Last week I was lucky enough to catch a double release show at Berbati’s Pan by two of Portland’s better bands. If they weren’t both on Kill Rock Stars, Panther’s funky dance punk and the Shaky Hands roots rock might seem like an odd pairing. But genre difference aside, they both deliver high energy performances. The only disappointment that night was that Panther’s set was way too short. They have tons of material. The crowd was into it. I guess I’ll just need to come back sometime when they headline. 
It’s no longer surprising that two member bands can be exciting and dynamic, but most of those bands stick to stripped down or fuzzed-out rock, folk, and blues. Sure, they are exciting, but how many of them make you dance? With just a drummer, a guitarist, and a pre-programed bass/keyboard, Panther delivered a flailing and inventive set. At times, Charles Salas-Humara’s vocals and guitar are almost percussive, making the songs very beat oriented. I love the jerky rhythms of “Live Is Sold” and “Latitudes for Centuries,” but really just about every song they played that night was catchy, wild and fun. Fans of the Dirty Projectors should definitely check them out.
The Shaky Hands’ Let It Die is full of meaty rockers, continuing the progression from indie folk towards classic rock started on Lunglight. While Nicholas Delffs‘ strained nasal voice gives the songs urgency, the guitars propel them forward with a mix of comfortable strums and powerful riffs. This music is meant to be played and heard live, although the songs sound pretty good on the album too. I like how on “Slip Away” the beat stutters while the vocals swagger until finally the guitar is let loose. “Allison And The Ancient Eyes” rolls along, riding cymbals and hand-claps, while Delffs spills regrets. The night ended with Panther coming back on to join the Shaky Hands for their second encore and a chaotic guitar and vocal freakout.
The Shaky Hands: website | myspace | @ the slowdown
Panther: website | myspace
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