It only took Creed less than two months to confound us once again with a self-owning update:
Archive for the News Category
Another Oxymoronic Creed News Headline
Posted in Comedy, News with tags Creed, Oxymorons, Scott Stapp on 11/13/2025 by Kurt OrzeckOn Tyranny: Charlie Nieland on How LGBTQ+ Artists Can Push Back Against ICE, MAGA
Posted in Interviews, News, On Tyranny, Sound Off, Videos with tags Charlie Nieland, homophobia, On Tryranny on 11/09/2025 by Kurt OrzeckSongwriter/producer Charlie Nieland–whose works regularly deal with his emotional, romantic and artistic struggles deserves–miraculously makes his art all that much more enriching for his students, classmates and the land as well. But when The Bad Penny caught word that had become more politically active as of late, we redoubled our efforts to interview him about how American Authoritarianism is already impacting artist communities, whether they know it or not.
Much to our delight, Charlie agreed to take part in The Bad Penny‘s latest episode of our “On Going” series.
Listen to our compelling conversation, become part of the effort to save and strengthen democracy across the world – and pick up Charlie’s latest works, Shame; and the just-released Stories From the Borderlines:
Here’s a taste of a new Charlie track:
Hope over to his Bandcamp page to dig deeper into him.
Furthermore, check out The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series, which we launched in the spring, here. Recent installments include interviews with Moonspell, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, Deaf Club, Cosmic Reaper, Ted Hearne, Terzij de Horde, Chairmaker, MyVeronica, the Gunshy, Planet on a Chain, Necrofier, Cheap Perfume, Bobby Conn, Truculent, Spiritiste and many more.
Damn You, Ozzy Osbourne, for Preventing Us From Fully Mourning At the Gates Frontman Tomas Lindberg When He Too Died
Posted in Essays, News, Sound Off with tags At the Gates, Black Sabbath, Fimbul Winter, Ozzy Osbourne, Tomas Lindberg on 10/26/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
It’s a crisp, autumn afternoon in a quasi-rural area in America’s Pacific Northwest, and something feels off. No, it’s not that we were apparently, miraculously spared from the apocalyptic fires and resulting ash that typically choke us out for weeks practically every year as a result of climate change. Nor is it that Trump and his MAGA minions are tying up the remaining ends that will cement America’s transition from a democracy into a country ruled by a king (and, if we’re being generous, equally megalomaniacal and sadistic billionaire oligarchs).
Rather, what’s stuck in this writer’s craw today is the gaping maw – expected in the mainstream, because Ozzy was more tabloid fodder than musician in his twilight years – but shameful in the metal world, where former social studies teacher Lindberg’s impact on underground metal was if not as seismic than still immeasurable than Osbourne’s role in bringing metal to the masses. Needless to say, the deaths of each metal vocalist powerhouse was saddening and unsettling, but it bears noting that they epitomized different factions of the music genre that – attendance size aside – are standing, more or less, on equal ground.
Continue readingOn Tyranny: Off-Duty Cop Reportedly Pepper-Sprays Teen at Turnstile Concert
Posted in Features, News, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags authoritarianism, fascism, On Tyranny, police brutality, Turnstile, tyranny on 10/24/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
This will come as no surprise for those of us who have already reckoned with the fact that the U.S. is now controlled by an authoritarian regime, but an apparent deputy recently pepper-sprayed an attendee at a Turnstile concert in Richmond, Virginia.
The alleged incident, captured on body-cam footage, shows an off-duty deputy from the Richmond Sheriff’s Office pepper-spraying a teen, according to The Richmonder. The individual apparently jumped onto the concert stage at Turnstile’s encouragement during the last song of their set.
Continue readingToo Much Joy’s Bassist Cracks the Code to Chat Pile’s Success
Posted in Interviews, News with tags Chat Pile, Griffin Sansone, Luther Manhole, Sandy Smallens, Tim Quirk, Too Much Joy on 10/23/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
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When we had the pleasure of interviewing indie legend Too Much Joy this week, we talked a hell of a lot about their upcoming plans, a special reissue they have on the way, their take on Authoritarian America and much more.
We’ll be bringing you a couple of articles stemming from the 60-minutes-plus conversation with two of the Too Much Joy dudes, but as a way of whetting your palette, we present you today with an informative chunk of conversation with bassist/vocalist Sandy Smallens and vocalist Tim Quirk that wouldn’t have fit into the other stories.
Our exchange revolves around not just Too Much Joy but also Chat Pile. Specifically, Smallens addresses why he thinks other young bands should follow Chat Pile’s lead – not duplicating their sound, but learning how the best noise-rock band of the past five years interacts with their fanbase.
In the words of Ariel from The Little Mermaid, “It’s a whole new world,” and Smallens all but implores bands that want to build a strong fanbase to take note of how Oklahoma City giants Chat Pile have done so.
Continue readingOn Tyranny: Ultra-Rich Corporate CEO Stands With Bad Bunny in Super Bowl Flap
Posted in News, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags authoritarianism, Bad Bunny, censorship, diversity, NFL, On Tyranny, Super Bowl, trump, tyranny on 10/23/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
To most, it will seem incongruous that this website is cover footballing to any extent. Or applaud an American citizen whose net worth hovers in the $250 million range. But because the sport is caught between a pop mega-star and a hard right-wing contingent in the U.S., we find it fitting to salute NFL Commissioner (aka CEO) Roger Goodell for backing up Bad Bunny at a Super Bowl press conference this morning.
That’s not to mention that we previously covered the Latin hip-hop star’s decision to avoid touring the U.S. for fear of ICE raiding his concerts. And the fact that Trump, Kristi Noem and other sycophantic, bigoted trolls in the White House are unabashedly trying to limit free speech or even make it a crime. Ergo, the uproar over Bad Bunny’s scheduled performance at America’s most-watching sporting event should be made aware to musicians of all stripes.
Continue readingBoise’s Music Community Unites Tonight for Ian Waggoner Benefit Concert
Posted in News with tags Arches Over Athens, Ian Waggoner, mental health, Mollywogs and the Groggs, So Down!, Sunshine Genocide, The Hive, The Shredder on 10/18/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Boise came together in a massive way earlier today to participate in the nationwide No Kings 2 protests that spurred an estimated 7 million Americans to protest the authoritarian takeover of the country. Early accounts suggest the mobilizations will mark the biggest day of protest in the history of the country.
This evening, Boise’s music community is rallying together for another critical cause: to raise funds and awareness about mental health struggles that young people in this city are experiencing, and to celebrate the life of Ian Waggoner, who tragically died earlier this year. The event will be held in the form of a fundraising concert at The Shredder.
Continue readingFather John Misty, Drug Church, White Reaper, Mclusky Confirmed for Boise’s Treefort Music Fest
Posted in News with tags Drug Church, Father John Misty, flipturn, Geese, Hannibal Buress, Joe Pera, Magdalena Bay, Mclusky, Treefort Music Fest, White Reaper on 10/16/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Treefort Music Fest organizers on Thursday announced the first wave of music talent confirmed to participate in the 2026 installment of Boise’s biggest and best music festival, and it’s a doozy.
The headliners for each night of the four-day music blowout will be flipturn (Thursday), Magdalena Bay (Friday), Geese (Saturday) and Father John Misty (Sunday). Hannibal Buress and Joe Pera will anchor the festival’s comedy lineup.
Continue readingOn Tyranny: David Cross Scolds ‘Heroes’ Louis CK, Bill Burr for Playing Saudi Arabia Comedy Fest
Posted in Comedy, Features, News, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags Bill Burr, David Cross, Louis CK on 10/02/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Well, at least someone in the now-ludicrously successful world of comedy is standing up for human rights. David Cross, in a Monday newsletter to his fans, expressed disappointment that many of his peers are performing for the “depraved, awful people” attending the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, whose authoritarian leadership mandates observance of Sharia law and carries out mass executions despite condemnation by international human-rights groups.
Notably, Cross pointed out the hypocrisy of comedians who regularly bemoan so-called “cancel culture” for participating in a comedy festival staged by a royal family that bans free speech in the country they rule. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman infamously directed the assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in October 2018.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival began Friday and concludes a week from today. Other participants include Dave Chappelle, Aziz Ansari, Jimmy Carr, Russell Peters, Whitney Cummings, Pete Davidson, Tom Segura, Andrew Schulz, Bobby Lee, Sam Morril, Jo Koy, Gabriel Iglesias and Kevin Hart, among others.
Burr said on his Monday Morning Podcast that at least the festival’s attendees were “happy,” and called performing at the festival “one of the top three best experiences I’ve had,” according to Rolling Stone.
Continue readingExclusive News: SUMAC and Moor Mother Plotting Second Collaborative LP
Posted in Exclusives, Interviews, News with tags Aaron Turner, Keiji Haino, MOOR Mother, Sumac on 09/26/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
SUMAC and Moor Mother, whose collaborative record The Film is one of the most universally acclaimed metal releases of the year, are already planning a follow-up effort, SUMAC frontman Aaron Turner confirmed to The Bad Penny on Thursday.
In response to The Bad Penny noting the widespread positive reaction that SUMAC and Moor Mother received for The Film, Turner replied: “I was very pleased that it got such a warm reception. It felt like a very challenging record. I was confident in what we produced but had no expectation in terms of how it was going to be received. We’re definitely talking with her about more shows upcoming in the near future, and then a little further down the road, to make another record together. I hope that happens.”
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