The Bad Penny (beta)

Welcome to the debut installment of the ongoing Pet Sounds series on The Bad Penny, after it migrated here from a previous website. In this special edition, alt-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian James Christinzio – a.k.a. BC Camplight – provides us with startling reflects on trauma, along with extremely well-considered insights into life as a pet owner.

For those familiar with BC Camplight – who was born in New Jersey but now resides in Manchester – it actually comes as no surprise that he took so much time and care with his responses to our questions about his relationship with Frank, his 9-year-old “Jug” (a Jack Russell and Pug mix). Similar clarity, delivered with both heart and precision, is the tie that binds the songs on BC Camplight’s new album, A Sober Conversation, which arrived late last month.

Throughout the record, the multi-hyphenate musician fearlessly opens up about recently getting sober while also working through childhood trauma. Clearly, his pet helped him build up the courage, and provided him with support during the trying two-year period leading up to the release of A Sober Conversation. That BC Camplight maintains a somewhat subdued but ultimately sunny mood throughout the record is a testament to how gracefully he must treat his adoring buddy, Jug.

In what ways has Frank improved your quality of life? What do you think Frank would say if asked the same question in regards to you treating him over the years? 

Frank has a unique feature. Many people say he kind of has the face of a human. He has really expressive eyebrows and a bit of a frown. He seems to pose for photos and is generally the sweetest little guy. About 4 years ago he ate a piece of plastic on his walk.

Long story short, he was in the hospital for nearly three months getting surgery after surgery with sepsis in between. When I’m having an off day he can tell, he looks at me with raised eyebrows and his eyes go glassy. Then I look at him and realise that this little meatball has gone through way worse things than I and still has that sweet soul. It brings me back down to earth.

He has been a grounding force in my life for the last eight years, perhaps the most constant support I’ve had over that period. I’d like to believe he knows that I’ve always had his back. If he could look at my bank account and see how much his stays in the hospital were, I think he’d realise there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.

Please talk about what you think Frank would rate as the best day, or one of the best days, of his life thus far. 

Frank just loves being near people. If you sit at the kitchen table he wants to be on your lap. If you watch a movie he will plop next to you and rest his elbow on your leg. He’s not really the kind of dog that swims in rivers and fetches sticks. He’s kind of just a small bear that wants to be nestled into a warm human. So, I think his best day would be any day his belly is full and he’s with his family. To be honest, this is most days.

There was one day last year where he fell in love in the park. So much so that he refused to leave. I had to pick him up and walk him home. He then sat at the front door and panted like a marathon runner. Over the next month he was obsessed with going back to the same spot in the park. I like to think that he remembers that day as the day his heart fell for another. But perhaps he remembers that day as the one that got away.

Describe your first encounter with Frank and how you knew, or had a feeling, that you’d be a great fit for each other. 

I saw an ad online for a Jug dog (Jack Russel and pug mix) that needed a new home “by the end of the week.” My partner at the time and I travelled to a bit of a rough neighbourhood to check him out. We knocked on the door and a lady answered the door and an industrial plume of cigarette smoke bellowed towards us from inside the hall. There were small children running around screaming in the background. I heard a dish break and then a baby cry.

Through the chaos Frank and I locked eyes. He was sitting on the floor against a wall wearing the stoicism and tenderness in his face I would grow to adore and admire. He didn’t look afraid but there was something in that moment. I’m sure we were both thinking the same thing, “let’s get out of here.” I knelt down and he jumped in my arms. I turned over my shoulder and said “I’ll take him.” He didn’t look back as I walked him out the door. That made me feel bad for the lady who obviously had her hands full. But it was the start of a beautiful chapter, a chapter that could’ve been called “me and you against the world.”  

Did you decide on calling him “Frank” because he’s shaped like a hot dog? Or did you bestow that name upon him in honor of Frank Stallone or Frank Oz? If it was Oz, was it because Frank does voices sometimes?

I’m from Philadelphia and already had a cat, Charlie, named after [the character of the same name, played by Charlie Day] from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Once we saw Frank, a very short, stocky and incredibly funny dog, we thought, “Oh yeah, that’s Frank.” He too was named after an Always Sunny character, Frank Reynolds (played by Danny DeVito). Frank and Charlie went on many wacky adventures in the four years they were together.

Has Frank inspired any of your songs or albums, whether or not you directly reference his name in them? 

Frank has inspired me in almost every way. Some literal ways, like my song “When I Think of My Dog.” One lyric in the song is: “When I think of my dog I’m in love and the world loves me.” It’s basically saying there is no problem big enough that my love for Frank can’t at least temporarily quell. I’ve referenced him on every album since. That’s four albums now. He’s on the back cover of my [2018] album Deportation Blues. He’s also been in at least one press photo from each album. Come to think of it, I may be going a little overboard.

Is Frank generally cool when he encounters dogs he hasn’t met previously? Does it take some warming up? Or is he generally snappy or aloof? 

He loves all creatures big and small – unless he can’t see their face. If I see a shaggy dog with its eyes covered walking towards us, I know Frank is going to take issue. HIs best friend was the aforementioned Charlie, my cat. Charlie used to beat the hell out of him, and Frank would love the attention. Charlie died last year, but Frank has carried his love of cats over into every street cat he sees. I fear it’s going to cause him to lose an eye one day. So, unless you are a dog, and he can’t clock your vibe by reading your eyeballs, he is on your side.

What do you think Frank dreams about most frequently? 

I sometimes wonder what kind of human Frank would be. He seems quite working-class and a bit Mancunian. People from Manchester are salt of the earth, kind and no-nonsense. Using this logic, I can only assume that Frank dreams about scoring the winning goal for Manchester United against Chelsea. He then runs to the corner of the field, faces the crowd and howls in celebration whilst punching the air in triumph. To the outside observer, this just looks like a dog flailing about at the foot of the bed making pained yelps. But I know Frank, and I know that inside that little brain he is lifting the trophy with his squad, a bunch of underdogs who fought through when they were counted out. Just like the little dude does in real life.

Would you consider bringing another dog into your family, whether it be sooner than later or just later? Why yes or no? 

Technically, I’m not even supposed to have one dog. I thought about training Frank to sit perfectly still inside a mound of stuffed animals, like in E.T. That way I wouldn’t have to rush him out of the house whenever the landlord makes one of her sudden appearances. However, Frank is pretty “humpy,” so that plan wouldn’t work. Even if I could get another, I don’t think I would. At the risk of making your readers vomit, I can’t imagine having a more rewarding experience than just having Frank. I am considering getting another cat, as I am starting to realise that losing Charlie has left a little cat-sized hole somewhere deep in Frank’s heart. But the thought of making Frank jealous by bringing in another pup is too much for me to bear.

What was the funniest incident you witnessed involving Frank? 

I once had a cocktail party, and he dressed up in a tuxedo. In my head, he rented the tux himself, had it tailored and dressed himself. He has this weird knack for smiling for photos. I’m not sure what’s actually going on, but when he’s asked to pose for a photo, he often shows his teeth, revealing an adorable slight underbite. He spent the evening smiling with guests and basically being a canine Dean Martin. He also howled along with our karaoke session. I personally loathe karaoke, but watching Frank let loose to Pavarotii’s “Nessun Dorma” was enough to forgive this awful pastime, and perhaps even delight in it. 

Go here to read one of the more touching installments in The Bad Penny’s lengthy Pet Sounds series, in which ex-Gram Rabbit leader Jesika von Rabbit reflects on the loss of her beloved cat, Buzz.

This entry was posted on 07/29/2025 at 5:52 pm and is filed under Interviews with tags BC Camplight, Pet Sounds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.