Interview: The Panda Band

Coming from Perth, Australia The Panda Band are gearing up to take over the US with their twisted, melodious indie pop rock in the form of a North American release of their long-awaited debut This Vital Chapter on Filter US Recordings (9/12) and potential US tour. During a break in their Australian tour, songwriter/singer/guitarist Damian Crosbie took time to answer some questions.

Where are you currently at? Any favorite moments from the tour?
I'm at home today as the Perth Shows are this weekend. The tour's been amazing so far, so many highlights, but the second night in Sydney was a bit special. Some extra sing-along magic that night.

Any plans for a US tour?
We had to postpone our US tour plans coz the album took longer to finish but we should make it there before the end of the year still. I do hope and pray.

How would you describe your music, it's feel and sound? Are you influenced by anyone in particular?
Our music is quite filmic, as I tend to gain alot of inspiration from musicals and documentaries. Some songs are quite dream like but still retain a spooky intensity which is amplified live. We all have such varied influences that it would be misleading to choose one and probably more informative to people to name bands we remind listeners of. The usual names dropped are Pink Floyd, The Kinks The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Super Fury Animals, Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, etc. Have you heard of them? Ha! You get the idea.

But most agree we're no retro band, we don't look like Oasis or anything, we look and sound like The Panda Band. We all come from Perth, which is a very isolated, spread out, young and un-spoilt city on the west coast of Australia. It's the only City on the west coast of Australia! It's kind of like San Diego, and people say we sound like our location.

How did approach the songwriting process on your debut album This Vital Chapter? Which sounds amazing by the way.
I take alot of different approaches to creating songs, and this helps keep it exciting for me and help the songs have their own identities. Some come from a lyric idea ("We've Got The Face Of The Earth"), some a melody (like "Spanish Bride"), some from messing around with some random sounds on my computer("A Call To Your Arms"). It's never the same.

Who are you listening to right now?
I've been listening to Harry Nilsson As Time Goes By (...the complete Schmilsson in the night). It's wonderful. Another of my favorites is a fellow Perthian Jeff Strong, he's like a cross between Prince and Bob Dylan, mesmerising.

What's next on the agenda for The Panda Band?
Some shows here in Perth this weekend then off around Australia again with the Sleepy Jackson on their album tour, it's gonna be alot of fun.

Is there anything you would like to say to the people of Chicago?
You have a beautiful city, I visited a couple of years back to check out Oak Park and the Frank Lloyd Wright gear...I can't wait to play some shows there.

Thanks for your time, Damian!

The Panda Band's debut This Vital Chapter hits the shelves September 12, in the meantime you can hear samples on their Myspace.