Live – Panic Shack at Patterns – Breaking Glass Magazine

Panic Shack at Patterns, Brighton, 6th May 2025

It’s hard to imagine that a Panic Shack gig would ever be anything other than bags of fun, some left-field choreography and a bunch of songs that stick two fingers up to misogyny and general societal inequalities while kicking out some stupidly catchy tunes – and this was no exception.

I maintain that Patterns is the wrong shape and layout for live music, especially on a sold out gig as, apart from being in one or two decent vantage points, a big section of the crowd isn’t going to actually see much of what’s happening on stage. That didn’t stop the party though and openers The Pill set things up nicely with an already rammed venue and a punchy set of their own.

Panic Shack have long since reached the point of being a reliably good live band, and it’s great to see them still looking like they’re having an absolute ball. With a set list including Gok Wan, Baby, Who’s Got My Lighter? and The Ick, they gave an impressive performance and surely pushed the sales of their QR coded lanyards through the roof with an on-point sales pitch (other bands take note – if you’re having trouble engaging the crowd, just have them collectively chant ‘LANYARD!’ and it’ll probably be fine). The sugary-sweet days of 90s ‘girl power’ are thankfully behind us but make no mistake, the power of women in music, friendship and fun is very much in the present.

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