Pet Sounds #92: Left Arm Tan’s Best Friend Is Goose … the Dog

Posted in Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags , on 09/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Seasoned musician Daniel Hines launched his band Left Arm Tan (RIYL Calexico, the Jayhawks) in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2010 with relatively modest ambitions. The charming alt-rock crew also includes Brian Lee (lead vocals, piano, guitar); Mark Belding (horns, steel guitar, guitars, harmonies); Jeff Scroggins (bass, harmonies); Shawn Light (guitars, mandolin, keys, harmonies); and Tim Manders (drums, harmonies).

Hines underwent a series of surgeries last year but also wrote a gobsmacking 57 songs, breathing new life into his band, which had split for a short period. The resulting record, When Tigers Smoked (which means “once upon a time” in Korean, and was produced by Old 97’s and Damnwells collaborator Salim Nourallah), comes out October 9.

Arguably even trustier than Hines’ band, though, is his Australian Shepherd, Goose, who entered Hines’ life during COVID and just turned 6 years old. Enjoy our exchange with Hines and, of course, the pics of him and his pooch (yes, we know you well, dear readers).

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

Atlanta Natives Mastodon Sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ at Hometown Park

Posted in Videos with tags , on 09/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Call it, ump: Twenty-six years into their career, Mastodon have finally hit for the cycle.

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Fascist Resurgence Spurred Austrian Anti-Capitalist Anarcho-Punks Desolat’s Fiery Return

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , , on 09/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

“The last five years … had an emotional impact, which motivated me … to do a more political album again,” Desolat vocalist/guitarist Alfred Satani told The Bad Penny earlier today as part of our ongoing On Tyranny series.

Satani further noted that he found making the noise/hardcore/sludge trio’s upcoming October 16 release, People as Idiots & Idiots as Leaders (Reptilian Records), to be “cathartic” as he grapples with the grim reality and prepares for even more dire days ahead.

“I fear the future for my children, because of … environmental topics … and current politics and right wing politics, which totally ignore this thing. I can be even worried for myself, because I hope I live for a few years longer. “It can become pretty rough quite soon,” Satani reveals.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Queer NYC Pop Musician Danny Blu on Art as a Vehicle for Empathizing With Trans Community

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , , on 09/09/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

A day after the release of his new single “Faithless,” and with his album “Type Volume I” on the horizon for an October 13 release, dark pop and industrial noise aficionado Danny Blu joins The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series for a candid conversation about the inextricability of his work fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and his unique musical creations.

The theatrical, New York City-based artist – who also works in the nonprofit world to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from the nonstop assault by MAGA and other malevolent forces that have latched onto American society like Alien face-huggers – is quickly making a name for himself as a prominent defender of marginalized individuals.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

Alabama Shakes’ ‘I Must Be Dreaming’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags , on 09/09/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Soulful rock trio Alabama Shakes sound like no time has passed at all after a decade-long break between studio records as they reignite their chemistry as a blockbuster unit.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

Innumerable Forms’ ‘Pain Effulgence’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 09/09/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Doom-curious death-metal delinquents Innumerable Forms may not be the most charming crew you’ll bump into in Boston (not that the majority of Bostonians would qualify in that regard anyway). But as far as this band’s ever-improving tune-age is concerned, the third time’s the charm with Pain Effulgence.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

Best New Music Videos (August 2026): mr.phylzzz, Amon Amarth, Skyjoggers, Tipa Tipo con Pahua, Sorry, Deceits

Posted in Lists, Videos with tags , , , , , , , , , on 09/08/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Always at least a day late. Never a dollar short.

1. mr.phylzzz’s “Rodeo Clown”

2. Amon Amarth’s “Gjallarhorn”

3. Skyjoggers’ “Ancient Steel”

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

Jimmy Cicero, Black Marble Collaborator, Checks in Ahead of Boise Show Tonight

Posted in Concert Previews, Interviews with tags , on 08/30/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Lo-fi pop singer/songwriter Jimmy Cicero – who is something of a mystery man, having performing under different aliases over the years – will appear a couple of times in Boise this evening. In addition to playing the keys with headliner Black Marble at The Shrine Social Club, he’ll take the stage earlier in the night as one of the opening acts (along with The Serfs). Expect to hear one or both songs from his recently released 7-inch “I Will Always Love You”/ “On Your Side.”

Hey, Jimmy. How did the first three shows of the tour go? Any highlights and/or lowlights?

Great shows. I wasn’t sure at first how it would play out doing my own set and then playing keys in Black Marble most nights. But it’s been pretty comfortable. Happy to be onboard, double-duty-style.

Will this be your first time playing in Boise?

I played Neurolux many years ago in a different project. This will be my first time playing Boise under my real name.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

Black Marble Ready to Descend on Boise

Posted in Concert Previews, Interviews with tags on 08/30/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Hot on the heels of the release of Life in Small Spaces earlier this month, Brooklyn beat-maker Black Marble (a.k.a. Chris Stewart) drops through Boise tonight to present some of his new record and more at Shrine Social Club. We recently caught up with the artist while he was darting from city to city, keeping the excitement going behind the new record that has seen the release of singles “Jim Carol New Year” and “Anything.”

Hiya Chris. I can’t seem to find any indication you’ve played Boise before. Did you decide to come here simply because of routing, or were there other reasons why you chose to grace this city for the first time?

We’re coming for the Idaho style hot dog! Also, my bassist once played there, at an arcade, and they let him sleep there.

Aside from integrating new material, is your set on this tour gonna be different in any other ways than in tours past?

We have new projections that our friend Scott in New York made for us.  He made the video for our second single, “Anything,” from our new record.

Continue reading →

2 Comments »

On Tyranny: Frontman of Canada’s Elephant Stone Says ‘Being an Artist Already Makes You Political’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags , , , , , , on 08/27/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

“Canada feels more united than I’ve ever seen it.”

–Elephant Stone’s Rishi Dhir

When The Bad Penny caught wind that a band had released a song called “Fascists Killed Yer Rock ‘N’ Roll” as a single, we immediately invited them (Elephant Stone) to participate in our ongoing series On Tyranny, which focuses on how fascism affects artists artistically, emotionally and personally – and lets them set an example for other musicians that it is OK to criticize and protest the government.

Rishi Dhir, leader of the psych-pop squad from Montreal, graciously accepted our offer and answered some questions related to artists and the potential ways in which they interact with authoritarianism. We bring you the interview, which was conducted over email, on the eve of the 20-year-old group’s new album, ASHA, coming out tomorrow via Elephants on Parade in tandem with Little Cloud Records.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

« Older Entries