Lou Panico’s ‘Dunk Tank’ Is A Tribute To Rock Gods

Credit: Kenny Beiber

LOU PANICO’S DEBUT EP IS ALIVE WITH PASSION & A SMIRK

New Jersey devil Lou Panico is bringing his vibrant stories to life on Dunk Tank, his semi-autobiographical solo debut EP. Dunk Tank blends pop punk and arena rock in equal measure, combining rock and roll riffs with earnest lyrics about life’s transitions.

Panico is determined not to take himself too seriously. There’s plenty of goofy moments, like the lead single “SMH’s” catchy ode to love on the beach or the rowdy main characters of “She’s On Fire” getting in trouble with the law. On “Heard a Song,”  Panico’s positive attitude shines through the emo tinge.

Yet Panico leaves room on the 8-track EP to touch upon themes of gloom and loss as well. “Cadillac Jack” taps into the expansive atmosphere of rock ballads and the heartfelt call of asking someone who’s gone to come back.

The title track touches on suburban melacholy and dead-ends in the vein of Simple Plan & The Starting Line. Panico observes, “Everything dies in a brown taped box in the basement.” Before the song’s conclusion, he insists on injecting some optimism: “Don’t let the water wash your dreams away.”

Panico moves through alternative angsty sounds on “Birthday” and just as easily traverses a bluesy shuffle on “So Damn Happy.” His superpower is distilling decades of rock into earworm tales, drawing on his own rollercoaster experiences. “SMH” is a tribute to Panico’s hometown of Asbury Park and his “first-hand account of summertime on the Jersey Shore,” with his wife Natalie Farrell playing the lifeguard crush in the music video.

As a member of Socratic (Drive-Thru Records), Panico toured the world and worked with alternative mainstays including Mark Hoppus of blink-182. Now, he’s firmly settled on telling his stories and showing the world how to rock – with a smile.

IN THE HEADLINES

“Holy bloody smoke. Not only she‘s on fire in the back of the car, but Panico is definitely hot too. From the kick-off, it’s all hence on glam punk-rock… If your limbs can resist this head-over-heels torch, you need to change your meds or consult a shrink. Capisce?”

~ Turn Up the Volume on “She’s On Fire”

“Combining rock-and-roll charisma with classic pop-punk energy, this infectious anthem celebrates the magnetic allure of summer romance.”

~ The MIC on “SMH”

Lou Panico – Dunk Tank

1. She’s On Fire

2. Dunk Tank

3. Cadillac Jack

4. SMH

5. Heard a Song

6. So Damn Happy

7. Birthday

8. Dunk Tank (Reprise)

Hometown: Asbury Park, New Jersey

Release Date: January 19, 2024

Genre: Glam Rock, Pop Punk, Rock and Roll

FFO: Blink 182, KISS, Green Day

ABOUT LOU PANICO

Lou Panico was raised in Linden, New Jersey, a hop, skip, and a jump away from New York City. From a young age, Lou was singing, dancing, and performing in front of anyone who would let him. He was recruited into the NJ All State Children’s Choir in elementary school and would start performing in musicals in school.

After discovering punk rock (most notably, his favorite band of all time
Blink-182) in middle school, Lou started playing guitar and writing his own
music. He started his first band in freshman year called BLUE STAR DRIVE.
He attended Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, NJ) where he met other
like-minded players who were also in bands. He joined SOCRATIC (Drive-Thru Records) shortly after and began to travel the world to Japan, Australia,
and all around the continental USA performing original rock and roll songs.

Lou has worked with Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 (Mark produced the 2008 Socratic Album “Spread The Rumors”) and has shared the stage with acts like Incubus, All American Rejects, The Offspring, Saves The Day, Brand New, The Early November, Say Anything, Jack Antonoff, and many more.

Lou also performs music with his wife, Natalie Farrell who is an amazing pop singer residing in Asbury Park, NJ. Natalie just recently performed at PNC Arts Center with Sammy Hagar and George Thorogood.

LOU PANICO ONLINE