The Bad Penny (beta)

Exclusive Album Premiere: Wipes’ ‘Wipes’

Posted in Exclusives, Interviews, News with tags Wipes on 05/21/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Wipes are declaring Don’t Tell My Parents with the new LP that the noise-punk band will issue through Hex Records on Friday. But The Bad Penny is telling everyone we know about the righteously rambunctious by exclusively presenting a stream of the entire album today.

Not to be confused with Wipers, the influential Portland post-punk band that both Nirvana and the Melvins covered, the rather similar-sounding Wipes are still in their toddler years and hail from Allentown, Pennsylvania. Wipes carry the heavily distorted torch previously held by Wipers but are even more committed to making exuberant, off-kilter noise.

The band released new cuts “Social Mask” and “Stone Eater” earlier this year. Now, check out Don’t Tell My Parents in its entirety:

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M(h)aol Meld Feminist Punk With Animal-Activism

Posted in Interviews with tags M(h)aol on 05/20/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Dublin’s feminist-punk/animal-activists M(h)aol littered their new record with copious references to their precious pets. Get better acquainted with the band in my recent New Noise interview with the Merge Records musicians.

Pet Sounds #49: M(h)aol Maintains Merge Records’ Track Record of Dog-Loving LPs

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Exclusive: Miracle Blood Are in for a Bloody Good Time With Epic Tour

Posted in Exclusives, Interviews, My City Rules, News with tags Caterwaul Fest, Miracle Blood on 05/19/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Noise punks Miracle Blood are ready to bring the ruckus with an ambitious tour starting July 11 in Buffalo, NY, running through August 2 in Washington DC.

The Beantown badasses are also on the docket for the fifth edition of the ultra-underground Caterwaul Fest in Minneapolis on May 26. In between Caterwaul and the onset of their summer trek, the band will hit up Portsmouth, New Hampshire (June 13); Troy, New York (June 24); and Boston (June 28).

Miracle Blood certainly aren’t allergic to playing live, and this new jaunt will be their most extensive one to date.

“Play new material in front of crowds to kind of see what’s landing right and what maybe needs a little bit more work,” cofounder/guitarist/vocalist Andrew Wong told The Bad Penny.

With so many upcoming engagements, it’s patently obvious that Miracle Blood–who tout themselves as “gnarly noise-punk for the weird at heart”–are on fi-yah. If noise-punk isn’t your jam, give Miracle Blood a shot nonetheless, as they meld their music with mathcore as well.

Expect scenes like this to unfold frequently during Miracle Blood’s upcoming gigs:

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Friendship Commanders’ Buick Audra Can’t Stop Making Music

Posted in Interviews with tags Buick Audra, Friendship Commanders on 05/19/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

The impressively prolific Buick Audra could have gone on a hiatus—but instead, the gifted guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter decided to turn her focus from Friendship Commanders and toward her other project, which is also called “Buick Audra.” Read my interview with Audra on New Noise.

Interview: Buick Audra of Friendship Commanders Talks Straight-Up on New LP

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Ataris Frontman’s Dog Helped Save Him From the Brink of Death

Posted in Interviews with tags The Ataris on 05/18/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Kristopher Roe, frontman for punk legends the Ataris, has a secret to keeping himself happy, healthy, and sane. He derives superhero invincibility from his beloved dog, which he gushed about for New Noise.

Pet Sounds #48: Like Their Dogs, Ataris Geek Out Over Games

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Slow Crush’s ‘Thirst’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Slow Crush on 05/17/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

On the title track to Slow Crush’s new album Thirst, one of the leading hopefuls in shoegaze’s ascendant return urges renewal in this unforgiving world we are all culpable of having brought upon ourselves. Read my Treble review.

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Summer Music Fests Near for Those About to Rock

Posted in Features with tags Brutal Assault, Maryland Deathfest, Wacken on 05/17/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Read my primers on three of the best music festivals on the planet–Brutal Assault in Czechia, Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore and Wacken in Germany–in this summer music-fest preview feature for Knotfest.com.

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Callous Daoboys’ ‘I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Callous Daoboys on 05/16/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven is The Callous Daoboys’ latest push into their postulation that Heaven will be deafening and yet widely accessible. Read my short Treble review.

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Rilo Kiley’s ‘That’s How We Choose to Remember It’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Rilo Kiley on 05/16/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

There are too many rock-band reunions to count happening these days, but one of the most excitedly received is that of Rilo Kiley, who have already sold out their show tomorrow night at Boise’s Treefort Music Hall. Get warmed up for it by reading my FLOOD review of their greatest-hits record that arrived today.

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Michael Younker and His Kitty Are Like Two Cool Cats in a Pod

Posted in Interviews with tags Michael Younker on 05/14/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Singer/songwriter Michael Younker’s affection and connection with his cat Birdie is air-tight in more ways than one. The two share a 700-foot flat in Brooklyn and rarely leave each other’s sight. Birdie is not only an indispensable friend to Younker but a pet that keeps the artist throughly entertained when he’s not making music. Read my hot-off-the-proverbial-press New Noise interview with the enormously talented and kind-as-can-be musician.