Special to JamBrain by Gary S. Angelo

Panzer Talk’s music intertwines romantic dream-pop guitar in a warm acoustic embrace, capturing early 90s wistful noise pop with the Americana approach of Crazy Horse-era Neil Young.

Panzer Talk has been a collaborative effort of  Kenny Halbert III and Jeff Phillips for the last five years. “Halbert and I have been playing together in bands over the last 16 or 17 years,” Phillips says, moving together to San Francisco, Key Largo, Kent, and Columbus. Currently they are bolted to their home turf in Youngstown.

Growing up, Halbert and Phillips had a great musical chemistry, tuning in to staple American garage punk bands such as Mudhoney, The Stooges and Blue Cheer. A keen interest in American west coast and British punk rock kept their musicianship vibrant.

The band includes Halbert on vocals and guitars, Katie Joy on vocals and percussion, Adam Berry on drums, Phillips on guitars, vocals, and keyboards, and Jon Butterly on bass.

Panzer Talk draws diverse influences into their music that goes beyond psychedelic idioms. They tie in the mid 70s soft rock ethic of the Allman Brothers, sprinkling it with Frank Zappa-flavored experimentalism.

Panzer Talk’s music is uniquely crafted to please fans of 70s album rock, folk, and punk rock alike. Phillips explains, “We all love music and don’t like to be defined by anything. Our newer songs have more of a psychedelic approach, as opposed to acoustic guitar and stripped down country.”

They are planning to embark on a West Coast tour during the spring and summer months to promote their self-titled disc recorded at San Francisco’s experimental garage punk label, On/On Switch Records.