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Gary, Author at The Panic Manual - Page 2 of 52

SXSW Review: Backdrop Cinderella, March 11, Elysium

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Gary in South By Southwest | Leave a comment

I was just-in-time to grab my credentials and catch this Monday 3/11 graveyard shift set. Backdrop Cinderella is a 4 piece punk-rock band from Japan. Their music is breakneck-pace and lyrical comprehension was nowhere in sight, for good reason. While the recordings are no doubt exciting, what you get live is on another level. The energy, particularly from the frontman, is undeniable. Sporting his trademark red-white tights with an over-shirt, Dendeke Ayumi hurled himself into the crowd at a moment’s … →

SXSW Film Review: Natatorium [Helena Stefansdottir, 2024]

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Gary in Reviews, South By Southwest | Leave a comment

The spoiler free version – Natatorium is an engaging psychological thriller about a family’s troubled past resurfacing upon the injection of fresh blood (pictured below). And now that we have gotten that fast-forward urge out of the way, it’s time to properly look this film as the well-paced art-house character study it is. Natatorium oozes style from the opening scene and promises to unravel layers of meanings and secrets. The whole story takes place in the confines of a mid-century … →

SXSW Film Review: Turtles [David Lambert, 2024]

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Gary in Reviews, South By Southwest | Leave a comment

The volunteer reading his introduction script prior to the screening of Turtles spelled it out succinctly and correctly: “You will feel many a thing watching this film,” he said, which is a fair preview. Turtles rests its foundation on a fairytale scenario, some would (and did) say a contrived one. In the midst of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, an English drag-queen named Thom quit his job and emigrated to France to marry his true love. This was made … →

SXSW Song of the Day: Wolves of Glendale – The Gym

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Gary in Song of the Day, South By Southwest | Leave a comment

No more than two minutes into “The Gym” from Wolves of Glendale, it became clear that this is the funniest song I’ve heard in years. In the same vein from which Weird Al and Flight of the Conchords were drained, their comedic libretto set to stereotypical pop not only brings a smile to your face but does double-duty as late millennial midlife commentary. Also, I’ve never even heard of the Saxon Pub on Lamar – I’d say those are all … →