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Wonderland Rejects: Queercore Punk, DIY Roots, Goodbye Wonderland, & Doll Fest!

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.
https://www.instagram.com/wonderlandrejects1312
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The Hellflowers on Punk, Identity, Making Music Without Labels and Doll Fest!

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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Pretty Frankenstein on Goth Punk, Queer Identity and Doll Fest!

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.
https://www.instagram.com/Prettyfrankensteinbandwww.youtube.com/@UCaHh7_uWXcCF41rE5u1VppQ https://www.prettyfrankenstein.com/
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Ick on DIY Punk, Community, and Breaking Genre Rules and Doll Fest!

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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Damage Party on Punk, DIY Ethics, Building Chaos Together And Doll Fest!

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.
https://www.instagram.com/damage_party/https://damageparty.bandcamp.com/https://www.youtube.com/@UCrKZnbabrg0_wX3aNa7Ppwg 
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Bloody Benders’ Taty on Horror Punk, Rebellion & Doll Fest 2026!

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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Alice Bag on Punk, Identity, and Why You Can’t Go Back!

In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with punk icon Alice Bag, co-founder and lead singer of The Bags, for a deeply personal conversation about music, identity, and evolution. Raised in East Los Angeles, Alice reflects on a childhood shaped by sound, creativity, and a family that encouraged her artistic instincts long before punk gave her a name for them.
Alice shares how early performances helped her understand who she was—and why punk became the perfect outlet for someone who always felt like an outsider. She opens up about the profound influence of artists like David Bowie, whose openness around gender and self-expression helped her find confidence, clarity, and self-acceptance at a formative time.
The conversation moves through the early LA punk scene, the rise of women in punk, and why inclusivity and representation remain essential to the genre’s survival. Alice reflects on punk’s longevity, arguing that its power lies in its ability to evolve without losing its truth.
After living in Mexico City, Alice talks about how cultural shifts, daily life, and creative freedom have reshaped her songwriting. She also hints at new collaborations and a continued commitment to pushing her musical boundaries.
Honest, thoughtful, and energized, this episode captures an artist who never stopped questioning, creating, or believing in punk as a living, breathing force.
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Doll Fest: Inside the building a Femme-Fronted, Inclusive Music Festival!

In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Maria Chaos and Freya Yamamoto for a powerful conversation about music, representation, and building safer, more inclusive live events through Doll Fest. What began as a response to exclusionary festival lineups has grown into a femme-fronted, femme-owned, and femme-operated movement amplifying marginalized voices across punk, hip hop, and alternative scenes. Maria and Freya unpack how community feedback has shaped Doll Fest’s accessibility, affordability, and safety-first approach—without losing its DIY punk energy. The episode looks ahead to Doll Fest 2026 in Oakland and Mexico City, highlights artists like Wheelchair Sports Camp, DAMAG3, Bad Cop / Bad Cop, and icon Alice Bag, and underscores the role of Punk Rock Saves Lives in supporting mental health and community care. Loud, radical, and deeply human, Doll Fest proves that festivals can be fun and transformative.
Episode Highlights
• How Doll Fest was born from the need for real representation on and off stage• Why femme-fronted, marginalized voices are central—not supplemental—to the lineup• Building accessibility, safety, and affordability without sacrificing punk’s DIY spirit• Community impact moments, including The Femmes Are Giving fundraiser• What to expect from Doll Fest 2026 in Oakland and Mexico City• Genre-spanning artists and why intentional curation matters• The power of asking, showing up, and building spaces where everyone belongs
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Inside Billy Joel Jr.’s Album You’re a Star and What’s Next on The Hang!

In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Chicago-based indie rock band Billy Joel Jr. for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about music, identity, and building a band in today’s ever-shifting industry. Far from a novelty name, Billy Joel Jr. is a deeply collaborative project rooted in honesty, texture, and a fiercely DIY ethos.
Frontman Ari Levin traces his journey from classical piano and immigrant-family expectations to writing emotionally direct indie rock songs, while guitarist Nate Perez shares how Latin rhythms, pop punk, and audio engineering shape the band’s sound both on stage and in the studio. Bassist Charlie adds a layer of dream pop, shoegaze, and classical discipline, giving the band its dynamic low-end depth. Together, they unpack how wildly different influences—from emo and Midwest indie to Middle Eastern rhythms—somehow meet in the middle.
The conversation also dives into mentorship, balancing day jobs with creative ambition, and why collaboration matters more than perfection. With their debut full-length You’re a Star out now and new material already taking shape, Billy Joel Jr. is focused on growing their audience without losing the soul that got them here.
Episode Highlights:• How the band formed and found its collaborative sound• The real story behind the name “Billy Joel Jr.”• Musical influences spanning emo, Latin music, dream pop, and indie rock• Why mentorship matters in the modern music scene• Balancing creative passion with day jobs• Inside the album You’re a Star• What Billy Joel Jr. is building
 
Bandcamp: https://billyjoeljr.bandcamp.com/
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Dear Jack Foundation: How Young Adults With Cancer Find Real Support!

In this powerful episode of The Hang!, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Susan Wandishin, Senior Director of Operations at the Dear Jack Foundation, for a deeply human conversation about what young adults with cancer truly need beyond medical care. Every six minutes, a young adult between 15 and 39 is diagnosed with cancer in the U.S.—and many are left emotionally isolated once treatment ends.
Susan shares how Dear Jack fills that gap through wish-granting experiences, personalized letters of support, virtual community programming, and restorative survivor retreats. Founded by musician Andrew McMahon, the foundation was born from lived experience and built around the belief that healing the heart and mind is just as important as healing the body.
From unforgettable music-based wishes to simple handwritten notes that change mental health outcomes, this episode highlights the power of community, volunteerism, and showing up for others. Whether you’re a music fan, nonprofit supporter, or someone looking to make a real difference, this conversation shows how small acts can create life-changing impact for young adults navigating cancer.
#DearJackFoundation #YoungAdultCancer #CancerSupport #MentalHealthMatters #TheHangPodcast #Cancer #AndrewMcMahon
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