Junior Pantherz

JUNIOR PANTHERZ CD/SHOW REVIEW
(Written how I experienced it)

I recently got to see this band called Junior Pantherz play at Saskatoon's Amigo's(sept.6th) also on the bill was Modest Mouse and Cobra High.

The Day began with a long ride of listening to the new radiohead for 50 minutes on the way to stoon.Three buddies and I drinking coronas, the time 12:45pm.
After a long ride of me trying to get daryl to play anything but radiohead(not that i don't like em', just that the new album was exactly getting me stoked)we finally arrive in saskatoon,take care of a little business, then head to our buddy joel's place, pick up another six pack, drink it up, yell at every girl walking on the street from the deck we are on.Then pack it up and head to amigos, time 7:01.We get to amigos and grab a couple jack and cokes, play a few games of pool, drink a scooner or two, then are kicked to the street for "sound check".Have a few beers outside and wait in a annoying fucking line till about 10pm.
So we get back let in grab a beer and whiskey, grab the closest table to the front, and go off drinking and trying to get the table next to us to eat the leftover food that was chillin on the table when everyone got let back in,so this goes on with some reminiscing and talk about modest mouse, when the first band arrives to the stage.
3 guys in there early twenties a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer.Not so stoked yet I think. They are about to start there first song, so i go join some buddies sitting on the floor in front of the stage like we are waiting to here our kindergarden teacher read us a story.
They(pantherz) break into there first song which is entitled "Ballistics" which is off there new cd also calld "Ballistics", it starts of with an echoing from the guitar, making you realize that something good is coming up, then after about 30 seconds into the first song, everyone is standing on there feet and all of a sudden story time is over and has been replaced by 40 ppl holding beers banging there heads to the drummer going off.The guitarist is fucking great to, its the clean type of echoing effects,with very little distortion to hide behind.By now i'm pretty hyped on this band,they have great music, and even though the lyrics are good, they also let there music speak, rather then cloud the whole song with non stop singing.
So they continue to play some new songs off there "Ballistics" album and a couple off there "The last two million years" disc. Then the show ends with a crowd very much in tune and now very stoked thanks to the opening show.
I grab a another Pint, buy the new disc(which was only )go back to the table and say "that was fucking intense" in which i get alot of "yea man i know" replies.
Up next Cobra High and Modest Mouse.
Then me rocking the "Ballistics" cd for a solid 3 weeks straight after.
So Junior Pantherz "Ballstics" cd scores ****/5 - Independent

JUNIOR PANTHERZ CD/SHOW REVIEW
(Written how I experienced it)

I recently got to see this band called Junior Pantherz play at Saskatoon's Amigo's(sept.6th) also on the bill was Modest Mouse and Cobra High.

The Day began with a long ride of listening to the new radiohead for 50 minutes on the way to stoon.Three buddies and I drinking coronas, the time 12:45pm.
After a long ride of me trying to get daryl to play anything but radiohead(not that i don't like em', just that the new album was exactly getting me stoked)we finally arrive in saskatoon,take care of a little business, then head to our buddy joel's place, pick up another six pack, drink it up, yell at every girl walking on the street from the deck we are on.Then pack it up and head to amigos, time 7:01.We get to amigos and grab a couple jack and cokes, play a few games of pool, drink a scooner or two, then are kicked to the street for "sound check".Have a few beers outside and wait in a annoying fucking line till about 10pm.
So we get back let in grab a beer and whiskey, grab the closest table to the front, and go off drinking and trying to get the table next to us to eat the leftover food that was chillin on the table when everyone got let back in,so this goes on with some reminiscing and talk about modest mouse, when the first band arrives to the stage.
3 guys in there early twenties a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer.Not so stoked yet I think. They are about to start there first song, so i go join some buddies sitting on the floor in front of the stage like we are waiting to here our kindergarden teacher read us a story.
They(pantherz) break into there first song which is entitled "Ballistics" which is off there new cd also calld "Ballistics", it starts of with an echoing from the guitar, making you realize that something good is coming up, then after about 30 seconds into the first song, everyone is standing on there feet and all of a sudden story time is over and has been replaced by 40 ppl holding beers banging there heads to the drummer going off.The guitarist is fucking great to, its the clean type of echoing effects,with very little distortion to hide behind.By now i'm pretty hyped on this band,they have great music, and even though the lyrics are good, they also let there music speak, rather then cloud the whole song with non stop singing.
So they continue to play some new songs off there "Ballistics" album and a couple off there "The last two million years" disc. Then the show ends with a crowd very much in tune and now very stoked thanks to the opening show.
I grab a another Pint, buy the new disc(which was only )go back to the table and say "that was fucking intense" in which i get alot of "yea man i know" replies.
Up next Cobra High and Modest Mouse.
Then me rocking the "Ballistics" cd for a solid 3 weeks straight after.
So Junior Pantherz "Ballstics" cd scores ****/5 - Independent

If Eric's Trip can do it, why can't we?

There's a fine line between paying homage to your favourite band and flat-out hero worship, but Saskatoon's Junior Pantherz manage to pull it off with a respectfully sly, wink-and-a-nod.

The Canadian pop-rock cognoscenti will undoubtedly smile admiringly at the Junior Pantherz' choice to name themselves after one of Sloan's lesser-known One Chord To Another tracks. And one definitely can't be faulted for expecting to hear some brand of homogenous, '60s-inflected, jangly guitar pop with the prerequisite hand-claps and ba-pa-pas tacked on for good measure.

One CAN be faulted, however, for assuming that the Junior Pantherz are just another band trying to be like their heroes.

"We're huge Sloan fans," admits drummer Arnie Van Lambaglen via phone from the Prairies, "but we don't want to re-record something they did in 1994. Yeah, we're saluting them, but not really musically. It's more inspirationally. Sort of thanking them for getting us into music."

While being fans of the Great Halifax Explosion of the early '90s, Van Lambaglen and Co. (vocalist/guitariist, Terry Mattson and bassist, S.J. Kardash), rely more on heavy, chunky guitar riffs rather than tambourine shakes and la-la-la choruses. Think Sonic Youth alongside Dinosaur Jr. with some Tristan Psionic thrown in for that all-important Canadian content. It's far too easy to simply rip off your favourite bands, but thankfully the Junior Pantherz patch together their influences intricately enough that you're left thinking, "Yeah, that's cool, but I just can't quite put my finger on it." "Originality is our thing," continues Van Lambaglen. "That's what we've established from the beginning, and we've stuck to our guns."

With three independently-released records under their belt, the Pantherz are set to, um, prowl (yeah, yeah, shoot me for that one) across the country. Look for some Western dates in the fall and an Eastern tour in the new year. - Brian Pascual

If Eric's Trip can do it, why can't we?

There's a fine line between paying homage to your favourite band and flat-out hero worship, but Saskatoon's Junior Pantherz manage to pull it off with a respectfully sly, wink-and-a-nod.

The Canadian pop-rock cognoscenti will undoubtedly smile admiringly at the Junior Pantherz' choice to name themselves after one of Sloan's lesser-known One Chord To Another tracks. And one definitely can't be faulted for expecting to hear some brand of homogenous, '60s-inflected, jangly guitar pop with the prerequisite hand-claps and ba-pa-pas tacked on for good measure.

One CAN be faulted, however, for assuming that the Junior Pantherz are just another band trying to be like their heroes.

"We're huge Sloan fans," admits drummer Arnie Van Lambaglen via phone from the Prairies, "but we don't want to re-record something they did in 1994. Yeah, we're saluting them, but not really musically. It's more inspirationally. Sort of thanking them for getting us into music."

While being fans of the Great Halifax Explosion of the early '90s, Van Lambaglen and Co. (vocalist/guitariist, Terry Mattson and bassist, S.J. Kardash), rely more on heavy, chunky guitar riffs rather than tambourine shakes and la-la-la choruses. Think Sonic Youth alongside Dinosaur Jr. with some Tristan Psionic thrown in for that all-important Canadian content. It's far too easy to simply rip off your favourite bands, but thankfully the Junior Pantherz patch together their influences intricately enough that you're left thinking, "Yeah, that's cool, but I just can't quite put my finger on it." "Originality is our thing," continues Van Lambaglen. "That's what we've established from the beginning, and we've stuck to our guns."

With three independently-released records under their belt, the Pantherz are set to, um, prowl (yeah, yeah, shoot me for that one) across the country. Look for some Western dates in the fall and an Eastern tour in the new year. - Brian Pascual

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
# 80-100: Band exceeds skill and knowledge expectations. Rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
# 70-79: Band achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
# 60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
# 50-59: Band demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
# Below 50: Band has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Grade: 80

World Domination Status:
Progressing well towards world domination
Progressing with some difficulty towards world domination
No chance in hell for world domination

Comment:

Set to carry the Canadian indie rock torch?

Learning Skills:
E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Pronounciation: G With bangs falling in time with the music, heads bobbing with the bass drum and high kicks smashing the cymbals they look to be in fine form to follow in the footsteps of other Canadian indie rock stars.
Stage Presence: G
Stage Banter: G
Image: G
Appearance: E
Use Of Stage: G

Musical Analysis
Cooperation With Others: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Level Of Participation: G With whining guitar solos, solid bass lines and soft vocals they were easily the band with the most promising future. Their softer songs still couldn't escape some rockin' out, they kept the pop in check and closed the set with an "epic" featuring heavily sonic guitar. In short, the future looks bright.
Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G
Work Habits: G
Organization: G
Audience Participation: G
Sound: G
Composition: E
Songs: E

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Problem Solving: G Even though they underestimated the length of their set by 25 minutes they were able to fill the space with some of the strongest songs of the night. The adjustment was seamless and didn't require any discussion between the members.
Teamwork: G
Sexiness: G
Haircut: E
Indie Rock Footwear: G
Nods To Disposible Fashion: S
Cool Equipment: S
Level Of Inebriation: N
Actual Ability: G - Chart Magazine

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
# 80-100: Band exceeds skill and knowledge expectations. Rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
# 70-79: Band achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
# 60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
# 50-59: Band demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
# Below 50: Band has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Grade: 80

World Domination Status:
Progressing well towards world domination
Progressing with some difficulty towards world domination
No chance in hell for world domination

Comment:

Set to carry the Canadian indie rock torch?

Learning Skills:
E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Pronounciation: G With bangs falling in time with the music, heads bobbing with the bass drum and high kicks smashing the cymbals they look to be in fine form to follow in the footsteps of other Canadian indie rock stars.
Stage Presence: G
Stage Banter: G
Image: G
Appearance: E
Use Of Stage: G

Musical Analysis
Cooperation With Others: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Level Of Participation: G With whining guitar solos, solid bass lines and soft vocals they were easily the band with the most promising future. Their softer songs still couldn't escape some rockin' out, they kept the pop in check and closed the set with an "epic" featuring heavily sonic guitar. In short, the future looks bright.
Problem Solving: G
Teamwork: G
Work Habits: G
Organization: G
Audience Participation: G
Sound: G
Composition: E
Songs: E

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Problem Solving: G Even though they underestimated the length of their set by 25 minutes they were able to fill the space with some of the strongest songs of the night. The adjustment was seamless and didn't require any discussion between the members.
Teamwork: G
Sexiness: G
Haircut: E
Indie Rock Footwear: G
Nods To Disposible Fashion: S
Cool Equipment: S
Level Of Inebriation: N
Actual Ability: G - Chart Magazine

Junior Pantherz
Ballistic
Independent

Junior Pantherz are a Saskatoon based DIY Canadian rock trio. They self-record, produce and release their own albums. Formed in 1999, Junior Pantherz have been making music on their own terms, and their latest labour of love comes in the form of their newest release Ballistics. The new recording is rough around the edges pop. The guitar sounds bony and crisp & the production is rich and full with blankets of keys layered in the backgrounds. There is a definite early 90's east coast pop influence in the catchy hooks, melodies and upbeat beats. The vocals are straight ahead and clever, worth repeated listens.

Jeers to: San' Francisco's The Junior Panthers

By L Pounds - Earshot! Chart Reviews!

Junior Pantherz
Ballistic
Independent

Junior Pantherz are a Saskatoon based DIY Canadian rock trio. They self-record, produce and release their own albums. Formed in 1999, Junior Pantherz have been making music on their own terms, and their latest labour of love comes in the form of their newest release Ballistics. The new recording is rough around the edges pop. The guitar sounds bony and crisp & the production is rich and full with blankets of keys layered in the backgrounds. There is a definite early 90's east coast pop influence in the catchy hooks, melodies and upbeat beats. The vocals are straight ahead and clever, worth repeated listens.

Jeers to: San' Francisco's The Junior Panthers

By L Pounds - Earshot! Chart Reviews!

Junior Pantherz look for all the world like three milk-fed, rosy-cheeked prairie innocents. They come from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and their NXNE show was part of the eastern leg of their current tour. It was the third show they would be playing in Toronto in six days. I was not expecting to be blown away. But within 30 minutes—after careening guitar solos, crashing drums, and spacious melodies—the alternately ferocious and gentle music would have me thinking the same thing being yelled by the young women at the back of the club: one more song!

I had read in one of the local weeklies that “most bands only dream about the kind of success the Junior Pantherz enjoy.” The band has released four albums and opened for the Pixies and Modest Mouse. After hearing the Junior Pantherz play, their skill and charisma proved that they’ve got something even more powerful than exposure for other bands to envy.

Bringing a fresh jolt of energy to the power trio format, they married drifting melodies to violent guitar jamming. Before the first song was over, it was clear these guys were a different order of musicians. Their charisma filled the room as every song had a sense of drama and dynamics and every note was played with purpose. The crowd loved it. Two or three times, in the midst of a heavy guitar jam, I can honestly say that the band’s spirit approached that hallowed place where Jimi and Zeppelin learned to live.

I don’t know where a killer NXNE set will take Junior Pantherz, but by being who they are and playing where they played, I think they can justifiably call the night a success. - David Marchese

Junior Pantherz look for all the world like three milk-fed, rosy-cheeked prairie innocents. They come from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and their NXNE show was part of the eastern leg of their current tour. It was the third show they would be playing in Toronto in six days. I was not expecting to be blown away. But within 30 minutes—after careening guitar solos, crashing drums, and spacious melodies—the alternately ferocious and gentle music would have me thinking the same thing being yelled by the young women at the back of the club: one more song!

I had read in one of the local weeklies that “most bands only dream about the kind of success the Junior Pantherz enjoy.” The band has released four albums and opened for the Pixies and Modest Mouse. After hearing the Junior Pantherz play, their skill and charisma proved that they’ve got something even more powerful than exposure for other bands to envy.

Bringing a fresh jolt of energy to the power trio format, they married drifting melodies to violent guitar jamming. Before the first song was over, it was clear these guys were a different order of musicians. Their charisma filled the room as every song had a sense of drama and dynamics and every note was played with purpose. The crowd loved it. Two or three times, in the midst of a heavy guitar jam, I can honestly say that the band’s spirit approached that hallowed place where Jimi and Zeppelin learned to live.

I don’t know where a killer NXNE set will take Junior Pantherz, but by being who they are and playing where they played, I think they can justifiably call the night a success. - David Marchese

http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2005/06/1021.cfm - Chart Magazine

http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2005/06/1021.cfm - Chart Magazine