(Untitled) Halo opening for Panchiko, playing their most popular song, “Pedal Petal.”
On May 29th, I saw Panchiko live, and I’m still raving about it. For a band that emerged from a dusty, half-lost 2000’s mixtape, to become an underground staple, their concert was one of the best I’ve ever seen live. Sent straight from the 2000’s, the shoegaze haze brought the whole crowd together.
Starting off, the venue itself set the tone for the whole night. The Paramount Theater, with its stunning architecture and amazing sound system, only added to the vibe. Adding to this, the crowd did not disappoint, being a mix of many unique and cool people, ranging from all ages. Some being some fans of the original mixtape, and some new fans who love Panchiko all the same.
Starting off the night was the opening band, (Untitled) Halo. Being a shoegaze band from LA, their music fit in perfectly with Panchiko’s. They started off with their most popular song, “Pedal Petal”, followed by “Limewire.” They were amazing, with the whole crowd cheering after every single song. I got to talk to the whole band after the show, and they were extremely friendly, giving me a tee shirt for free, and signing it too. Next up was Alison’s Halo, the second opener. Being another shoegaze band, this time from Arizona. They started with “Dozen”, their most popular song, then ending with “Raindrop”. They were great, but the crowd was obviously anxious for the main act, Panchiko.
(Untitled) Halo’s guitarist, Jack Dione, playing the riff to “Limewire.”
When Panchiko took the stage, the whole crowd went wild, including me. Being one of my favorite bands, it was so exciting to see them in person. They started with one of my favorite songs from them, “Stabilisers for Big Boys.” At the time of the concert, I had lost my voice, and this didn’t make it any better. As the night went on, the crowd only seemed to get louder! The ambient lighting and surround sound speaker system really helped lock in the vibe for that night. After 4 songs, they played their most popular song, “D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L.” This is when the crowd erupted, more than they already did. Every lyric was sung by the crowd, way louder than Panchiko’s lead singer, Owain Davies could.
Closing out with “Kicking Cars”, the crowd switched to a very calm, chill atmosphere. Everyone was talking to each other, with the soft music playing in the background. As Panchiko finished up, everyone started to leave, crowding to the merchandise table. I ended up buying a shirt, signed by the whole band! Overall, the whole night was amazing, and well worth the only 50$ ticket. I really hope Panchiko makes their way back to Brooklyn soon, as I will definitely be going again.
