Advantageously, Panic Years wrote a song named after something the band clearly and ambitiously measures. The pulsating guitar rhythms and the clean punch of the drums in “Pace” drives the song forward. The emphasis they place on certain words, certain notes, and certain patches of silence leave you wanting to tune into more surprises. In the meantime, Ed’s beautifully weathered voice is tightly woven in the seams of honest and revealing lyrics. If you listen closely for spotlight moments of Adam on the Bass and Amy on the keyboards, you’ll be impressed by how modestly inconspicuous their contributions are. Panic Years’ clean, simple yet unique melodies will encourage you to carry yourself through an abstract interpretation in the life behind the song. The songs off their self-titled EP have this serious upbeat attitude that take me back to the mid-90’s with bands like the Foo Fighters and Jimmy Eat World. Yet, Panic Years are unique and refreshing.


Questioning the band name? I was, too. I asked Amy Miller (Guitar, Keyboard).

“We came across the term one day and it seemed to fit the band and where we were at in our lives. Ed and I were living in Virginia at the time and had both just quit our jobs to pursue the music thing. Being in your 20's and just trying to figure out what path you want to take, seemed to fit the term "Panic Years" well. We were throwing around band names for weeks and when we came up with Panic Years, we were confident that was going to be the one we'd stick with.”

Spanning from San Francisco, CA to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Panic Years formed in Virginia Beach, VA in 2007 with two of their original band members, Ed Everett and Amy Miller. East and west had fused and with the eagerness to pursue their goals, Ed and Amy knew they couldn’t stay in Virginia. The venues were hopeless and since they quit their day jobs, they were in need of a musical city. Philadelphia, a town filled with musical heritage, is where they longed to be. Amy, who studied classical piano in college, was excited to be in a city where classical innovations were born. Presently, Philly is where they reside and have been playing shows in the surrounding area ever since.

 
Where are your favorite places to play in terms of size/the particular crowd, etc?

“I'd say one of our favorite places to play in Philly is the North Star Bar. The crowd is always great and they've got a good size stage. Not only do they have local bands play there regularly, but they also have some pretty big national acts come through there. There's also a small club in Philly called the M Room, which we enjoy playing.”

For Panic Years, practicing for a show is more like playing a show, as it is for most bands that strive to make their musical mark. Panic Years for sure have all the pieces. It is especially impressive when a great sounding band have lyrics to match. If you are actively listening to the words in each one of their songs, you will have a general understanding of the story line that is like a boldly outlined picture for you, the listener, to fill in with color. Perfectly spoken, “My heavy heart makes for shallow breathing/ But I’ll sing as if you could hear me,” Ed sings in “Magic.” It is safe to say that many of us have felt this heartbroken. I consider the finger-pointing lyrics in “Pace,” to be seriously funny. In all their seriousness, the truth makes me laugh. Ed sings, “You cry out like I’m some overnight idiot/ Whose memory seems to lapse.”  That is for sure a blunt wise guy remark I wish I had come up with.

One can empathize with lyrics in “Magic.” “City lights reflect on the water/ I count them all as if they were lucky/ My bad luck has been sure to follow me wherever I go”. As well as relatable, this line is memorable and comforting as the melody offers this sense of hope that translates into goose bumps and an awakened pulse.

Along with the feeling of hope, Panic Years offer the perfect amount of intensity that I could also hear in their voices during our interview. They are an ambitious group of friends who have a sincere love for what they do.

Angry yet uplifting, passionate yet fun, Panic Years have sure got enough punch to leave you breathless, but they won’t knock you out.  You’ll already want to hear more as the first song begins. Their adventurous energy flows effortlessly with consistently delightful melodies.

For those of you established fans of the quad, they are continuing to write more songs, so don’t panic. For those of you excited to hear what Panic Years has to offer, Itunes has their five song EP on sale for eager listeners to download. Find out more about Panic Years here, or at www.panicyearsband.com. You can also find them on Myspace where they have an awesome version of Primitive Radio Gods’ “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand.” Be sure to pick up their upcoming EP on March 23, 2010.  Hey and if you happen to be in Philly or are planning a trip, you know who to go see and where to go see them.