Long Beach Natives Tijuana Panthers to Bring Garage Rock to The Echo

The story goes that Chad Wachtel, Daniel Michicoff and Phil Shaheen, the comically riotous trio who makeup Tijuana Panthers, met each other as skateboard-loving junior high kids at church camp. Since then, the Long Beach natives also discovered a shared craze for rock and roll, and banded together to form the group appropriately named after one of the most famous spring break beach party hot spots. Tijuana Panthers are now on their third record loaded with the kind of glossy, surfer punk hooks that one might expect to hear pouring out of a California garage while driving down Pacific Coast Highway. Garage rock groupies who happen to be the Panthers’ SoCal neighbors can catch them playing back to back shows at The Echo on March 20th and 21st.

Since this classic three piece (Wachtel sings and plays guitar, Michicoff mans the bass, and Shaheen hammers out those beats) befriended each other at summer camp, it would not be surprising to learn that a similar-sounding San Diego garage band, The Soft Pack, were their cabin mates. On the other hand, British punk legends The Clash served as their scoutmasters who helped them earn their badges in a glossy, West Coast interpretation of their rowdy punk predecessors. They certainly racked up all those musical merits.

A quick perusal through Tijuana Panthers’ music video archives will quickly provide hilarious confirmation that the summer camp buddies did not lose their sense of humor after junior high ended. Right out of the gate, the lo-fi single “Nobo” from their latest album 2014’s “Wayne Interest” playfully portrays an old school spy parody with each band member donning formulaic villain attire such as eye patches and creepy pet parrots. Of course, a parade of femme fatale Bond girls completes the spoof. In addition, the lively “Cherry Street” takes a mischievous shot at police crime scene investigators who are more interested in powdered donuts than dusting fingerprints. So make sure to add flare and theatrics to this outfits’ credentials.

Fortunately, Tijuana Panthers’ obvious sense of humor and delight for the dramatic definitely translates into stage presence. Southern California’s beach bums – or just music lovers in general – should catch whatever wave will take them to The Echo on March 20th and 21st for a double-header night of polished, garage band pleasure.

Tijuana Panthers will be performing at The Echo on March 20-21. Tickets are available here.