Panel of Experts
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
With a pedigree that includes beloved locals the Loose Rails and The Conquerors, Panel of Experts combines a guitar-bass-drum set up with a two man horn section to create a blend that sounds like a wacky conglomeration of Hüsker Dü and the Skatalites. This combination might have been an odd fit in other hands, but the Experts chose their name wisely. Forceful, deft performances uplift the band’s new six-song debut, The American Dream, led off by the anthemic “Broke Again,” which has echoes of ‘60s garage rock and Black Flag. - The Onion- AV Club
“The Quintet’s six song debut EP is full of garagey, ska-punk with an emphasis on the Clash-like punk. Bandleader Rob Sells sounds a lot like Social D’s Mike Ness, and even Ness would be hard-pressed to come up with horn parts that genuinely add to the oomph of the band like these.” - Minneapolis Star Tribune- Chris Riemenschneider
Panel of Experts is a rip-roaring, sleazy-ass, loungy punk-ska rock show. It’s part Clash, Part Mighty Mighty Bosstones, a pinch of Replacements, and a hint of Elvis Costello. Those ingredients make for a good hodge-podge stew that delivers tons of flavor on their debut EP. The first track bursts out of the speakers … so instantly, you know you’re in for a sweet record. - Rift Magazine
Thinking man’s punk rockers with horns. - Minneapolis Star Tribune -Tom Surowicz
Discography
"It's My Life" single - 2005
"The American Dream" EP -2006
"Cocktail For The Apocalypse" LP - winter 2009
The single "Broke Again (the American Dream)" was featured on the Pizza Luce/Copy Cats comp "We Want The Airwaves" in 2006-07. 10,000 copies were pressed and distributed.
The single "Broken Glass" was featured on "The Official MN SKA Mix Tape Vol. 1" 2008. 5,000 copies were pressed and distributed.
Photos
Bio
Founded above a rundown Northeast Minneapolis warehouse, Panel of Experts play with a gritty urgency shown in songs like “Double Crossed”, and “Broke Again”. Mixing it up with classic punk rock, Stax soul, Jamaican rocksteady, and New Orleans grind you’ll get an idea of what’s behind the rock cocktail (rocktail ?!) that is Panel of Experts.
A crew of volunteers/degenerates gathered together to shake out something in between all their record collections; what stuck is Po'X. Adam joined up to become master beater. Johnny brings a Tuff Gong bass. And finishing off the Po'X sound are Eric on trombone and Gus on tenor sax, two rocksteady gents who are also known in the Twin Cities for playing in 3 Minute Hero, the Jack Brass Band, and the Secondhand Ska Kings.
In 2006-07, Po'X kicked off a Midwest tour in support of "The American Dream" EP and a coinciding national radio campaign that achieved airplay at over 180 triple A and college stations. Thanks in part to Tinderbox Music, the group has played shows in Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, Kansas City, Lawrence, New Orleans, Des Moines, Ames, Sioux City, Fargo, Duluth, etc... and internationally in Toledo, and Madrid Spain, among others. Closer to home, The group has opened for national acts the Toasters and Mustard Plug, and can be found everywhere around Minneapolis/Saint Paul playing at…First Avenue, 7th Street Entry, The Turf Club, The Triple Rock Social Club, Eclipse Records, Big V’s, The Uptown Bar, Stasiu’s Place, The Hexagon Bar, Lee’s Liquor Lounge, Memory Lanes, The Fine Line - festivals/art organizations… Art-A-Whirl, Diverse Emerging Music Organization (D.E.M.O.) – Radio and TV… KARE 11, The Current 89.3 FM, Radio K 104.5FM/ 770AM, KFAI 90.3/106.7FM Minneapolis /Saint Paul Fresh Air Radio. The American Dream EP can be found on iTunes and Amazon.com. Currently, the boys are hanging around the Twin Cities while finishing their upcoming LP "Cocktail For The Apocalypse", scheduled for release winter 2009-10. In the meantime, there will be some local shows, and a tour will follow the release of "Cocktail".
Links
