If you watch only one installment among the 112 we’ve published so far in this series about artists responding to fascism, make sure it’s this one featuring Low Cut Connie. The rock musician’s impressive intelligence, history of engaging in protests and fearless bravery in speaking truth to power raise him to oracle status. Most Americans are confused, afraid and paralyzed by the federal government’s unconscionable, vicious and deadly assaults by a paramilitary force that answers only to Donald Trump. Low Cut Connie is calm, focused and clear-eyed about fighting fascism with unflinching strength and unwavering compassion simultaneously.
Continue readingArchive for the Features Category
On Tyranny: Low Cut Connie’s Crystal-Clear Analysis of Authoritarian America And How to Fight Back
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny with tags Low Cut Connie on 02/14/2026 by Kurt OrzeckPet Sounds #81: Bassist/Vocalist for Art-Rockers Products Band Says She ‘Simply Would Not Be Here Without’ Her Cats
Posted in Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags Products BAnd on 02/12/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Minneapolis’ Products Band are as stylistically sinuous as their moniker is amorphous. Pulling primarily from R.E.M.’s best art-rock material, the crunchiness of Pavement and the Replacements’ dalliances with punk, Products Band have no qualms about dipping their toes in just about any body of water – or pool of liquid, for that matter. Those statements are verifiable on the quartet’s second full-length, Some Sudden Weather (Solid Brass), which came out in October 2023.
Products Band consists of Jo Kellen (guitar, vocals, synths), Konner Johnson (drums, percussion, synths), Alex Hanson (guitars, vocals, piano) and Jack Woolsey (bass, vocals). Woolsey and Johnson jumped at the opportunity to participate in the one and only –or at least extensive – online series in which musicians gush over their pets.
In the 81st edition of Pet Sounds, we learned a little bit about the music that Products Band produces – and we learned an awful lot about bassist/vocalist Wooley’s two pets: Casper, a gray cat that is 7.5 year old; and Disney, a 5-year-old black cat. To answer questions you probably have already, Disney the cat isn’t sponsored by Mickey Mouse’s mega-corporation, and Casper is indeed friendly but not a ghost. Whoa, ghost cats … now that’s a great idea for a movie.
Continue readingHappy Birthday to Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips!
Posted in Features, Guilty Pleasures, Happy Birthday with tags Chynna Phillips, Wilson Phillips on 02/12/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Beloved chanteuse Chynna Phillips, daughter of the Mamas & the Papas linchpins John and Michelle Phillips, turns 58 years young today. Chynna, along with Brian Wilson’s daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, shattered nepo-baby stereotypes by delivering one of the best Top 40 tunes of 1990: “Hold On.”
You might be wondering why this website is paying homage to Wilson Phillips, a defiantly mainstream pop trio that some consider to be cringe-level saccharine. The Bad Penny‘s retort? We’re all entitled to a few guilty pleasures, and it’s a safe bet that this writer isn’t the only one who both adores extreme heavy metal and knows the lyrics to “Hold On” by heart.
Continue readingHappy Birthday to Meshuggah Co-Founder and Lead Guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, and BRMC Chief Peter Hayes!
Posted in Features, Happy Birthday with tags Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, BRMC, Fredrik Thordendal, Meshuggah, Peter Hayes on 02/11/2026 by Kurt Orzeck🎈Fredrik Thordendal🎈
Fredrik Thordendal, Meshuggah’s lead guitarist who also cofounded the band in 1987, turns 55 today. Meshuggah toured exhaustively and exhaustedly in support of their last studio album, Immutable, following its release in April 2022. They haven’t played in concert since June 27, 2025, probably because they’re finally getting some well-deserved rest.
🎈Peter Hayes🎈
Meanwhile, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club frontman Peter Hayes turns the big 5-0 today. Since releasing 2018’s Wrong Creatures, the slick rock band has focused on touring instead of releasing new material. The closest BRMC came was packing their three-LP, 20th anniversary deluxe edition box set of Howl with previously issued songs, copious photos, handwritten lyrics, and more goodies from the era.
Continue readingOn Tyranny: Top 20 Protest/Activist Musicians, From Marvin Gaye to Billie Eilish
Posted in Features, Lists, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags Billie Eilish, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bono, Dolly Parton, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Tom Morello, Woody Guthrie on 02/10/2026 by Kurt OrzeckOn Tyranny: ‘It Feels Like the Deck Is Stacked Against Us … I Wish We Could All Just Get Along,’ Band VTB Says
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags VTB on 02/10/2026 by Kurt OrzeckIt’s true and well-known that most Americans don’t know the nitty-gritty of government and politics. But we can distinguish between what is moral and not, and for that reason, we must fight for what we believe is right. VTB make a case for that claim — which every American should know –– during part of an interview The Bad Penny conducted on Wednesday with the grungy alt-rock-with-a-smattering-of-noise-and-post-punk.
Continue readingPet Sounds #80: ‘Dogs Are Like Tattoos … You Get One and You’re Hooked,’ Saetia’s Tom Schlatter Says
Posted in Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags hardcore, post-hardcore, Saetia, screamo, Tom Schlatter on 02/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Welcome to the 80th installment of The Bad Penny‘s Pet Sounds series. We have a very special one for you today, because the pet owner who graciously participated has had such an immense impact on hardcore punk and screamo, the genres might have gone in different directions were it not for him.
The gent in question is one Tom Schlatter, a major character in the proverbial book of hardcore music. Since 1997, he has served as a member of, or otherwise collaborated with, 16 bands as a guitarist, bassist and drummer. His loyalty and integrity were tested when one of those bands, Saetia — which formed in broke up in October 1999 two and a half years after they formed.
Lucky for Schlatter — and the screamo community, Saetia reassembled in 2022 and, last year, released its first song in 26 years, much to the delight of punk-rockers listeners (especially those who were sold on the band in the first place, a quarter-century prior). Two more songs followed, and an EP should be on the way.
So, how did he handle all that turbulence, not to mention the pivotal roles he played in a plethora of other acts? Well, with pets, of course; they make everything better. Schlatter has more than most — two cats and two dogs — but, as he told The Bad Penny, he wouldn’t want it any other way. He explained why (and divulged a whole lot more) in an email we received on Friday.
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Metallica Fans Commemorate Death of Beloved Bassist with Community-Friendly ‘Cliff Burton Day’
Posted in In Memorium, News, The Visionaries, Videos with tags Cliff Burton, Metallica on 02/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
For many, today will be somber, sober and sad, as it marks the 40th anniversary of late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. Perhaps the fastest-rising star in the metal community, a bus accident cut his life short in 1986 in Sweden. He was only 24 years old. All metal fans, whether or not they liked Metallica, mourned Burton because of the tragic accident and because of his stunning gift at playing guitar. Burton continues to a hero in his hometown of Castro Valley California, the city holiday has received more attention
The city in which Burton lived is hosting Cliff Burton Day 2026, which will tangentially recognize the 40th anniversary of Metallica’s Damage Inc. tour. It’ll take place at the Chabot Theater. Starting at 7 p.m. PT, Burton’s family members, family members and work pals will share stories and memories about the family member so tragically lost. The event will feature live music too. Check out The Chatbot for more info.
That’s all the news we have right now, so we’ll leave you with three rad videos: the first, with Burton crushing it for 25 minutes; a discussion among haters who eventually came around to recognize Burton’ brilliance; and a pro-cam taping of Metallica playing “Orion,” a song primarily written by Burton.
The Bad Penny (beta) 