Gig Review: Panchiko at Metronome

Panchiko were originally formed over two decades ago, yet their debut EP D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L was unfortunately lost in time and forgotten. That was until 2016, when a 49p DIY CD with disc rot was rediscovered in an Oxfam charity shop in Sherwood. After the worn out demo was uploaded online, stories began circulating about the music’s mysterious origin. Was it a marketing ploy for a new artist? An online prank created by fame-driven teenagers? Or a legitimate band that just never got recognised for their incredible art? The hunt for the band members began and they were discovered through Facebook. Frontman Owain remembers, “I woke up one day, and ping - there’s a message on a defunct Facebook page of mine, ‘Hello, you’ll probably never read this, but are you the lead singer of Panchiko?’”

The music had never made it online but to conspiracy theorists’ disbelief, the band was in fact undeniably real. The original album was then rereleased in 2020, minus the disc rot, and became an internet sensation, being featured at number two in the Bandcamp alternative music chart, above Radiohead and Bob Vylan. 

The now thirty-something year-old members seemed a blend of excited and confused to finally get the recognition they desperately deserved as teenagers, when they created a record that, at the time, unfortunately nobody heard. Members Owain, Andy and Shaun faced their newfound fan-base with friends ‘new-John’ and Robert (from their support act, Tongg). The band joked of the last time they performed together, to a room of just five friends before the band went their separate ways - as back in their teenage years no labels or journalists were interested in what they had to offer.

Now, though, things have changed - so we thought we’d see what all the fuss is about as they grace the stage at Metronome.

The performance begins with a slightly anticlimactic start, walking on to an intro song and Andy joking their performance will just be ‘five old men tuning guitars’. However, the musicians very quickly fall straight back into where they left off, performing a beautiful rendition of their famous EP - including songs D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L, Kicking Cars and Sodium Chloride - with Owain and Andy also performing a small acoustic set of songs that are currently unavailable online. 

They find themselves cheered on twenty years later, by their wives, old friends and a room full of fresh-faced teenagers singing along with their dreamy emotional vocals and shoegaze-pop instrumentals - the fans are overwhelmed to see the band perform on Sunday night after all this time, and finally come face to face with band members no one knew anything about. The musicians connect beautifully with the audience, cracking jokes and staying after the show to meet with fans to sign their manga faced merch - with their 12” vinyls now selling for anywhere up to £200 online.

Panchiko’s story is an inspiring one, and the conspiracies of a potential ‘marketing ploy’ for an upcoming vapourwave-esque fame wannabe can finally rest. It is instead proof that sometimes if no one is listening at the time, you might just be too early for your own story, and the internet will work its magic to discover the real truth. Following their show on Sunday, the band has already booked a gig in London for February next year. Now with fans across the globe, there is room for shows in the US, Europe and Asia. Nottingham is excited to see what else their unlikely local heroes have in store, and whether their newfound fame can finally be a new chapter in the band’s rediscovered story.

You can check out their music via Spotify and Bandcamp, and follow the band on social media for updates about future shows and music.