Pan Gets Hooked on the Instrumental Approach
The ever-evolving instrumental rock band Pan seems happily content with their “post-rock” tag. It’s a tidy term that fits the Columbia-based group well in a very general sense, but there’s a uniquely optimistic tone within the soaring, echo-laden guitars and swirling drum beats of the compositions on their latest recordings that sets them apart from some of the darker (and more tedious) acts in the modern post-rock/instrumental scene.
Pan’s newly solidified lineup features Ryan Hutchens on bass, Kayla Breitwieser on violin, Chris Shirah on drums, and Ian Flegas and Nate Stewart on guitars. The quintet recently released an impressively atmospheric full-length titled These Are the Things I Love and I Want to Share Them with You on the Post-Echo label. The collection follows last year’s EP, Post Rock is Not Dead. Post-Echo describes the new music like this: “Thunderous guitars collide with percussive orchestral swells creating a memorable soundtrack for the young and young-at-heart.” They’re probably right.
Pan on stage at Arlene’s Grocery in N.Y.C., 2012 (provided)
Stewart and Glegas, high school pals in the mid-2000s, formed the original version of Pan in 2010. Hutchens joined in 2006. Shirah and Breitwieser are both recent additions to the lineup. The tree core members of Pan — Hutchens, Flegas, and Stewart — spoke with Metronome this week about their music, their live performance style, and their winter tour which kicks off at the Tin Roof on Thurs. Feb. 7.
Metronome: How accurate is the notion that the band name refers to Peter Pan? Now that the band has released original music and established itself, what else do you thing the name “Pan” implies?
Ian Flegas: Pan was inspired by the movie Hook, so it’s very accurate. Other people, however, have thought that it meant the Greek god Pan. Even though Hook was the main inspiration, we’ve come to accept all meanings of the name Pan. We’re film buffs, too, so it can be related to panning of the camera as well.
Metronome: Was playing instrumental rock always the plan, or did Pan naturally morph into being an instrumental project without any grand idea or goal in mind?
Ian Flegas: We’ve always wanted to be instrumental, but we’ve also been intrigued by group vocals/chants. We plan on adding more in the future, but vocals will never be a prominent thing.
Metronome: Who in the band tends to come in with the main musical ideas and sketches — the initial song ideas that eventually become full-arranged compositions?
Nate Stewart: Ian and I will independently come up with songs on our own. We then bring these to the band during practice, and everyone works out their own individual parts unless we have something specific for each person in mind. Sometimes, if we’re not working on anything specific, the group will just jam for a little while, and something good will develop on it’s own. We will then work on developing that into a song.
Metronome: Who are some non-all-instrumental rock groups and artists that have influenced the music of Pan — bands and songwriters who’ve dabbled in releasing occasional instrumental work?
Nate Stewart: Personally, I only really listen to instrumental bands. When I was younger, I listened to typical radio stations, but as I became older and began developing a true taste in music, I began to only listen to instrumental bands or classical music. I’m sure it’s different for each member of the band. Everyone brings a little bit of what they like into Pan.
Metronome: What were the biggest challenges of recording Post Rock Is Not Dead and These Are the Things I Love and I Want to Share Them With You?
Ryan Hutchens: The biggest challenge was probably the short amount of time we have in the studio to record. Studio time costs money, so we have to be efficient and plan out everything we can think of beforehand. But when you’re in the studio, new problems and opportunities arise, so you have to deal with those and try to get the most out of each song.
Metronome: What were the unexpected twists, turns, and surprises that came up during the making of the new full-length?
Ian Flegas: Well, we recorded the full length in four days, which was pretty tough to do. The first day, we recorded all of the bass and drums. The engineer, Kenny McWilliams, said he thought that might’ve been a record … no pun intended. There weren’t really any unexpected twists, but it was our first experience in a real studio, and we feel we can do better next time. This album felt rushed, and we don’t want our next one to feel that way. We’re very happy with how it turned out, though, don’t get me wrong.
Ryan Hutchens: This was the first time any of us had been in a studio to record a full length album, so for us, Kenny was a very hands-on producer where he needed to be, as well as a great engineer. He took what we walked in with and brought a little more out of each song with creative and technical help.
Pan, 2013 (photo by Alexis Schwallier)
Metronome: Sonically, musically, and thematically, how do the tunes on These Are the Things I Love and I Want to Share Them With You differ most from Post Rock Is Not Dead? Has the sound of the band developed into something different from the 2011 recordings?
Ian Flegas: We dealt with some personal issues in 2011, and because of that, some of the songs we wrote for the full-length were darker and heavier-sounding. That’s the reasoning for that. We want to play happier music, though. Our next album is going to be very upbeat. Much more so than our previous efforts we feel.
Metronome: Why did you title that tune “Joe Frazier?” Why not “Ernie Shavers,” “Leon Spinks,” or “Kenny Norton?” (see clip below)
Nate Stewart: Joe Frazier was a boxer from South Carolina. As we were writing the song, Joe Frazier passed away, and local stations/newspapers picked up on the story and I chose to name the song after him. The song is short but packs a punch; it’s not really a tribute to Frazier, but more of a nod.
Metronome: How does the band deliver the dense, atmospheric, echo-y quality of the songs at live shows? Is it a challenge to recreate or rework the overall sound of the recorded versions when you’re on stage?
Nate Stewart: All of our music is a challenge to recreate. In the beginning, all we really had were lower grade amps that we plugged directly into. The sound wasn’t great, and we knew it. With time, we’ve been able to upgrade our equipment to include better amps and effects pedals that help to recreate what was produced in studio. While recording our full-length, we used the S.C.-based Caroline Guitar Company line among other effects pedals. They’re a great line, and we now use them live. We’re always looking for more equipment, though. Buying guitar pedals and equipment can become very addictive.
Metronome: What do you look forward to and most hope to accomplish at this year’s South by Southwest music festival in Texas? Have you ever attended before?
Ian Flegas: We want to make a splash, as they say. But aside from that, we just want to enjoy ourselves and take it all in. We’re just now getting used to this touring thing, and we can’t wait to play in Austin. We’ve never been before, so we are more than excited. You have no idea.
Metronome: How or where does Pan fit in with the rest of Columbia’s indie/underground scene … or does it?
Ryan Hutchens: Pan has been a very active part of Columbia’s music scene for a few years now, but we still feel out of sync with what most of the other bands are doing and with what fans expect out of local music. That’s partially because our primarily instrumental style, but also because our focus is on gaining fans outside of Columbia and touring. We still enjoy the occasional hometown show, but we don’t feel like Pan is really Columbia’s darling band.
Metronome: What might Charlestonians expect to hear, see, and feel at the Tin Roof show on Feb. 7th?
Nate Stewart: We expect the show to be loud! We have five band members with a lot of talent and good equipment. Our set will vary between songs off of our first EP and These Are the Things I Love and I Want to Share Them With You.
Metronome: Will Pan survive this two-month jaunt and press ahead into 2013 and beyond?
Ryan Hutchens: We’ve been starving for more action and growth since the release of These Are the Things I Love and I Want to Share Them With You, so these next few months will be bringing new life to Pan. This is the beginning of the beginning for us, really, because our main focus for the next few years is getting our music out to the country and the world through touring.
Pan performs at the Tin Roof with local quartet Meet the Sky on Thurs. Feb. 7. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $5. Visit youarethepan.com and post-echo.com/artists/pan for more.
Top photo by Alexis Schwallier.
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About the Author
Ballard Lesemann is a musician and writer. Born and raised in Charleston, S.C., he spent years playing in bands and working for Flagpole Magazine in the bustling music town of Athens, Ga. He returned to his hometown and served more than seven years as the Charleston City Paper's music editor. He's better at drumming than he is at playing guitar.
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