Fresh Friday: The Panda Band

So You Didn't Get Arcade Fire Tickets. How about a little taste of what I think sounds like the Australian equivalent of the Canadian group, The Panda Band.

I have been meaning to mention this group for a month now. Their first album, The Vital Chapter, has been described by Spin and Obscure Sound as fresh sounding, pop infused layered music. I agree. Less experienced bands try to layer music most often to their detriment, succeeding only in creating noise, while The Panda Band does so in a way best described as poetic. Their songs are each interesting and whimsical with a literary flair. The Panda Band succeeds in creating innovative music without sounding green or naive. The Vital Year is a great alternative for those whom have already burned a hole in their stolen copy of Neon Bible.

The boys are trying to make their way to America for SXSW. To raise funds, they are throwing a pub quiz type event in the Perth (Australian, not Scottish) suburb of Mount Hawthorn (corner of Scarborough Beach Road and The Boulevarde, Mt Hawthorn, adjacent to Braithwaite Park) on February 28th. So how 'bout it loves? Go out and support your local Pandas and send these guys stateside, yeah? (in my head that sounded very funny and very Australian I swear)

mp3: 'Eyelashes'
and the brilliant 'Musical Chairs' (courtesy of Obscure Sound)