Panic Shack @ Rough Trade

By Julia Mullins, Co Editor-in-Chief

Fuelled by caffeine rather than booze thanks to the 13:00 start time, we wait patiently as the crowd filters in: a mix of committed old punks and a handful of schoolgirls with their mums. In the windowless back room of Rough Trade, the band make their way on stage and jest that they’ve lost track of time. It’s midday, but when ‘Girl Band Starter Pack’ kicks in, I’m jumping with the abandon of someone who’s two tequilas down and it might as well be 9pm. 

The Cardiff-based band features Sarah Harvey, Meg Fretwell, Romi Lawrence, Em Smith, and drummer Nick Doherty-Williams. Currently charting in the top 40, the band played through the new album, which was recorded here in Bristol. Lead singer Sarah Harvey hilariously messed up the setlist — promptly corrected by her bandmates, who put it down to champagne consumption from their release party the night before. 

‘Panic Shack polaroids’ | Epigram / Harvey Belchamber

The album tackles both hard-hitting political topics and light-hearted social commentary with relatable lyricism. Sometimes too relatable. ‘Gok Wan’, a song about diet culture and disordered eating regurgitates the well-known line that ‘nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,’ singing with conviction, ‘I learnt this from you Mum, I must be doing fine.’ 

Similarly, ‘SMELLARAT’ takes aim at the kind of guy who shows up uninvited and has an endless ability to ruin a good time.  

Luckily, the audience was certifiably ‘rat-free’ and felt like a safe haven. During the song ‘Pockets’ — an anthem about the travesty of justice that women’s clothing is — I made eye contact with a man who must’ve been in his fifties and we both enthusiastically shouted the lyrics: ‘VAPE, PHONE, KEYS, LIPGLOSS!’ He counted out the list in the air with his fingers. 

The crowd at a midday gig is something truly heartwarming. The young kids in attendance wouldn’t normally be allowed into the late-night venues Panic Shack play at. It was sweet to watch them experience what might become unforgettable first experiences of live punk music.

‘Panic Shack polaroids’ | Epigram / Harvey Belchamber

While there wasn’t quite the level of moshing Panic Shack are accustomed to, for fear of crushing one of the aforementioned 11-year-olds, that didn’t stop the girls on stage.

Like their performance, the songs themselves are frantic and high energy — and would wear a thong and fishnets if they could. The setlist feels like all the ingredients of a night out: someone invited the guy we all hate, your mate’s alter ego rears its head, and ‘she has definitely taken something.’ 

After singing along to ‘Thelma and Louise’, a tribute to platonic love and the perfect ending to both the album and the gig, you can tell this band are truly loving playing together. The perfect analogy of their touring life, ‘Sack it all off and go on the run.’

We walked out of the venue, stunned to see broad daylight. As we left, my flatmate remarked that the drummer, Nick Doherty-Williams, reminded her of ‘the guy from Derry Girls.’ A comparison I hope he knows is a hefty compliment. The girls stole the show and that was the point. Panic Shack impressed with witty, empowering punk and made me a convert to midday gigs.

Their next gig in Bristol is on the 12th of October at Electric Bristol. Start time is 19:00, so prepare for a riot. I hope to see you there.

Featured Image: Epigram / Harvey Belchamber

Have you ever been to a midday gig?