Stroudsburg pop punks Don’t Panic succeed with ‘Setting Up to Fail,’ third rock album due Aug. 25
From a press release:
Formed in the Pocono Mountains in 2009, Don’t Panic has had a simple mission since Day 1 – make genuine, fun rock ‘n’ roll music.
Named after the memorable phrase from Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” the favorite novel of founding vocalist/guitarist Ted Felicetti, the Stroudsburg-based pop punk band ended a decade-long hiatus in 2019 as bassist Keith Slader, guitarist AJ Larsen, and drummer Anthony Paesano came aboard to produce their first full-length effort, “See Through It All,” in 2020. While supporting bands like Bowling for Soup, Face to Face, and Bigwig, they followed this up soon after with “Dark Horse” in 2021.
Drawing from their collective influences like Bayside, Millencolin, Foo Fighters, White Reaper, Motion City Soundtrack, and No Use for a Name, Don’t Panic’s third album, “Setting Up to Fail,” arrives on Friday, Aug. 25 with the singles “Friends Make Better Enemies,” “Just a Call Away,” “Numb,” and “Consequence Be Damned.” They’ve already had a very busy year and a half on the road, touring the United States and United Kingdom with the likes of Less than Jake, Bowling for Soup (which features Felicetti’s brother Rob on bass), The Ataris, The Spill Canvas, Face to Face, Alien Ant Farm, Lit, Mest, and more.
“We have been at it for four years now – powered through a worldwide pandemic and wrote and released two albums in that time. But, I can say without a shadow of a doubt, this new record is this band finally stepping into its own. The songs are the most matured versions of our writing abilities, and I have never been more proud to release something with my name on it,” Felicetti said.
“It’s the perfect mix of the rock and roll bands I grew up on like the Foo Fighters, and my punk rock roots listening to bands like Face to Face and No Use for a Name. ‘Newer’ bands like Bayside and The Menzingers [from Scranton] also played a major role in shaping the songwriting here – and I am more than happy to lean into that when the time calls for it – but all while shaping and creating our own sound and feel. In our own lives, we have never belonged, but with this record, I finally feel like we have a place.”
Still putting entertaining rock music first and everything else second, the group is ready for the open road and good times with plenty of Miller Lites and all of their friends because, to them, that’s all that really matters. They’ll start this next album cycle with a hometown show at the Sherman Showcase (522 Main St., Stroudsburg) with Eternal Boy and Blind Choice on Aug. 25 to coincide with the release of “Setting Up to Fail,” which can be pre-ordered now on CD and vinyl as well as digitally.
Don’t Panic will also play Virginia Beach with Bowling for Soup on Sept. 1 and locally at the River Street Jazz Cafe (667 N. River St., Plains) with Cold, University Drive, and State of Illusion on Saturday, Sept. 16 before coming to New York, Florida, and Georgia throughout October.
For more dates and to purchase tickets, visit dontpanicofficial.com. Learn more about the band and Felicetti in Episode 131 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:
