The Panic Manual

Song of the Day: Sarathy Korwar – We Take Things For Granted

Posted on

14 Oct 2025

Paul

“We Take Things For Granted” is the latest single from London-based composer Sarathy Korwar, taken off his upcoming album There Is Beauty, There Already, out November 7 via Otherland Records. Check it out.

Concert Review: Greg Freeman, October 11, Danforth Music Hall

Posted on

12 Oct 2025

Paul

On Saturday night, Vermont-based alt-country artist Greg Freeman took to the stage at the Danforth Music Hall as the opener for indie legends Grandaddy. And though the room was still filling in as he began, it didn’t take long for his quiet intensity to command attention.

I first saw Freeman just over a year ago and was struck at the time by the obvious Jason Molina-isms in his songwriting. That brooding, introspective Molina vibe is still strong, but on this second encounter, I detected different influences coming to the forefront as well. If last year felt rooted in Songs: Ohia-style melancholy, this time around the influence of Neil Young was more noticeable. Opening number “Point and Shoot” in particular felt like what might happen if Neil had ever decided to cover Pavement.

Freeman is currently touring behind his latest release, Burnover, and much of the set leaned into its material. The band sounded great throughout, with songs like “Salesman” and the aforementioned “Point and Shoot” standing out as particular highlights, and the use of pedal steel and saxophone added a rich, haunting quality to the arrangements.

The set closed with “Palms,” a moody, slow-burning number that swelled into something almost cinematic – part post-rock sprawl, part slowcore dirge. It was a fitting finale, leaving the stage set for Grandaddy and ending things off on a suitably “big” note.

Song of the Day: Sunflowers – Workworkwork

Posted on

9 Oct 2025

Paul

“Workworkwork” is the latest single from Porto’s Sunflowers – a bracing bit of in-your-face noise-punk taken from the trio’s upcoming new album You Have Fallen…Congratulations, out Nov 7th via Fuzz Club.

Check out the video below for “Workworkwork.”

Song of the Day: Hatchie – Only One Laughing

Posted on

8 Oct 2025

Paul

Brisbane dream pop artist Harriette Pilbeam – aka Hatchie – is back with her latest single “Only One Laughing,” taken off her upcoming third album Liquorice, out Nov 7 via Secretly Canadian. Check it out.

Song of the Day: Austra – Siren Song

Posted on

7 Oct 2025

Paul

“Siren Song” is the latest single from Toronto’s Austra, taken off their upcoming album Chin Up Buttercup, out November 14 via Domino Recording Co. Check it out.

Project Nowhere Review: Luge, Truck Violence, Lice, October 4

Posted on

7 Oct 2025

Paul

From its beginnings in 2023, Project Nowhere has always been dedicated to programming adventurous lineups where some of the best acts are often ones you’ve never heard of before. And in that spirit, the final day of the festival found me taking in sets from bands that were mostly unknown to me, with Luge, Truck Violence and Lice all putting on impressive shows.

Opening up the night at St. Anne’s Parish Hall, Toronto’s quartet Luge put on an impressive display of musicianship. The band’s sound – at times heavy and proggy yet also funky and danceable – brought to mind what King Crimson might have sounded like if they’d gone no wave … and also had a singer/synth player who sometimes sings in Latvian. I’d missed out on the band when they opened for kindred spirits Deerhoof back in June but had heard good things. They most definitely lived up to the hype.

Immediately before Luge’s set, I took in an early evening show around the corner at the previously unknown-to-me bar Hank’s Liquor. As I crossed the street to head to the venue, I could already hear the sounds of local hardcore outfit Lice blasting out onto the street. As I descended the stairs to enter the venue, I was immediately face to face with both the band and a small group of moshing fans. And though I only took in the tail end of Lice’s set, it was an intense yet enjoyable welcome.

Shortly after Lice, Montreal’s Truck Violence took to the stage. Billing themselves as a mix of hardcore and folk, the folk element mostly only came to the forefront in their live show via the one banjo-led track that they played. Otherwise, their sound veered closer to hardcore meets moody post-punk, with a heavy and at times unsettling edge. Truck Violence certainly made a strong impression as they ran through a set of tunes off their debut album Violence, packing a lot into their brief half hour slot.