Sometimes the universe just tells you what shows to see, and on Tuesday it was telling me to get my ass over to The Atlantis for the first date of the first ever US tour by the Welsh band Panic Shack. And, I must say, the universe knows what it’s talking about.

The Cardiff, Wales band of Sarah Harvey (vocals), Meg Fretwell (guitar), Romi Lawrence (guitar), and Emily Smith (bass) with Nick Doherty-Williams on drums has been getting a good amount of air play with the bouncy “Girl Band Starter Pack” (where I first heard them on SiriusXM) from their recently released self-titled debut and their new single “grin & bear it.” But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as the whole LP is jammed full of great, catchy punk tunes. My first thought when hearing the full album was that this band is going to be massive shortly, and, as I was soon to find out, their live show is even more engaging.

Starting the evening was DC band Mac N’ Toss, an exciting three-piece whose influences include riot grrrl bands I remember seeing years ago like Bikini Kill and Team Dresch.

As Panic Shack took to the stage, you could get the feeling you were witnessing something special. With little introduction, the band started with “Gok Wan,” a song about body image and then went right into “Baby” literally without missing a beat. As the song built, Harvey went from a steady vocal delivery to a roar within the span of a verse.

There’s this weird thing with bands and audiences. The audience doesn’t see the work that led up to that moment – the practice and groundwork laid over years – but then that day arrives. That one show has the power to make a lifelong fan, and I have to trust that Tuesday night made believers of everyone there.

It was clear that as the show went on Panic Shack could see that magic happening and the result was like opening the flood gates as the band had the crowd jumping up and down – the floor bowing and creaking with the movement. At one point the band got together in a choreographed line, bending in unison.

Check out the new single, “grin & bear it” by Panic Shack below:

If there was a downside, it was only that the show couldn’t go longer. As the band announced nearing the end of their set, they don’t do encores. But that was mainly due to running out of songs as the set included most of their album and recent EP. Panic Shack even incorporated The Ting Tings hit “That’s Not My Name” into their song “I Don’t Really Like It.”

Panic Shack is definitely a band to watch (both figuratively and by catching one of their remaining tour dates).

The setlist included:

Gok Wan
Baby
SMELLARAT
Personal Best
Jiu Jits You
Girl Band Starter Pack
Thelma & Louise
grin & bear it
Unhinged
Do Something
Lazy
The Ick
Tit School
I Don’t Really Like It / That’s Not My Name
Who’s Got My Lighter?
Pockets

Take a look at more photos of the amazing set by Panic Shack at The Atlantis on June 9, 2026. All photos are copyright David LaMason:

And here are photos of Mac & Toss opening the evening at The Atlantis: