The gentlemen of Panel of Experts make up an interesting group. They come from a wide variety of musical backgrounds, but when it comes down to it their sound is modern and genre-dabbling. Panel of Experts aren't interested in crafting very specific kinds of tunes - they just want to make good music.
The driving force behind Panel of Experts is that every member brings something fresh to the table to work with. Frontman Noah Yoo and guitarist Daniel Shanker's dabblings in classic and indie rock produce riffs that sound both quirky and pleasing, as bassist Joe DuBois lays down a rock solid foundation of low-end that the others can stand on. Keyboard player and adept pianist Brett Offutt and drummer Stewart Hahn, classically trained and the only true experts of the panel, complete the band with striking talent and creative chemistry.
The Story So Far
Panel of Experts was initially formed in the fall of 2010 as a part of a musical ensemble for Thomas Jefferson High School's annual homecoming celebration, the Musical Extravaganza (or MEx) competition between the various grades. Veteran MEx musicians Yoo, Shanker and DuBois were joined by jazz band recruits Hahn and Offutt. They and numerous other musicians and dancers of the class of 2012 went on to win MEx for the second year in a row.
Without the hectic schedule of MEx practice during lunch blocks every single day, the band decided to create their own excuse to play music together. Joined by violinist Ellen Howerton, violist Lizzie Steele and vocalist Lauren Bomgardner, they began working under the name
The Seven Madmen, practicing covers and performing at school events throughout the year, such as the talent show and Amnesty International's Jamnesty coffeehouse night.
After the Madmen's final show at J-Day, the bandmates went their separate ways until several weeks into the summer. The core members reformed as Panel of Experts, and began writing and practicing new, original music together. .. and that's where they stand now, continually discovering new things about themselves and one another, tossing chord progressions and lyrics back and forth across the garage floor.
