CityLife

Panda Panda switches habitat

PANDA PANDA: Moving on to pastures new

TUCKED away in a backstreet karaoke bar just outside Chinatown, Panda Panda has long been a must-find for discerning music fans.

Stepping into the club is like stumbling across an Aladdin’s cave filled with rare musical gems.

Founder Dominic Oliver explains: “The initial concept was to have a night that played semi-obscure rock and pop that was as intelligent as it was original.”

Now, Panda Panda is leaving Charlie’s Karaoke Bar and teaming up with Underachievers Please Try Harder at Saki Bar on the last Friday of every month, before a planned relaunch at the Deaf Institute this summer.

Neutral Milk Hotel

Panda Panda started in summer 2007, attracting people who were “really excited about hearing bands like Neutral Milk Hotel and Why? in a club environment."

“We really liked the venue's kitsch aesthetic - Charlie’s is done up to look classy with flock wallpaper and velvety drapes for the karaoke pundits and we liked playing the Jesus Lizard or Dan Deacon against this unusual setting,” explains Dominic. 

“Because it’s a karaoke bar we often got people coming up to the DJ stall asking to belt out some Gloria Gaynor or Tiffany,” he laughs.

It was time to move on, though.  Dominic says: “People like the venue, but it has drawbacks of not being a regular student or indie-kid haunt and not selling draft beers.”

Dominic is excited to be collaborating with Underachievers Please Try Harder, explaining: “We really compliment each other without being too similar.

Dirtier digital end

They play lovely, old fashioned indie-pop, old and new, and that means we can explore the dirtier digital end a little more.”

Dominic hopes the collaboration will introduce the night to a whole new audience. “Saki gets a mixture of people in and they are often surprised at how much of our music they like,” he says.

“People come to Panda Panda to be exposed to new music in the same way a radio show might expose them. 

"The difference is you can dance to every tune and meet people.”

He stresses, though, that “the music is always upbeat to make for a fun party atmosphere, with good beats to rock to and catchy melodies, and the songs have an instancy for anyone who isn't familiar with the tracks.”

Panda Panda has an impressively open minded playlist. 

Dominic says: “Originally we played mainly wonky dance-rock like Deerhoof and Cornelius along with underground pop like The Blow and Postal Service.

Then we really got into hip hop and grime and realized there was room for The Cool Kids and Toddla T alongside the play list.”

There is room for some old favourites too.  Dominic says: “We also play some choice pop classics when the party peaks because they’re so infectious and fun.

"Something everyone knows like Beck or The Cure is a sure floor flooder.”

Dreamy guitar bands

Panda Panda is still a great night to find out about new bands.  Dominic estimates: “It’s about 70 per cent stuff from the past five years - we like discovering new bands. 

Dreamy guitar bands and experimental pop music are at a really good place right now.”

And the future? Panda Panda will be hosting occasional gigs at Charlie’s featuring up and coming acts.

“There are gig people and club people and the amount that do both are fewer than you’d expect.  We want to bring these people together”, explains Dominic.

“We hope the over-excitement people get when we play good records at the clubnight will be carried over into a similar reaction towards the great bands we put on.”

Panda Panda takes place with Underachievers Please Try Harder at Saki Bar on Friday May 29.