Pop-punk band Panic! At The Disco is seeing a revival after a performance at the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas. Frontman and only remaining original member, Brendon Urie, reunited with the original drummer, Spencer Smith. Their setlist mainly consisted of songs from their first album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, specifically.
The 2005 album has been a cultural touchstone for many emo kids over the years, and Urie performed them all, including classics such as But It’s Better If You Do, and they even played I Write Sins Not Tragedies twice. Urie’s iconic vocals were the band’s claim to fame, and his two-year break since the 2023 farewell show prepared him well for this reunion.
The album is seeing a resurgence altogether, especially with a 20th anniversary special edition box set to be released in January. Not only will fans be able to enjoy the studio album again, but their label, Fueled by Ramen, also released the concert film and album of their 2006 performance: Live In Denver.
Teen Hearts Beating Faster
Panic! began as a group of high school friends in the suburbs of Las Vegas. Smith and guitarist and lyricist Ryan Ross were the founding members, and they recruited Brent Wilson as the bassist, who brought along Urie, who was originally supposed to play guitar and backup vocals. They began rehearsals as a Blink-182 cover band, and the other members quickly realized that Urie’s vocals were frontman-quality.
The band was discovered by Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, who signed them to his label, Decaydance Records. This is when the first album was released, providing a launch pad to becoming icons. The success came from the combination of Ross’s lyrics and Urie’s vocals, both integral to the heart and soul of the band.
The album’s most popular song, I Write Sins Not Tragedies, was number 7 on the Billboard Top 100 that August. Wilson was unpopular and left the band in May 2006 to be replaced by Jon Walker. The band released a second album, Pretty. Odd. in 2008, before Ross and Walker left the band. It was another example of Ross’s lyrics and Urie’s vocals collaborating to make an impactful album.
The Post-Ross Era
Both Ross and Walker left the band in 2009, leaving Urie and Smith as the core members tasked with carrying on the legacy. They created the album Vices & Virtues, with some help from Wentz and new bassist Dallon Weekes. The album marked a steampunk rebrand, which lost some fans but still saw significant success.
The next album, Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!, saw even more success, credited to Weekes’ new and increased influence. Smith left the band in 2015 due to substance abuse issues, leaving Urie as the only remaining original member. He chose to continue releasing and touring under the band name, a choice that was controversial for some.
Urie released and toured the album Death of a Bachelor in 2016- showcasing his vocals with pop ballads with Sinatraesque influences. The next two albums took a turn, with Urie still showcasing his vocals in a tricky way, only becoming more difficult with age.
Around this time, the band began to face controversy. Several members of the team were accused of sexual misconduct, and it all traced back to Urie, who faced allegations of inappropriate fan interactions and racist remarks across his career. This, combined with a more mainstream and less polished sound, caused the band to fade from relevance. This is why the band said farewell, theoretically for good, in 2023.
Fans have to make their own opinions on the new era of Panic!. Is it worth supporting Urie after all said against him? Are his vocals still comparable to his prime? Either way, it’s high time to appreciate A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out again, and most fans would agree.
What's Your Reaction?
