Archive for trump

« Older Entries

On Tyranny: Frontman of Canada’s Elephant Stone Says ‘Being an Artist Already Makes You Political’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags , , , , , , on 08/27/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

“Canada feels more united than I’ve ever seen it.”

–Elephant Stone’s Rishi Dhir

When The Bad Penny caught wind that a band had released a song called “Fascists Killed Yer Rock ‘N’ Roll” as a single, we immediately invited them (Elephant Stone) to participate in our ongoing series On Tyranny, which focuses on how fascism affects artists artistically, emotionally and personally – and lets them set an example for other musicians that it is OK to criticize and protest the government.

Rishi Dhir, leader of the psych-pop squad from Montreal, graciously accepted our offer and answered some questions related to artists and the potential ways in which they interact with authoritarianism. We bring you the interview, which was conducted over email, on the eve of the 20-year-old group’s new album, ASHA, coming out tomorrow via Elephants on Parade in tandem with Little Cloud Records.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Calculus Was ‘Scared’ to Cover Politics; Now He’s Liberated With New LP (Exclusive)

Posted in Exclusives, Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , , , , on 08/25/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

After many periods of reflection and deliberation, The Calculus went through a transformation resulting in him wanting to focus more on the world around him – and political matters in particular, as they now infiltrate every aspect of our lives.

“I came to realize that anything is right or left,” he continued. “It’s all division and distraction from looking at people that are hoarding money while everyone’s suffering. We have a guillotine, it’s time to start chopping heads. Things need to be changed from up top in order for things to start getting better.”

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Frontman for Hardcore Heroes Angel Du$t Says ‘Brown People Are Being Ripped From Their Families and Sent Off God Knows Where. It’s a Really Dark Time.’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags , , , , , , , , , on 08/25/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Some bands – especially hypocritical ones that refer to themselves as “punk” or “hardcore” – have the audacity to blaspheme those traditions by lamely copping out with “we don’t do politics” as an excuse.

Baltimore’s Angel Du$t – who would burn retinas if they were any hotter right now – are not one of those cowardly bands.

In the latest edition of On Tyranny (published without that header on Post-Punk), we interviewed Justice Tripp – the band’s mainstay member and lead vocalist – who does not mince words. Ever.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

Maria BC’s Marathon Tour of the US Comes to a Close; Talks Trump in Unreleased Interview

Posted in Interviews, News with tags , , , on 08/25/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Deliberately or not, Maria BC broadened their horizons and engaged with the world in a way the artist hadn’t done before with Marathon, an album that teems with more sincerity and human emotion than the past two releases. Those records were certainly noteworthy, but Marathon felt like a truer work of art in that it recognized, if not empathized — an action that is actually very difficult to accomplish, even though marketing companies recklessly overuse and thus distort its meaning — with Americans and the hardships they are currently experiencing.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Brandi Carlile’s ‘Concert for Minneapolis’ Is Now Free to Watch on YouTube

Posted in Features, News, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags , , , , , , , , , on 08/24/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

It seemed inevitable from the moment that Brandi Carlile walked onstage to perform a massive benefit concert in the wake of the ICE-provoked melees that occurred in Minneapolis six months ago that her performance would be historic. Now the soaring singer-songwriter is helping solidify the importance and magnitude of the show by making it available for free on YouTube for all to see.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Dumb Waiter, the Next Big Thing in Noise Rock, Say ‘It’s Hard Not to Be Political’ Now

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , , on 07/29/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Dumb Waiter’s saxophone player and vocalist, Tristan Brennis, is wise to the fact that many musicians are speaking out in resistance to MAGA and fascism because the war being wages is between right and wrong, not right and left.

“In this day and age, you know, in 2026, it’s kind of hard not to be political,” he says. “I don’t think, when writing [our new] album … any of us intended to make it political. I think it’s just we’re a reflection of our surroundings. You close your eyes, you blink, and all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘Wait a second, we’re actually pretty pissed off.'”

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Remembering Frank Kozik, Album Art Illustrator and Antagonist of Authoritarianism

Posted in Features, In Memorium, On Tyranny, On Tyranny with tags , , , , , , , , , , on 07/25/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

A little over three years ago, unparalleled album art illustrator Frank Kozik – best known for being embraced by the stoner-rock community – or, as The New York Times gently worded it, “graphic artist best known for his posters for alternative rock bands.” While The Bad Penny was not in a position at the time to celebrate his and grieve his passing, now feels as good time as any to do so.

To be clear, Kozik’s widow, Sharon Kozik, is in control of his social media accounts. While she hasn’t posted copiously, she did publish the following in January:

“Frank would often tell me stories about what it was like growing up in Spain under Franco’s fascist dictatorship. He moved to America when he was 15 to escape it. Much of his artwork deals with the themes of rebelling against fascism, mocking it. He fully embraced our right of freedom of expression and open political discourse. Regardless of your political beliefs we must keep America free from government tyranny and police snatching people off the street, from their homes, schools.”

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Leetham, Queer Pop Artist Who Grew Up Mormon, Mocks MAGA for Getting ‘Star Wars’ Canon Backward

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , , , , , on 07/18/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Vibrant SLC newcomer Leetham wants to be taken seriously – but only by people who also know how to throw down on the dance floor. Raised in a Mormon household and now embraced by the queer community with which he proudly associates himself, he’s furious that intolerance is driving trans kids to suicide. He’s also mystified as to why young MAGA don’t seem to grok that the Dark Side were the villains in Star Wars. Yeah, folks, it’s worse than we thought out there.

Catch Leetham in concert soon when he opens for another ascendant pop newbie, Zee Machine – and in the meantime, savor his recently released, four-track, must-get EP, KINK, for all its worth.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Belgian Music Magazine Editor Creates Benefit Comp to Fund Ukrainians Amid Russian Horrors

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , on 07/17/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Before Russia unleashed its shocking, abhorrent, genocidal and unlawful invasion into Ukraine in February 2022, Bernard Van Isacker – Chief Editor of Side-Line – didn’t have designs on focusing his music publication on current affairs and events per se. “But it did happen,” Isacker, a Belgian citizen, confided in a candid interview with The Bad Penny on Friday, July 17. “I had witnessed something I never imagined … [would be] possible in a democratic country. Tyranny can hit quite close sometimes. You’d never imagine this would be possible in a democratic country, but it happens,” Isacker continued. “And it happened to me. [Not to mention] a lot of crap being published online about myself.”

In response, Isacker spearheaded an initiative to help the people of Ukraine. Specifically, a pay-what-you-want-compilation called United 1 – The Freya Files, a various-artists dark-wave compendium issued by Side-Line. The collection just came out today.The track list is below:

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

On Tyranny: Garage-Rock Band Joudy Escaped Violence in Venezuela, Found Asylum in US – but Still Live in Fear. Here Is Their Story.

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , , on 06/29/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Imagine your dream is to be a rock star – an aspiration that’s probably occurred to many readers of this website. Now imagine that you work as hard as you possibly can, exhausting all your drive and motivation, squeezing every drop of your creativity and spending every moment at your disposal to make your dream come true.

And it does, because there is still some justice in this world, and because perseverance and the human spirit can lead to extraordinary outcomes. You’ve established your heavy-psych/garage-rock band in your homeland of Venezuela, you’re continuing to put in the hard work, you’re gaining traction, you’re building a fanbase. And then – without any time to prepare or redraw the plan for your future that you’ve had all along – you’re upended by external factors that are totally out of your control, and threaten your life, the lives of those you love, and your lifelong ambitions. Rampant violence and thugs with no regard for human life are willing, ready and able to extinguish yours without a second thought and the simple pull of a trigger or slice of a blade.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment »

« Older Entries