band Starter Pack and Thelma and Louise run it close. Mashing up I Don’t Really Like It with The Ting Tings’ That’s Not My Name is a rock of genius, whilst Baby, Jiu Jits You and Who’s Got My Lighter? are furious blasts of energy.
Panic Shack’s mix of riot grrl, punk and pop is somehow both cathartic and joyous, sometimes (lyrically, at least) serious but always fun and always utterly danceable. By ‘eck, I LOVE this band,
Opening trio THE PILL are - on first listen, at least - pretty close to Panic Shack. Imagine The Clash covering The Shangri-Las - or a heavier Ramones - and you will have a rough idea of a fair few of the songs. At times, the bass goes into Lemmy territory and there is some Buzzcocks style buzzsaw rhythm/three or four note lead guitar. Throw in some Green River/Mudhoney proto-grunge and The Pill make for a properly interesting new band. Oh, and whilst I wholly agree with the sentiments expressed before Money Mullet, I’d give a fair amount of money to see ‘em play it to an Amyl & The Sniffers audience...
