For gigs and shiggles.
Comedians as Kids: David Cross, Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Louis CK, Zach Galifianakis in Their Early Days
Posted in Comedy with tags alternative comedy, Bob Odenkirk, Comedy, David Cross, Louis CK, Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis on 08/23/2026 by Kurt OrzeckPet Sounds #91: A Member of Indie-Rock Squad Morning Line Has a Dog Who Is (Named After) a Drummer
Posted in Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags Big Stir, Stephen Smith, The Morning Line on 08/22/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Veteran San Francisco Bay Area indie-rockers The Morning Line recently signed to Big Stir Records earlier this week, the label announced Thursday – and wouldn’t you know it, they already have a new studio record spick-and-span for release on September 18. Big Stir are good people, so The Bad Penny quickly jumped on the opportunity to interview frontman Stephen Smith hours after the signing was announced.
We’ll bring you our feature on The Morning Line’s new album, Stars, closer to its release date, but in the meantime, we’ll tide you over with the latest edition of our long-running series Pet Sounds, for which the band surely qualifies. Smith has Dot, a small, 4-year-old black mutt he refers to as a “Teacup Wolfhound” (more on that later). Drummer Peter Craft owns a 6-year-old half-boxer/half-pit called Levon. And guitarist Brian Mello has a 13-year-old cat whose breed is a Korat (a breed from Thailand) and whose name is Dr. Zira.
Continue readingFavorite Films: Daedric’s Kristyn Hope Digs ‘Godzilla,’ ‘Companion,’ ‘Halloween,’ Rob Schneider ‘Comedy’
Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Interviews with tags Companion', Compantion, Deadric, Dragonheart, Fievel Goes West, Godzilla, Halloween, Kristyn Hope, Spirited Away, The Thing (Remake) on 08/22/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
When we recently caught up with alt/metal frontwoman Kristyn Hope of Deadric to inquire about her favorite films, she responded immediately: “To give you a bit of background, I grew up on VHSs. We had about 200 movies and I’d watch the same ones over and over and over. It was very unhealthy.”
Sounds like a true movie aficionado to us.
She continued: “So anyway, my list of favorite movies is largely based on the ones we had. Because I grew up pretty poor, we didn’t rent movies often. I would go to the) library and get the free movies – you know, like C-level movies.
The proof of Hope’s testimony can be found in the ensuing rundown of her favorite flicks of all time;
Godzilla (1998)
The 1998 version of Godzilla was one of my favorites. I know it shouldn’t even count as a Godzilla movie, but it was the only monster movie I had [available to watch at home]. And I was so into monsters. The idea of a giant kaiju was so cool to me. It was just such an interesting creature. Also, the CGI – for the time – was good.
Continue readingOn Tyranny: King Youngblood Frontman and Black & Loud Music Fest Co-Founder Cameron Lavi-Jones Says Musicians Don’t ‘Understand How Much Power They Have’
Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags Black and Loud Fest, Cameron Lavi-Jones, fascism, ICE, Iniko, King Youngblood, Neville Brothers, On Tyranny, tyranny on 08/22/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
It’s more evident now than ever: Musicians are at a crossroads. Do they pursue their art, even if it means shedding part of their fanbase that doesn’t agree with their belief in free speech and other American ideals? Or do they try to “stay out of politics,” which is no longer possible in a country where financial hardship, ICE raids and the suppression of dissenters occurs on a daily basis and on a widespread level?
There’s no ambiguity when it comes to King Youngblood and their frontman, Cameron Lavi-Jones. He has chosen to be on the right side of history, is speaking out vociferously about his decision and doing whatever he possibly can to get other artists onboard. As the co-founder of Black & Loud, a festival taking place in Seattle and Portland on August 29 and 30, respectively, Lavi-Jones is expanding his reach to preach and proselytize to a grand scale.
The tagline for the event, which will feature performances by the Neville Brothers and many more, is: “In a world where independent music festivals are struggling, Black & Loud finds its footing and takes the Forefront.”
The Bad Penny could not be proud to present you with our conversation with Lavi-Jones, which we conducted over email a couple of days ago.
Continue readingThe 10 Best Venezuelan Heavy Bands, According to the Country’s Most Badass Garage-Rock Guitarist
Posted in Exclusives, Interviews, Lists with tags Dermis Tatú, Diego Ramirez, Joudy, La Leche, La Seguridad Nacional, Niño Nuclear, Revólver Suicida, Sentimiento Muerto, Zapato Tres, zeta on 08/21/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Do you remember Joudy, the Venezuelan band that has more courage than all of us put together as demonstrated by the escape they pulled off from their homeland to New York in order to escape drug cartel violence? No? Then shame on you for not reading every installment in The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series, which provides musicians with a space where they can talk about the threats that fascism poses to artists. (The Joudy installment is here.)
Apparently Diego Ramirez, frontman of the three-piece, enjoyed our conversation so much that he return for a second round of talks with The Bad Penny. This time, we covered an entirely different topic, which you’ve probably pieced together by now. A few weeks ago, we started touching base with musicians in countries around the world to ask them what heavy bands they consider to be the bee’s knees in their respective countries.
The series has quickly become one of the most popular in the 16-year history of this website, so in light of the positive reception, we’re gonna keep trotting around the globe (figuratively) to confer with native musicians about what great bands us foreigners aren’t paying enough attention to in their homelands. As a bonus, this project is doubling up as a rebuttal to Spotify and algorithms telling us what we should listen to; The Bad Penny continues to value recommendations that come from human beings as opposed to AI.
Without further ado, what follows is Ramirez’s list of the best heavy bands hailing from Venezuela. (Ramirez is clearly a guy who goes the extra mile, because he also notated what he considers to be each band’s best record.)
Continue readingWildest Concert Ever: mr.phylzzz Drummer Will Never Forget David Yow Pulling Out His Dong at Jesus Lizard Gig
Posted in Concert Reviews, Essays, Interviews, Reviews with tags Danny Sein, David Wm. Sims, David Yow, Duane Denison, Mac McNeilly, mr.phylzzz, the Jesus Lizard on 08/21/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
(This recollection of a classic Jesus Lizard concert is brought to you by Danny Sein, drummer for self-described trashy grunge band mr.phylzzz from Chicago.)
—
The most unforgettable show I ever attended featured the Jesus Lizard performing at the Metro in Chicago on December 9, 2017.
There’s a reason I have a tattoo. The Jesus Lizard has been a consistent band in the soundtrack of my life from the time I first heard them at 18. I didn’t like their music when I first heard it, but like most things I end up obsessing over, it grew on me with a few oddly persistent listens. I went [to the show] with my buddies Allen and Donny. I was 22.
When Allen came to pick us up, he was already blasting Goat at a deafening volume. It was frigid and snowing on the drive from Grand Rapids to Chicago, and the highway was icy with a heap of snow already on the ground. We hit 131 South and “Mouth Breather” started. Likely because of the song, Allen had a bit of a lead foot in the Crown Vic, so we fishtailed into a ditch. Donny and I pushed it back up onto the highway. We were up to our calves in snow. As soon as Allen resumed driving, he said, “Where were we?” And he started “Mouth Breather” over again from the beginning.
Continue readingUltra Lights’ ‘Pleasure’s All Yours’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Chunklet, Henry Owings, Ultra Lights on 08/21/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Pleasure’s All Yours was crafted by a band from Atlanta that either doesn’t give a shit or is three sheets to the wind; the jury’s still out on that one. Either way, Ultra Lights are the real deal; we dare you to deny that claim after giving this, their first record, a full spin. Fans of Superchunk, Les Savy Fav and Sparta, take note.
Continue readingThe Grief Abides: A Very Long-Awaited (and Very Long) Conversation With Mastodon
Posted in Interviews with tags Bill Kelliher, Brann Dailor, Brent Hinds, Geezer Butler, Josh Homme, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, Randy Blythe, Troy Sanders on 08/21/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Well folks, here it is: My interview with Mastodon (drummer Brann Dailor), 22 years in the waiting since I first saw them perform at the Knitting Factory on February 20, 2024, many months before the release of their second album, Leviathan. Not only is this feature probably my biggest story of the year, it’s kind of the ultimate Bad Penny read, as Dailor shares anecdotes involving many of my all-time favorite musicians: Dave Grohl, Randy Blythe and Lamb of God, System of a Down and more.
Continue readingNew Releases 8.21.26: Black Marble, Street Tombs, Weezer, Untitled With Drums, Fen, Lambchop, My Pet Fossil, Wild Pink
Posted in Lists, New Releases, News with tags Black Marble, Fen, Giraffe, Lambchop, My Pet Fossil, Sondre Lerche, Street Tombs, Untitled With Drums, Weezer, Wild Pink on 08/21/2026 by Kurt Orzeck2BYG – WYW remix feat. Tahjaee single (Def Jam)
Accursed Womb – Hymns of Blasphemous Fornication (Nespithe)
Siavash Amini & Eugene Thacker – Songs for Sad Poets Vol. III (American Dreams)
Argul – Soledad & Orgullo (Personal)
Azatoth – Carnal Lust of Blasphemy (Extremely Rotten)
Black Marble – Life in Small Spaces (Sacred Bones)
Mark Ciani – Utopia (self-release)
Destin Conrad – Roadrunner (Above Ground/ Empire)
The Cramps – Greatest Gravy (unreleased 1977 album produced by Alex Chilton) (Vengeance)
Cutthroat – Purge EP (M-Theory)
Dark Funeral – Beast to Praise (Century Media/ InsideOut)
Deathgrave – Hell Is Evil (Tankcrimes)
Dream Phases – Little Blue Magnolia single (self-release)
Enhypen – Sin: Bliss EP
Famous Strangers – s/t (self-release)
Feeders – Dark Days
Fen – Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth (Prophecy)
Brandon Flowers – Thrasher (Island)
Foglights – Nous Deux EP (Skep Wax/ Slumberland)
French Film – Yours + Five (Solid Brass)
From Ashes to New – Die for You (feat. Neoni) single (Better Noise)
Riviera Gaz (feat. Steve Shelley) – Catacroma (Vampire Blues)
GB – Herzsprung (Posh Isolation)
Ghost Hounds – Justified
Giraffe – Towering Inferno With Bongo Drums (Org Music/ Aquarium Drunkard)
Hey, Nothing – Hound (Music Soup/ Interscope)
Sawyer Hill – Everybody’s Home, Nobody’s Happy (AWAL)
Paris Jackson – Happiest Day of My Life (Republic)
Jamie James – Steppin’ Back 2009 (Oglio)
Lexi Jayde – Lover Girl (Columbia)
Coco Jones – Love Me Through single (High Standardz/ Def Jam)
Korpse – Forbid EP (Unique Leader)
Lambchop – Punching the Clown (Merge)
10 Best Free Bandcamp Downloads #18: Fake Dust, Cvinger, Negativa, Tenebra, Why Bother?, Nott, Alienator, 2 Slices
Posted in Lists, MP3s with tags 2 Slices, Alienator, Órbita, Cvinger, Fake Dust, Feral, Negativa, Nott, Tenebra, Why Bother? on 08/20/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Welcome to the 18th installment of The Bad Penny‘s Bandcamp Freebie series, in which we handpick our favorite free songs on the platform and dish them up for your consumption. Are we gonna get out of this thing alive, dear readers? Let’s not think of that, shall we, even though I just asked you.
Ladies and gentlemen, we entreat you with our latest batch of free music of the highest quality. (And the lowest price.) Not as many full-lengths time around as in recent editions past. But we think you’ll survive. All 10 titles featured here are free. And yes, you ARE welcome.
(Note: If you’re financially capable of supporting any of these artists and/or labels, please consider doing so.)
1. Fake Dust’s Demo 2022 and Tour Promo
Portland’s power-violence grindcore goons Fake Dust are still getting their sea legs; they came together in 2020 but just put out their first full-length, Decrepitizing Din of the Cerebral Psyopticon, in May via esteemed label Iron Lung Records and Headsplit Records. But like a nice attendant working at an ice cream store, the quartet has granted us free samples of their music in the form of these two (albeit very short) releases.
The Bad Penny (beta) 