Panther

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Charlie Salas-Humara functions chiefly as the solo endeavor Panther and has performed alongside the Gossip and Ratatat. His stage presence features distinctive chaotic movements, while his idiosyncratic sonic experiments fuse funk, disco, soul, and electro. After growing up in Chicago’s suburbs, he relocated to Portland in 1995 alongside the Planet The, a band that remained active for a decade. During an acoustic showcase assembled from members of multiple groups, Salas-Humara upended the evening by deploying drum machines. Bolstered by peer support, he sustained his explorations under the Panther name, culminating in the March 2007 album Secret Lawns, which incorporates contributions from musicians tied to YACHT, White Rainbow, Plants, Point Line Plane, and E*Rock. Once drummer Joe Kelly, formerly of 31 Knots, joined the lineup, Panther moved to Kill Rock Stars to release 14 Kt. God.