The Bad Penny (beta)

Noise punks Miracle Blood are road dogs – but it’s cats (and two guinea pigs who sadly passed away) that are the Boston-area band’s animal spirits. Guitarist/vocalist Andrew Wong, bassist Garrett Young and drummer Anthony Bollitier, in a rare break between playing gigs, were game to talk about their love for their furry friends as part of The Bad Penny‘s ongoing Pet Sounds series.

Miracle Blood’s latest album, Hello Hell, came out in November via esteemed label Nefarious Industries. But it’s their past releases that are littered – pun very much intended – with references to creatures of various sorts. There’s their August 2022 song “Pomeranian,” and then three double-single releases from 2019 on which animals are featured on their pastel covers: “Roses”/”Nurses,” “Swollen/Sentinel” and “Bloom/Polite and Calm.”

We chatted up Miracle Blood about their animal fixation, and here’s what they had to say. Or purr.

Animals recur throughout the lyrics in your music. Are all of you pet owners?

Andrew: We’re gonna be outed as posers, since Garrett’s the only person in the band who has any kind of pets right now. My wife and I used to have two guinea pigs up until a couple years ago, and they passed. You kind of have control over animals, but they also have the benefits of modern living and not having to worry about a lot of things in the wild. For that matter, they don’t have to worry about things that go on in the human world very much, either.

Garrett: When you asked us in an email why the theme of pets comes up, I had to stop and think about it. This doesn’t apply to my cat, because my cat loves his comfortable prison, but with a lot of cats, you’re kind of keeping them prisoner, and they want to get out. They do not want to be inside.

Just this morning, my cat was chittering and salivating at this dove that was just sitting on the porch, and it’s like, “I’m not gonna let you go get that.” So, we do take away pets’ autonomy. It’s not that dissimilar from a parental relationship in the sense that, obviously. I don’t think my cat’s my kid. But you do have – and I am a huge softie for him, and when we’re on tour, I have to curtail his freedom for his own benefit. I’m sure he would love to rifle around through garbage and stuff, but I don’t let him do that.

I’ve got a dog but not a kid, and sometimes people criticize people like me for not being responsible adults. It’s like, “No I’ve got a I’ve got a dog (or a cat), and that’s a big responsibility” Unless you’re being really shitty about it, I guess.

Anthony: Yeah, it’s part of why, currently, I don’t have any. I love dogs. I like cats too, but I wouldn’t be able to give it the proper time and attention.

Can you make any more sense of why animals are a recurring motif in your music?

Andrew: A lot of our music is about the human condition and dealing with stuff that’s complicated and kind of shitty about being a person in the modern world. If you’re a pet, you’re kind of removed from that. Like the song “Pomeranian,” is about how I want to be a Pomeranian and be removed from all the responsibilities of being a human whilst getting all the benefits of being in the modern world and being pampered.

Why did you decide to go with Pomeranians as the breed of choice for that song?

Andrew: I just happened to find out what they were the day before we started writing that song, so it was just stuck in my mind. They’re dogs that leave an impression on you because they’re just so happy-looking and fluffy. Also, it’s a fun word. It sounds majestic. “Pomeranian” could be a band name, I suppose.

What about “Pets and Owners”?

Andrew: Everyone can relate to that feeling of your boss as your owner, and you’re the pet, because you gotta do what they say or else you don’t eat. It’s kind of a straightforward analogy there.

Andrew: We also just like animal imagery. A lot of our shirts have animals on them. Animal imagery is fun, shallow enjoyment.

And it also counteracts the heaviness of your music, that lighter subject matter.

Andrew: I definitely think so. Something I’ve always enjoyed about this band, even before I joined it, is there’s always been a humorous element. Sometimes it’s sarcastic, but there’s always a cheekiness lyrically. We like musical elements that are comedic … we might just make you smile – or even laugh!

Miracle Blood’s upcoming shows:

Oct. 4 – Lowell, MA – Koto
Oct. 12 – Providence, RI – Scurvy Dog
Oct. 17 – Manchester, NH – Bad Brgr
Oct. 18 – St Albans, VT – 14th Star Brewing
Nov. 1 – Worcester, MA – Electric Haze
Nov. 8 – Portland, MA – Blue
Nov. 21 – Woodbridge, CT – 10 Selden
Nov. 22 – Medford, MA – Deep Cuts

Get educated on all things Miracle Blood on the band’s nifty website. There’s yet more to be learned about the band on its Bandcamp page.

Go here for The Bad Penny’s Pet Sounds index.

This entry was posted on 09/27/2025 at 6:58 am and is filed under Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags Miracle Blood. 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.