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On Tyranny: Crippled Black Phoenix Say U.K, U.S. Colonialism ‘Has Come Back to Bite Us in the Ass’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags authoritarianism, colonialism, Crippled Black Phoenix, empire, fascism, Justin Greaves, On Tyranny, trump, tyranny on 02/12/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

With all the horrifying, nauseating, apocalypse-seeming terrors the Trump administration and U.S. federal government is unleashing on not only the rest of the world but its own citizens, we often forget that actions and developments that occur in America reverberate an radiate far beyond our shores.

To that end, we touched base with our friends Justin Greaves and Belinda Kordic from self-described “macabre rock” band Crippled Black Phoenix to discuss the political, cultural and moral rot that is corroding the U.S., the U.K. and even Sweden. thanks in part, although not exclusively, a certain president of a certain country trying to shape.

“It’s Handmaid’s fucking Tale, isn’t it?” an understandably upset Kordic remarks as we begin discussing the loaded subject (which, by the way, is no longer about political disagreements between left and right but rather a moral battle between right and wrong).

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Pet 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.

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On Tyranny: Mylo Bybee Frontman Insists ‘We Won’t Let Fascism Crush Creativity’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags authoritarianism, fascism, Mylo Bybee, On Tyranny, Tyler Schlagenhauf, tyranny on 02/11/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Creativity is the driving force in the musical works created by Boise rock musician Tyler Schlagenhauf of Mylo Bybee. He recently checked in with The Bad Penny to talk about Trump’s Authoritarian America and the fear that is sweeping across the country (and even the world). Schlagenhauf shares one of the more positive outlooks in The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series. “My North Star is that It can’t get to the point where it’s crushing artists’ creativity, because it is that outlet that we’ve seen over and over again can bring people together,” he says.

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On 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 Orzeck

It’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.

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Pet 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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Happy 83rd Birthday to ‘Office’ Actor and Folk Musician Creed Bratton!

Posted in Features, Happy Birthday, Interviews with tags Creed Bratton, The Office on 02/08/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Feliz cumpleaños to Office actor and folk musician Creed Bratton, who turns 83 years old today. (Yes, that really is his age.) Creed (real name William Charles Schneider) portrayed a psychologically troubled but hilarious social misfit who occasionally popped his head out from his cubicle to uproarious effect.

The Bad Penny found it fitting to give Creed some love and attention because he’s also an honest-to-God musician. He made his recording debut in 1966, playing guitar for the Grass Roots on their album Were You When I Needed You. Nine years later, after making many more LPs with Grass Roots, he devoted almost his artistic energies on making solo material – and taking a stab ata professional acting. It’s widely considered that Creed was the most bizarre and perhaps side-splitting characters on The Office. His tenure with the series ended when The Office itself closed its doors in 2013.

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On Tyranny: Parker Woodland Frontwoman Talks About Protesting at Complex That Housed 5-Year-Old ICE Detainee Liam Ramos

Posted in Interviews on 02/07/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

In this edition of On Tyranny, Erin Walter – frontwoman of Austin power-pop punks Parker Woodland – discusses the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to build a slew of new detention centers (some call them concentration camps) across the country. Walter is particularly knowledgable on the subject, having protested at the South Texas Family Residential Center, which recently housed 5-year-old ICE detainee Liam Ramos and his father (they were released earlier this week).

The singer/activist also reveals what led her band to cover the Clash’s “Police on My Back,” which Parker Woodland released as a single roughly a week ago. Proceeds from sales of that song and its B-side, “Get Me to the Show,” are benefitting the Texas Civil Rights Project. The single is available on Parker Woodland’s Bandcamp page, which also contains copious information about the band and its releases.

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VTB, Which Stands for ‘Very Tubular Band’ (No It Doesn’t), Ready to Rumble in Boise Tonight

Posted in Interviews on 02/07/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

If grungy alt-rock with a smattering of noise and post-punk if your bag – and if you live in Boise, Idaho – you’re in for a helluva treat tonight. A band fitting that aforementioned description, VTB are swinging through the City of Trees to play a set at Realms Arcade as part of their tour. VTB – which was originally a drum and bass project but is now a full-fledged band – are touring in support of their October EP, People Died & Things Exploded, which was issued by Bleakhouse.

On Wednesday, The Bad Penny caught up with VTB members Austin Stewart (lead guitar, vocals), Michael Mendez (synth) and Brennan Stewart (drums) for a lively interview ahead of their gig. It’ll be a special one for VTB, as they’ve never played in Boise before. For more on the group, go to their Bandcamp page.

Tickets for VTB’s concert tonight at Realms Arcade cost only 10 bucks. Chaz’s Corner, underdogs and potentially one more band will handle opening duties. VTB’s set will start around 8:30-8:45, the band told The Bad Penny.

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Pet Sounds #79: NORMANS Mastermind Insists ‘You Will Be a Better Person’ for Rescuing a Pooch

Posted in Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags Matthew Reid, NORMANS, Pet Sounds, Solid Brass on 02/06/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Matthew Reid handles vocals and plays guitar and bass for his noise-rock band NORMANS. But as much as he loves music, we’re pretty sure he prefers playing with his two gorgeous dogs. The L.A. band consists of former members of FEELS, Prissy Whip and Blonde Summer and released their self-titled debut through Solid Brass in January 2024. Fans of the Jesus Lizard, Metz and IDLES will appreciate and get hooked on NORMANS’s penchant for creating cacophonies.

A press statement said NORMANS tap into the “terrified animal caged within us all.” But Reid’s limitless love for his dogs ensures they rarely get terrified, if at all – and he’s not the type of dog owner who would coop up his pooches in cages. For this edition of Pet Sounds, Reid answered our questions via email, resulting in the most superb writing of any installment in the series thus far. It’s hard to decide which is more breathtaking, Reid’s superbly poetic writing or the photos he provided. Either way, enjoy this consummately beautiful entry in Pet Sounds.

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On Tyranny: Jesus Christ Taxi Driver Say Humor Is the Greatest Threat to Trump and MAGA’s Authoritarian Coup

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags authoritarianism, fascism, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, On Tyranny, trump, tyranny on 02/06/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Denver’s Jesus Christ Taxi Driver isn’t just a band with one of the best monikers in the music universe – they’re also dead serious about resisting the Trump administration and MAGA’s destruction of American values, the federal government and even the country itself. But as The Bad Penny learned in an interview conducted just two days ago, the punk-rock band believes humor might the best response to America’s transformation into a fascist country.

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