In this episode of The Hang!, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Kayla Renelle, Alex Quick, Andrew Narveson, and Brandon McCullough of Voluntary Hazing, the 12-piece ska and pop-punk powerhouse formed in San Jose, California. What started as a college marching band tradition — yes, involving a porta-potty and a fight song — evolved into one of the Bay Area’s most vibrant horn-driven live acts.

The band breaks down the real story behind their controversial name (no, they do not advocate hazing), how a 50-member campus ska ensemble whittled down into a tight touring unit, and why ska music remains one of the most joyful and unifying genres in modern punk culture.

They also dive into their creative process, the ghost-themed lyric video that fans can’t stop watching, the bet that led to eating a saxophone reed, and the mentors who shaped them as musicians. Plus — they share what Dollfest means to them and what fans can expect next.

If you love ska revival, pop punk storytelling, and DIY bands with heart, this episode is your next listen.

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In this episode of The Hang, Scott Saldinger sits down with Bay Area punk trio Black Gold Sun — Anita Carol Lofton, Veronica, and Q Lynn — to talk about how a post-election spark turned into one of the most electrifying new bands in punk.

The idea was simple but urgent: the world needed a Black girl punk band. What followed was a spontaneous sidewalk show outside a San Francisco skateboard shop, a second gig at The Ivy Room, and a fast track to Doll Fest 2026. But this isn’t just a story about momentum — it’s about intention.

Anita brings sharp, temperature-of-the-world lyricism. Veronica delivers groove-first bass rooted in instinct over theory. Q Lynn — a drummer shaped by marching bands, community programs, and deep hip-hop influence — stepped into punk for the first time and immediately made it thunder.

They talk tone and texture, collaboration without ego, and what punk means now — not as a genre gatekept by history, but as a space where you don’t need permission to speak your truth.

With an album expected in May/June 2026, Black Gold Sun aren’t asking to belong in punk. They’re defining it.

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00:00 Welcome to The Hang – Meet Black Gold Sun

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Independent hip hop artist DAMAG3 sits down on The Hang to unpack the real story behind her evolution — from childhood Metallica moments to a near breaking point in 2020 that reignited her creative life.

Rooted in Louisiana but carving out a fiercely genre-blending sound, DAMAG3 opens up about the humiliation rituals of early creativity, the complicated relationship between failure and growth, and how fear nearly silenced her before she ever began. What started with a laptop, a mic, and unemployment money has grown into five years of relentless output — political anthems, introspective confessions, and tracks that refuse easy categorization.

She breaks down the meaning behind defining songs like “Run,” “Hunter Schaefer,” and “Should I Stay,” revealing how authenticity, not algorithm-chasing, is now guiding her process. From anger-fueled viral moments to rediscovering inspiration through morning pages and self-reflection, DAMAG3 shares what it really means to outgrow your own persona.

This is not a surface-level music interview. It’s a raw discussion about identity, ego, creative discipline, and what happens when an artist decides to stop performing for the algorithm — and start listening to themselves.

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How do you start a band in the middle of a pandemic — and turn it into something powerful?

In this episode of The Hang!, Scott Saldinger sits down with Mary Diridon and Serge of Beneath You, the Bay Area pop punk band blending melodic hooks, ska-adjacent rhythms, and emotionally charged storytelling. What began as a COVID-era songwriting experiment between a couple evolved into a full band powered by members of Dance Hall Crashers and decades of punk experience.

Mary opens up about overcoming lifelong stage fright — including how open mics became her unlikely training ground. Serge reflects on touring the world in bands like Limp and the evolution of punk community from early Punk Rock Bowling days to today’s inclusive festival culture.

They dive deep into their album General Hermitude, breaking down standout tracks like “Lizzy” and “Information,” and how collaboration transformed those songs from simple demos into dynamic, explosive anthems.

The conversation explores songwriting as partnership, the reality of modern music consumption, why community matters more than ever, and what Dollfest represents for the future of punk rock.

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In this episode of The Hang, Scott Saldinger sits down with Wonderland Rejects, the Bay Area queercore punk trio carrying the legacy of 1980s queercore and riot grrrl into a new era of independent music.

The band shares how punk became a lifeline — from early musical influences to discovering identity, chosen family, and creative purpose within the underground scene. They unpack their debut album Goodbye Wonderland, explaining how its sound draws from classic queercore, DIY punk ethics, and femme-forward rebellion while confronting modern issues facing LGBTQ+ artists.

Wonderland Rejects break down their collaborative songwriting process, revealing how songs evolve through conversation, lived experience, and spontaneous rehearsal moments rather than polished industry formulas. They also speak candidly about navigating today’s music economy: social media fatigue, algorithm pressure, DIY touring, self-produced visuals, and why live punk shows remain essential for real connection in a digital-first world.

The conversation turns to their upcoming release Hello Rejects, hinting at a blues-tinged expansion of their punk sound while staying rooted in raw energy and political urgency.

If you’re searching for modern queercore bands, femme-fronted punk artists, Bay Area DIY music, or the future of inclusive punk rock, this episode offers an unfiltered look at how underground scenes survive and evolve.

Punk isn’t nostalgia here — it’s community, resistance, and forward motion.

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In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Christina and Matt of The Hellflowers, a Los Angeles–based punk rock band known for their raw energy, emotional depth, and refusal to be boxed into a single genre. The conversation traces Christina’s earliest connection to music at age three, shaped by rebellion, survival, and self-discovery, alongside Matt’s unconventional path from childhood violin lessons to skate-punk obsession and guitar-driven songwriting.

Together, they unpack how The Hellflowers formed through personal relationships, long-distance commitment, and an organic creative process that values feel over formulas. Rather than chasing trends, the band focuses on texture, collaboration, and letting songs evolve naturally—sometimes pulling from punk, garage rock, goth, or even unexpected instrumentation like marimba, accordion, and trumpet.

The discussion also explores The Hellflowers’ deep connection to community and inclusivity within punk culture, including how those values led them to become part of DollFest, a festival centered on amplifying femme-fronted and marginalized voices. Christina and Matt reflect on why punk remains one of the most welcoming and protective music scenes, the importance of supporting artists directly, and what fans can expect from their upcoming shows and future releases.

This episode is about music as survival, collaboration as identity, and why punk still matters—now more than ever.

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In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Grey Starr, the creative force behind Pretty Frankenstein, a Bay Area–based queer alt-goth collective blending punk intensity, cinematic darkness, and deeply personal storytelling.

Grey shares how growing up in a musical Filipino family shaped their artistic foundation, from early exposure to goth, punk, and industrial music to later embracing genre-bending experimentation. The conversation explores what it means to create music rooted in identity—where art, queerness, family, and community all intersect. Grey opens up about performing with their parents, the power of visible trans joy on stage, and why authenticity matters more than fitting neatly into any single genre.

The episode also dives into Pretty Frankenstein’s creative process, songwriting philosophy, and wide-ranging influences—from the macabre atmospheres of goth to punk’s urgency, hip-hop rhythms, and blues-driven storytelling inspired by artists like Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Grey discusses standout tracks like “Girls Will Be Ghouls,” the balance between catchiness and meaning, and the importance of making music that feels communal and singable.

Finally, the conversation highlights the band’s upcoming appearance at Doll Fest, an artist-driven festival centered on representation, care, and real community support. This episode is a candid look at underground music, chosen family, and why supporting local artists is essential for art to survive.

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In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Ick, a feral two-piece punk band from Modesto, California, whose sound pulls from hardcore, noise rock, sludge, and experimental punk without ever settling into one box.

Growing up just blocks apart, guitarist/vocalist Jackie Westcott and drummer Eli Alsop built Ick from friendship, frustration, and a shared belief that punk isn’t about perfection—it’s about doing it yourself and doing it honestly. The conversation traces their early influences, how being from a smaller Central Valley city shaped their independence, and why DIY culture continues to be the backbone of everything they create.

Ick opens up about their songwriting process, where riffs grow organically, lyrics come from lived emotion, and collaboration means trusting each other enough to challenge ideas without ego. Jackie discusses how writing becomes a way to survive heavy emotions, while Eli explains how simplicity, feel, and originality guide his drumming rather than genre expectations.

The episode also dives into Ick’s involvement with Doll Fest, a festival rooted in inclusion and community. For Ick, supporting diverse and local bands isn’t a trend—it’s a responsibility. 

This is a conversation about making music without permission, building community from the ground up, and trusting that if it’s real, people will feel it.

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In this episode of The Hang, we sit down with Oakland punk band Damage Party for a raw, unfiltered conversation about music, identity, and why punk still matters. This isn’t just a band interview—it’s a deep dive into how different musical paths collide to form something loud, personal, and intentional.

Each member of Damage Party brings a distinct background to the table, shaping a sound rooted in punk but stretched by lived experience, instinct, and experimentation. They talk openly about how their songwriting process works as a true collaboration—riffs, rhythms, and lyrics evolving together rather than following a rigid formula. Punk, for them, isn’t a costume or a genre checkbox. It’s about individuality, refusal, and creating space to exist loudly on your own terms.

The band also reflects on the power of live shows, where their music fully comes alive, and why community support is essential for artists trying to survive outside traditional industry systems. From the weight of language and naming to the idea that “your words are spells,” Damage Party unpack how meaning, chaos, and intention shape everything they create.

If you care about punk as a living, evolving force—and not just nostalgia—this episode shows why Damage Party is a band worth paying attention to right now.

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In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Taty Bloody Batty, frontwoman of Mexico City horror-punk powerhouse Bloody Benders. As part of Doll Fest 2026 coverage, Taty shares the story of how music found her before she was even born—shaped by early exposure to David Bowie, punk philosophy, and a lifelong love of horror culture.

The conversation explores Bloody Benders’ signature blend of macabre aesthetics, raw punk energy, and social urgency. Taty breaks down the band’s collaborative songwriting process, how their album 13 came together, and why songs like “Por Las Que Ya No Están” exist as both protest and remembrance amid ongoing violence against women in Mexico.

Taty also speaks openly about empowerment—why Bloody Benders want young women to feel rebellious, loud, and unapologetically themselves—and how punk remains a vital platform for resistance. Influences ranging from Alice Cooper to Riot Grrrl icons and horror cinema shape the band’s evolving identity, while their community-driven spirit continues to grow what Taty calls “the Bloody Benders monster.”

The episode closes with a look ahead to Doll Fest 2026, the importance of supporting female-fronted artists, and the vibrant, defiant energy of the Mexican underground punk scene.

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