Northern Downpour

 

(All photos, credit: Bryan Hainer)

You’ll either be incensed or elated that Panic At the Disco is this week’s MTV Artist of the Week. Or you might not even recognize them — the band that used to sound like nervous teenagers trapped in a fun house with a few synthesizers, some Ringling Brothers costumes, and a severe anxiety disorder dropped the extraneous punctuation, stopped writing songs with titles that could double as character-count-maxing Twitter updates, and completely revamped their sound.

Three years and several personal triumphs and tragedies (the death of Ryan Ross’ father, the replacement of Brent Wilson with Jon Walker and the ensuing fallout, scores of sold-out shows, a Grammy nomination) after selling more than two million copies of their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, Panic is now all grown up. And, for a band that’s taken a lot of s— from knee-jerk anti-emo reactionaries, they appear more determined than ever to keep on the sunny side.

Of all of the blogs, comments, articles and talk of Panic’s transformative sophomore album, Pretty. Odd. (which impressively debuted at #2 its first week out) and its similarities to the Kinks, the Beach Boys, the Beatles and ELO, perhaps the most astute and succinct observation was that of Spin magazine writer Barry Walters, who summarized the new album’s tone thusly: “Pretty. Odd. lives up to its title because it dares to be optimistically beautiful at a time when sadness and ugliness might have won them easier credibility.”

Indeed, the album bounces and shines with harmony and hope (just enough zeal without too much eye-roll-inducing zest — vigor without the nauseating vim), indicating that Panic seems to have gotten over the paranoia and angst and dared to be confidently, even outwardly, happy. And seriously, who besides the Jonas Brothers (and maybe Sean Kingston) does that these days?

And speaking of happiness minus extreme cheesiness (cautious optimism, if you will), what could be happier — or more classic rock — than a good, old-fashioned American road trip in a VW van? Watch Panic embark on the most surreal journey of their lives (which is saying a lot considering they’re from Las Vegas) in their Artist of the Week video spots all this week on MTV.

Plus, watch Panic videos and live performances (including their brand-new mtvU Spring Break ‘08 performances), watch our exclusive Buzzworthy blog interviews, video footage from their “Nine In the Afternoon” video shoot, check out behind-the-scenes photos from their Artist of the Week shoot, and, of course, share your passion for Panic At the Disco

The Honda Civic Tour 2008

The Honda Civic Tour with Panic At The Disco, Motion City Soundtrack and The Hush Sound started last night with a sold out show in San Francisco. Make sure you get your tickets now at hondacivictour.com before they're all gone!

Is the Honda Civic Tour not coming to your town? Click below to let us know where YOU want Panic At The Disco to play on their next tour!


click here to demand PATD to your town!

Enter the Honda Civic Tour Panic in the OC XM Radio Flyaway Sweepstakes and you may snag a free trip for two to see PATD June 14th at The Theatre at the Honda Center, in the lovely Orange County locale of Anaheim.

If you win, you and your BFF will get round-trip air fare,* two nights at a hot Hollywood hotel and, of course, tickets (and transportation) to the 2008 Honda Civic Tour's momentous closing show.

Catch Panic At The Disco and songs recorded live on the Honda Civic Tour on a bunch of XM channels starting in May, any of which can provide the perfect soundtrack to entering the Honda Civic Tour Panic in the OC XM Radio Flyaway Sweepstakes.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Panic At The Disco will be giving away the acoustic guitar from their upcoming video for 'That Green Gentleman' to one of their Facebook friends. To have a chance to win, all you have to do is become a fan of Panic At The Disco on facebook and submit a photo of yourself with your copy of Pretty. Odd. to the 'fan photos' section of their page.

Click HERE to check out PATD on Facebook!

The winner will be randomly selected on May 15th. Good luck!