Live Review: Panic Shack at The Garage, London 28/5/25

My first exposure to Cardiff-based punk band Panic Shack was back in March, when I reviewed their single ‘Gok Wan’. The bite and energy of that track alone was enough for me to jump at the chance to see them live. More recently, I’ve noticed they’ve built up a bit of a TikTok following thanks to their viral dance routine videos. Feminist, punk, and fun – I am IN.

Fittingly, it was ‘Gok Wan’ that Panic Shack kicked off their set with, immediately setting the tone for the night. The track tackles the body image pressures women face daily – pressures that certainly weren’t helped by makeover shows like How to Look Good Naked, which many of us grew up watching. It clearly resonated with the crowd, as we all chanted the tongue-in-cheek chorus together:
“I look good – this is all I do, my body is yours, enjoy the view.”

Panic Shack’s self-titled debut album is out next month, so the set included not only fan favourites but also a handful of new tracks – all of which sounded fantastic. One standout was ‘Thelma and Louise’, a song celebrating female friendship that went down particularly well with the audience. At one point (the exact track escapes me), the set diverged into a punked-up version of The Ting Tings’ ‘That’s Not My Name’, with singer Sarah Harvey jumping into the crowd and encouraging everyone to sing along.

Other highlights included ‘Jiu Jitsu’, with its punchy and empowering chorus: “I do Jiu Jitsu, I’m going to Jiu Jitsu, bitch!” …and ‘Baby’, a hilariously honest track about not feeling maternal and not wanting to hold someone else’s child (a sentiment I felt deep in my soul).

Of course, the show wasn’t just about the music – there were cheesy dance moves, punk swagger, and a huge sense of fun and catharsis. It’s obvious this band are having the time of their lives onstage, and I couldn’t help but want to be part of their gang.

They closed with ‘The Ick’, a brilliantly witty song about dating turn-offs that makes me laugh every time I hear it, especially this bit:
“You basically handed me the hammer, practically placed the nail onto the wood, smashed that nail through me into the coffin when you –
You put the milk in first,
You put the milk in first –
I didn’t think anyone actually put the milk in first!”

The Garage was absolutely packed, and the set was a total banger – punk, dancing, humour, sass. I can’t wait to hear more from Panic Shack.