At the Greenhouse Motorcycle Cafe on Haywood Road, new local band Panic Succession has become a household name.

On recent Thursday nights, the band plays before a packed venue during the Cafe’s “Open Mic” night. The group features an indie-alternative sound that has caught the attention of many around the area. According to lead singer Blake Kinsey, a junior, it’s been a surreal experience to see their music catch on to such a wide audience.

“We recorded our first album (“Lightly Salted Almonds”) a couple of months ago and since then we’ve had a lot of success,” Kinsey said.

While the band is still young, they’ve set their eyes on reaching an even bigger audience in the years to come. The group includes four local teenagers: Kinsey, drummer Josh Morrow, guitarist Michael Casoria and bass player Walker Astin. Morrow is a junior at West, and Astin is a freshman. Casoria is homeschooled.

Although the group is young and new to the local music scene, according to Morrow, they’ve learned a lot since the band was created a year and a half ago.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes within the past year,” Morrow said. “Our sound has changed, and we’ve added some members, but overall it’s an awesome experience and we’re excited to keep making more music.”

The band recorded “Lightly Salted Almonds” at Crushed Leaf Studios in Asheville last fall and has seen their music skyrocket on platforms such as SoundCloud, YouTube, and through their distribution of CD’s. On top of their recent publicity, the Panic Succession merchandise looks to expand as well as they look to get band shirts within the next few weeks. Looking down the road, Panic Succession members hope to record another full-length album but more importantly grow as musicians and as friends.

“It’s been awesome to play alongside such great guys,” Morrow said, “I’m excited to see what’s in store for us down the road.”

By: Samuel Littauer