Ostensibly a four piece rock and roll band from Auckland, PanAm deliver much more than the average three chord thrash garage trash neo punk band. Their eclectic sound has been described as:
“… more of a dirty, bitchin, fucked-up indie rock freight train, paying homage to the early pioneers of the art as well as perverting the genre for new generations”.
The sound of PanAm now can only be described as kick ass. Like all great four-piece groups, PanAm possess an intriguing blend of equal parts headlong power, melody and total, balls out excitement. They come straight at you like a precision guided cruise missile attack.
The creative core of Paul Barrett and Cole Goodley, songwriter/guitarist extraodinaire and animal drummer respectively, were joined by bass player Rob Collins and live guitarist Jared Kahi in Feb 2004. Previously a three-piece, the new incarnation’s fat-stick sound and kick ass confidence are the perfect vehicle for Barrett’s prolific songwriting talents.
Signed to Flying Nun in 2001, PanAm have released two records to date; 2002’s ‘New Concepts in Sound Recording’ EP, and last year’s self-titled debut album ‘PanAm’. Lauded by critics across NZ, both are forceful manifestos in sideways pop and essential listening for lovers of fine and unique rock and roll.
Regarded as one of the premier guitar bands in the country, PanAm have toured extensively in New Zealand with the likes of The D4, Betchadupa, and Fur Patrol.
PanAm are:
Rob Collins (bass)
Jared Kahi (guitar)
Paul Barrett (vocals, guitar)
Cole Goodley (drums)