Sometimes, complete ignorance is the cause for your existence. When asked how the Panthers have managed to stay together for three years, frontman Jayson Green replies, "Because we're too stupid to give up."
Green, Justin Chearno, Geoff Garlock, Jeff Salane, and Jerry Fuchs compromise the quirky punk rock band. They performed at Stinkweeds on Apache Boulevard on Sunday night to a crowd of about 20. Ironically, a group by the name of Financial Panthers opened for them.
The guys, whose ages range from the mid-20s to 33, came together by chance when they all happened to move to New York at the same time. "It worked out because we were all in different groups before, but then everyone quit their respective bands and moved closer to each other, and that's when we decided to get together," Green says. Three of the five are ex-Orchids members.
What makes them unique is that they boast two drummers, making their songs very percussion oriented. Their style is a mix of grunge and garage, or in guitarist Chearno's words, "Put it together and you've got gay-runge - haha!" Their music is straight up indie-rock and anything but trendy.
Their influences include everyone from 90-Day Men ("As musicians, they rock, as people, their jerks,") and Notorious B.I.G (insert eyebrow raise here). The Panthers say they find their musical inspirations helpful when trying to create their own music.
The men are laid-back, reserved, and quite modest. But as soon as they hit the stage, they are infused with energy and enthusiasm reminiscent of Blink 182, but not nearly as glitzy. Green's vocals are deep, but not nearly as catchy as the guitar riffs. In other words, they are loud, raw and in your face. What's nice is that by moving away from the teen-angst themes their style often dictates, they have a sense of lyrical maturity.
So how do they deal with groupies? "Uh ... we don't," says Garlock, who is a dead-ringer for Jack Osborne. Being famous is obviously not the motive for these guys.
OK then, funniest stage moment? "One time, to be cool, I threw up the mic, and it bounced off the ceiling and hit my face," Green says sheepishly. "And then there was this other concert we did in New York ... but I won't get into that." Their personalities and antics make them walk the fine line between seeming like punk rockers and your little brother.
They are staples on the New York rock circuit, but they are currently on a five-week tour across the country in hopes of promoting their newest material, "The new stuff, we're really happy with that," Green says. "We keep producing better material." So far, they have one full-length album, an EP, and a 7-inch to their name. Their EP Let's Get Serious was produced by Steve Revitte, who has also worked with the Beastie Boys.
The Panthers are a part of a series of live shows that are happening this month at Stinkweeds. The alternative music shop provides an intimate atmosphere for people to catch a listen of up-and-coming bands. Kimber Lanning, owner of both Stinkweeds and Modified Arts, says that she was surprised that so many bands were visiting Phoenix and Tempe in November, and since Modified got booked quickly, she had to move many of the shows to Stinkweeds.
"I love having shows here; it's nostalgic," Lanning says. "People should come out and listen to the stuff that's coming through."
On Saturday, the Ex-Models will be at Stinkweeds along with Dance Disaster Movement. Tickets are $5 at the door for all upcoming concerts.
Reach the reporter at rekha.muddaraj@asu.edu.
