“It’s self-help ska, only not as dreadful as that sounds.”
-Be Decent’s Ken Partridge
Be Decent – an instructively named neo-ska quartet from Brooklyn – are fixated on the September 18 release date for their debut record, Now’s the Time. But first things first (or second, in this case): The band needs to slip out a couple of singles to lather captive indie-rockers with interest. The first tune came in the form of “Human Nature,” featuring Ted Leo; today, The Bad Penny exclusively brings you Be Decent’s second single, “You Better Work,” and accompanying video for it.
Calling to mind a reprimand from father or a frustrated exclamation directed at one’s self while trying to fix a laptop, “You Better Work” is a chipper, affirmative song with saxophone flourishes and undeniable reggae influences.
(L-R: Alfredo Hernández, Charles Pasarell, James Childs)
It’s only taken about two decades to clinch an interview with the one, the only, the mighty Alfredo Hernández, former drummer for Queens of the Stone and Kyuss, and one of the originators of the “desert-rock” that continues to catch on across not just the U.S. but, rather peculiarly, Europe.
Not to be overlooked on Hernández’ resume are stints with (Kyuss founding member) Brant Bjork and the Bros and Yawning Man, and his current status in the band Avon. which QOTSA devotees will recall as one of the song names on the band’s first album. (Lesser-known fact: Hernández co-wrote seven of the 11 album tracks with Josh Homme; and joined forces with the band’s leader as well as Monster Magnet guitar and Homme homie John McBrain to craft “Regular John,” still considered one of the prolific band’s best numbers.)
As for these days, Avon just delivered a new album, Black on Sunshine, in mid-April via Go Down Records. Unsurprisingly, promotional materials for the record suggest three RIYLs: Wouldntyaknowit: Kyuss, QOTSA and Monster Magnet. Filling out the lineup are Emmy-winning guitarist, Airbus band member and Geoff Barrow (Portishead) collaborator James Childs. Palm Springs mainstayCharles Pasarell handles bass. Childs’ guitar and vocalist pal in Airbus playing guitar and sang on “Black on Sunshine” and “Strangest Love” too.
The amount of information Hernández shared in his well-considered answers is nothing less than very noteworthy (we’re not prone to hyperbole, even if it’s all the rage these days). Here are a few main points before you dig in:
• The most salient point made in the premise of the story as you’ve read it so far is wrong. • Hernández and Josh Homme are still on good terms, and while they don’t talk about their current projects, you might see them play together again at some point. • Same goes for Nick Oliveri, who brought Hernández into his Mondo Generator project twice, and apparently they had a blast. • Kyuss and perhaps even QOTSA were modeled at least in part after Hernández’s bands.
And wouldntyknowit, we found out some more info on the recently birthed project that is D2 Archipelago, by touching base with drummer Brian Kotzur, formerly of Silver Jews. We chatted him up about everything under the sun, really.
Blondie (well, Debby Harry) famously sang: “One way or another, I’m gonna find ya/ I’m gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya.”
U.K. noise-pop duo Weather Happy have their own, similar refrain – “It Leaks Out” – that they express in their new song of the same name.
“There’s certain things you just can’t hide,” vocalist/guitarist Holly Carter sings on the angular, off-beat and yet irresistibly catchy track. “Tiptoe around and you might.”
Debuting today on The Bad Penny, the tune is the first bite at the apple that we’re getting of Weather Happy’s new EP, Moth,due October 30 on Easy Does It Records. Produced by Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones, “It Leaks Out” was the natural first single, the band told The Bad Penny in an exclusive statement.
Leave it to gleeful trickster and indie pop-punk artist Aymen Saleh to write a song about a tattoo, even though not a single one is etched on the British ex-pat’s body. Roughly a decade after embarking on his music career with the band Holy Pinto (which initially consisted of Saleh and his friend Ryan Hurley), the artist has now amassed an enviable, consummately enjoyable catalog that is vibrant both aesthetically and musically.
Pretty soon, Holy Pinto’s discography will get a bit bigger with the September 14 release of a new LP, Wedding Season. The fact that the artist meticulously crafted the record is immediately evident from what we’ve heard of it thus far. Saleh has stated publicly that Wedding Season took years of work, particularly with the arrangements, and it shows.
Much to our delight, Saleh – who now resides in Milwaukee and has refashioned his band into a solo affair – gifted The Bad Penny not only with an early look at the incoming album but the opportunity to exclusively debut one of the songs and its accompanying video.
In discussing said song, “One Tattoo,” we learned that Saleh’s thoughts on body art go far beyond skin deep …
It was only a month ago that we introduced you to Merry Brigade.
In Merry Brigade’s first video interview, Love revealed how the group’s trials and tribulations with their previous projects strengthened their new musical undertaking, what he learned from Soundgarden (his favorite band) and author David Foster Wallace, and how delicately he treats his lyrics.
Now, they’ve paid The Bad Penny a second visit to bequeath us with the premiere of their new song, “Work Smoothly.”
Nine months after his shockingly sudden death, tears are still being shed for Tomas Lindberg, frontman of massively influential Swedish metal band At the Gates. One of the most well-read, warmhearted and respected musicians in melodic death metal – regardless of country – his skills remain unparalleled and might not be bested for quite some time. In the months subsequent to his passing, metal icons who – like Lindberg – were instrumental in giving birth to MDM in Scandinavian have publicly professed their sadness over his loss.
The latest member of MDM royalty to join the chorus and sing the praises of Lindberg is Greece’s greatest contribution to melodic death metal: Marios Iliopoulos. He helped develop the subgenre during his nine years playing lead guitar for Exhumation, then developed even more acclaim for his subsequent band Nightrage, which he co-founded with Gus G of Firewind in the same year that Exhumation split: 2000.
“Stranger,” the new song and video by Dexter and Six Feet Under actor Michael C. Hall’s band Princess Goes, is out today – and The Bad Penny has the honor of debuting it. The track is the first selection from the upcoming full-length by the band, which also features multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Matt Katz-Bohen (Blondie, Cyndi Lauper) and drummer Peter Yanowitz (Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant).
“Stranger” will be available for purchase on all major music providers tomorrow.
The three musicians founded Princess Goes in 2018 after vocalist/lyricist Hall met Katz-Bohen and Yanowitz as they all participated in performances of the acclaimed rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
After forming, the group put out two LPs and an EP. Their third full-length is due later this year and will be preceded by the release of additional singles.
Katz-Bohen touched base with The Bad Penny on Tuesday to exclusively discuss Princess Goes’ new song.
Aren’t yet acquainted with doomy troupe Ponte del Diavolo, which also incorporates black metal and post-punk into a distinct witches’ brew they’ve dubbed “blackened post-punk hell”? For shame! The quintet – which hails from Turin, Italy – have already made their mark since forming in 2020, thanks to two long-players and three EPs. And their growth spurt shows no signs of letting up, either.
Ponte del Diavolo cranked out their latest LP, De Venom Natura, in February through the esteemed Season of Mist. The effort – which features “Every Tongue Has Its Thorns,” “Lunga vita alla necrosi,” “Spirit, Blood, Poison, Ferment!” and even a cover of Bauhaus'”In the Flat Field” among its seven songs is continuing to win over metalheads drawn to bands that break just about every metal convention.
Featuring vocalist Erba del Diavolo, bassists Khrura Abro and Kratom, guitarist Nerium and drummer Segale Cornuta, the wildly adventurous De Venom Natura captures the band going where few metal musicians have dared go before. In the band’s own words, they say LP number two is “an alchemical meditation on the poisons of nature – seductive, transformative and deadly.”
As with any band that lives to explore uncharted territory, we hit up Ponte del Diavolo to find out how their development as a band led to the audaciously ambitious record of theirs that just dropped. In a Bad Penny exclusive, the quintet graciously broke down each of their releases with descriptions that elucidate how they became the band that they are today.
“Stranguliatorius” might not be as difficult a band name to spell and pronounce as “Sanguisugabogg,” but you’d be a fool to wager against the former band’s comparable ferocity. Hailing from Lithuania – name another music act that comes from that country, and we’ll buy you a horse – the ear-shattering, crusty death metal quintet drops its new album today via Horror Pain Gore Death.
The five-piece band, which also laces its songs with grindcore, consists of Iggy (vocals), Švedas (guitars), Mr. Adam (guitars), Dr. Dovis (bass) and Kaplerėzas (drums).
They recently told The Bad Penny in an exclusive statement that, on their third go-’round making a full-length, “Working together again felt natural – a familiar process with people who know how to let the music speak for itself and help bring it out the right way.”
The equally generous and grotesque gang granted The Bad Penny the opportunity to premiere one of the songs on the Flies Don’t Lie, named “When I Lift the Coffin Lid.”
The Bad Penny (beta) 