Archive for The Shredder

Rat Utopia Experiment Ready to Infest and ‘Lobotomize’ Boise Tonight at the Shredder

Posted in Concert Previews, Interviews with tags , , , , on 10/15/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

The Rat Utopia Experiment, a female-fronted “circus” punk-rock band from Tacoma, Washington, are storming into Boise this evening with a vengeance. They’ll be holing up at The Shredder for what is sure to be an overstimulating performance, and it’s basically a given that the band will bust out performances of the two songs from their June 7-inch, “Lobotomize Me” and “Three-Banded Armadillo.”

Fronted by lead vocalist Phia Lane, the outlandish outfit – which paints their faces to aptly resemble clowns – also features bassist/vocalist Francis Green, guitarists Maddox Mullins and Drix Drixolle, and drummer Christian Montemayor. The Bad Penny checked in with the band on Thursday as they drove en route to Boise.

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Boise’s Music Community Unites Tonight for Ian Waggoner Benefit Concert

Posted in News with tags , , , , , , , 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.

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Anciients, Now Touring the U.S., Are the Must-See Metal Band of the Moment

Posted in Concert Reviews, Reviews with tags , , , on 08/31/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

Keeping this quick, because The Bad Penny doesn’t typically run a review of a show previously previewed on the site: By any means necessary, catch Anciients on their current tour of the U.S., the Vancouver band’s first in eight years. Their gig in Boise on Friday night at the Shredder was pitch-perfect. When the band finished their 10-song set, it took awhile for the attendees to leave, as they struggled to locate their jaws, which had dropped off their faces and onto the floor during Anciients’ unrelenting, uncompromising, unpretentious and unimaginably spot-on set.

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