Trans Panic is an unapologetically queer DIY punk band from Portland, Oregon.
As a band, we came together in 2024 with the goal of creating music that energizes all folks and gives voice to those who feel abandoned by society.
Our music is a deliberate confrontation, a raw and honest exploration of identity, defiance, and the messy beauty of being alive in a world that often feels hostile. Drawing from the primal energy of punk, the complex textures of industrial, and the melodic hooks of post-punk, we weave a soundscape that is intensely personal and allows fans to see themselves in the music.
One fan described our music as "If Against Me!, the Damned, and NOFX got hammered & produced a trans baby."
We are very much self-driven and embrace the DIY ethic whenever possible. Since forming, we've written, performed, recorded, and mixed all of our music - even going so far as to build our own recording studio (The Riot Room). We've also designed/created our merchandise, and have an enthusiastic love for the entire creation process.
When it comes to live performance, we have played at more than 25 live shows in 18 months, averaging two a month. Venues range from intimate house shows to multi-day festivals. We also produce regional shows that include other bands, many of which are also charity fundraiser events to help the less fortunate.
We are not just making music; we are building a community, one riff and defiant chorus at a time. We are the sound of marginalized communities finding our voices and demanding to be heard.
Members
- Ruby (Vox, Bass) is a novelist and a fiery redheaded creative ball of energy.
- Callie (Lead Guitar) is a badass guitarist and creative tour du force.
- Terra (Drums) loves to bring the thunder, and who also is deeply involved in community support and non-profit work.
“Portland punks Trans Panic describe themselves as the hypothetical baby of Against Me!, the Damned, and NOFX, and while it fits them, it doesn’t do their sound or instrumentation from their debut EP true justice. Smile (for me) is the next in a long legacy of punks pouring raw emotion and bitter humor into their work with fiery results. Their vocals may sound as crisp as anything else from the 21st century, but the guitar, drums, and bass could be stripped straight from the 80s, lo-fi buzz and all. You can hear the swagger in their performances, especially in bassist and singer Ruby’s vocals. As she yells out “your ego so fragile needs a smile to mend” on the EP’s titular song, her voice carries a genuine anger and just enough gravel to convey the energy burning behind each line, each shout for vengeance and satisfaction. Accompanied by a low, buzzing bass line, slow in tempo and grooving underneath, “Smile (for me)” invites the listener to scream along about the wrongs of the past, blaring promises of violent retribution out their car windows.
This EP, though a mere four tracks long, also packs enough sincerity and levity to give the impression of Trans Panic as a well-rounded outfit. Switching to acoustic guitars and what sounds like hand drumming on “Searching for a Spotless Mind,” the three-piece allow themselves a little more vulnerability for a track about a painful relationship and trying to move on. Still, they manage to list half a dozen darkly creative ways to destroy oneself that are preferable to the past, whether it’s dancing on landmines or taking a knitting needle through the frontal lobe. Even more befitting this macabre sense of humor is the last song on the project, “Crustpunk Santa Will Have His Revenge on Portland.” An unserious ode to the sort of person you meet in the scene if you’re around long enough, “Crustpunk Santa” features a lot of “doin’ fat lines with nasty Saint Nick,” the sort of bonding experience that can really cement someone in your brain. Trans Panic show themselves to be versatile writers and musicians in these brief 12 minutes, and I greatly look forward to whatever they make next, and what stories they have yet to tell”
- thetgirlreview.com