Santa Clarita garage rockers together PANGEA have become synonymous with the genre of skate punk, and have earned the corresponding affiliations with bands likes Wavves and FIDLAR that come with the territory. Within this sphere they absolutely rule — the band can start a crowd engulfing mosh-pit in seconds when in front of the right audience (i.e. Burgerama, which they have played consecutively for the past two years). Their catalogue is filled with beer-stained guitar licks and the type of energy that gets denim-adorned twenty-somethings dancing. The band doesn’t drastically fix what wasn’t broken on their latest EP The Phage, released last Friday — but they do show off some interesting new tricks.
Credit for any stylistic movements since last year’s volatile Badillac likely come courtesy of Tommy Stinson, the legendary bassist of The Replacements who took on production duties for The Phage. Together PANGEA opened for The Replacements at the Hollywood Palladium earlier this year, a gig the trio did not take lightly, and they likely picked up a thing or two up from the experience. The collaboration of forces hasn’t done all that much to shift the direction of together PANGEA’s sound, but this new EP does show off some welcome pop-punk flourishes (see the hand-claps spewed across “My Head Is on Too Tight”). Second single “Blue Mirror” is the most drastic departure from their core sound, but winds up being the biggest highlight of the album — dexterous clean guitars lead into a patiently restrained chorus, with the most memorable hook coming from the way lead singer William Keegan enunciates on his verses, “You planned it all, goddamnit!”
Keegan explains the title of this new release as such: “The Phage is essentially cabin fever, whether it be a cabin or a tour van that you’re trapped in for months. When things become funny for no reason and a little madness sets in.” Whether in spite of this madness, or in the spirit of it, together PANGEA is heading out for another tour this Fall. The band will be stopping by Berkeley at 924 Gilman on December 5th (buy tickets here) as part of their support for The Phage, with WHITE REAPER and Dinosaurs slated to open what is sure to be a sweaty and kick-ass affair.
together PANGEA, WHITE REAPER, Dinosaurs
924 Gilman
December 5th, 2015
7pm, $10 Pre-Sale ($12 Door + $2 Annual Membership)
