Do Ya Feel Lucky, Punk?
Punk in pop culture, the new Dead End Moon, and a female-fronted punk playlist!
Well, WE certainly feel lucky - thanks once again for joining us at Bad Bug HQ! Our editor (and resident music dork) - John MacLeod - was feeling inspired by Bad Pussy this week. Read on for his recommendations, and then check out everything we’ve got cookin’ on Kickstarter
Punk Goes To The Movies: Dinner In America
This one instantly entered my Top 5 punk movies, sitting comfortably next to classics like SLC Punk and Return Of The Living Dead - not just in soundtrack, but in the overall aesthetic and tone of the main characters. We open on Simon, an early-early 20s punk who’s making money as a test subject for big pharma (as well as selling various bodily fluids), all to raise funds to record a demo with his band. While fleeing the cops early in the flick, Simon crosses paths with Patty, an awkward early 20s pet shop clerk. She doesn’t rat him out to the cops, so their relationship starts out on pretty solid ground.
I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, since this movie was a delight to watch going in blind. You could over-simplify and say that it’s a punk rock romcom with hints of Napoleon Dynamite. But it’s much more, as it does a great job of portraying small-town punk scenes in America: from fellow outcasts (regardless of their level of dorkiness) lifting each other up - to dancing to home-dubbed tapes in your bedroom - to the feel of a tiny warehouse show with no production. Add in the chemistry of the unlikely main duo, and Simon’s NSFW language slowly fades from focus as this shifts into an unexpectedly sweet tale.
Bonus: the original song “Watermelon”, written in character as Patty by actress Emily Skeggs, is just fun on a bun.
Punk On TV: We Are Lady Parts
Just a quick shout-out for one of the best half-hour comedy shows on TV. It features an all-female Muslim punk band in London, and has two seasons so far on Peacock. Funny, heartwarming, and amazing original tunes! (Yes, there’s a vinyl release!)
Kickstarter: Current Campaigns
DEAD END MOON #1-4 - Maggie and the gang are back! Make sure to check out the 72-Hour Launch Special!
BAD PUSSY #1 - Ends this week!
CURSE OF THE GORGON #1-2 - Mandisa continues to learn the side effects of her mythical miracle cure: the blood of Medusa!
Launching Today!
ATOMIC BANG! #1 - New retro sci-fi tales from Jason Pell, launches today!
SOME PUNK RAWK TUNES FOR YOUR EARHOLES!
Here are a bunch of great female-fronted punk and alternative bands. I’d like to think this would be the kinda soundtrack that would’ve inspired the folks in Bad Pussy!
Website exclusives that expire at the end of this week!
Before you go… (And it can be either the movie itself or the soundtrack)
That’s all for now…bugs and kisses,
John and the Bad Bug team