LEVITATION: Panchiko's Ethereal Night in Austin with Wisp and Alison’s Halo

Snatched from the jaws of eternal obscurity is the band Panchiko, who saw their musical dreams resurrected after a user on 4chan discovered their 2000 demo EP D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L. Since then, the band has published another studio album entitled Failed at Math(s), further blessing their cult following with their signature sound of nostalgic dream pop.

Panchiko returned to Austin with special guests Wisp and Alison’s Halo to play for LEVITATION music festival at Stubb’s BBQ. With a torrent of blue light washing over the stage, Alison’s Halo was first up to break the silence. The criminally underrated shoegaze band from Tempe, Arizona hypnotized the crowd into back-and-forth sways with their bittersweet sound reminiscent of both saying goodbye to or reuniting with a close friend. 

Up next was Wisp, arguably the most popular new shoegaze artist of the year, having double the monthly Spotify listeners as Panchiko at the time of this show. One could see there were just as many, if not more, Wisp t-shirts than any other band in the crowd. Her high-pitched, angelic vocals smooth out the rough edges of fuzzy guitar riffs, transporting you into the clouds and over the horizon. Most notably, she performed  her new single, “I remember how your hands felt on mine”, released on Halloween of this year.

Finally, Panchiko took to the stage, raising up a roar from the crowd. Despite their massive popularity among the shoegaze fans, they still greeted the crowd with a warm, humble sincerity. Panchiko showcased their masterful ability to play their dreamy, surreal music live while still feeling down-to-earth as if they were 5 ordinary guys you could have a beer with (they probably are). They played a number of tracks off their latest album Failed at Math(s) as well as classics from the ever mythical D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L record. From hearing them play the title track of said record as well as fan-favorite “Laputa”, the crowd was sent into a frenzy of intimate, campfire style singing-along to Owain’s emotional vocals. For a group that was hidden in obscurity for 16 years, the band has clearly mastered the art of playing live together without compromising their garage-style intimacy and nostalgia. Panchiko is a group you should definitely stay in the news about. In a way, they are just getting started in their musical journey.