I think I first heard about Trash Anderson’s Hot Pennies project on the AMS Radio blog a couple of months ago: A bit of garage rock, a bit of cow punk, a lot of attitude. To learn more, I reached out to Trash with a few questions…

Who’s in Hot Pennies, and how did the band come together?

Hot Pennies is a project I started a few years ago when I began recording song ideas into my phone as potential tracks I would like to eventually play and produce. I hadn’t made or produced any music in about 10 years but, slowly, songs began to take shape. In 2024 I recorded my first two singles myself and then finally put those out in January of last year.

I was honestly surprised by the reaction I got from others. Folx seemed pretty jazzed about the tracks. A long-time friend, and former bandmate, Scott “Tito” Russell came into town for a visit and I asked if he had any interest in recording drums for my next two singles. I’m grateful he said yes because he gave them the killer punch I was looking for. 

Do you play live, or is Hot Pennies more of a studio project?

We just recently played our first show! After the release of TUNGSTEN in October ’25, a few friends approached me saying that if I ever had any interest in doing the songs live, to let them know. While I started this project as an excuse to record tracks with friends, I certainly wasn’t opposed to the idea. I just wasn’t honestly sure when the opportunity would arrive.

Well, wouldn’t you know it, my friend Jeremy and his band Redoubt were throwing a show in January. He said, “I’m sure you could put a band together by then,” so I asked the friends who had approached me and it somehow all came together. 

We had our first show 9 weeks after our first rehearsal!

The live version of Hot Pennies is Andrew Jemsek (drums), Dana S (vox/guitar), Donald Martinez (bass), Trent Morue (lead guitar/vox), and myself (vox/guitar).

Your latest release, “You Suck” (backed with “I’m Tired”) came out on Valentine’s day. How do the songs tie in with the holiday?

Well, I won’t lie, I thought it was a bit cheeky to release a single called YOU SUCK on Valentine’s Day. It’s a song for all of us in committed, loving relationships. Sometimes, for a moment or two, you can’t stand to be around someone you love. 

Naturally, YOU SUCK is a love song. I think we all have these moments in relationships sometimes. The important thing is communication, actually listening, and enacting change. 

The two tracks are duets with Dana S of JJCnV and Sturdy Ladies. Can you tell me a little about those two bands?

Yeah, they’re both great! JJCnV has been around for 20 years and I’ve been moonlighting on saxophone with them for the past 10. It’s co-fronted by Pete Hinz on bass/vox with Dana on guitar/vox and Jeff Barthold on the drums and he provides vocals as well. 

Kinda hard to define but I describe them as art-punk. There’s both experimental and poppy elements to their sound. Pure rocknroll and definitely unique.

Sturdy Ladies has been around for just about 10 years now. Dana fronts that band with Chela Mishke on bass/vox and Amy Young on drums. The latter are in a band called French Girls together, but they all have been associated with many other projects. They’re one of my favorite bands. Straight-ahead, rocknroll punk with catchy songs and dynamite style.

I definitely recommend looking both bands up!

And how did the collaboration come about?

After playing with someone for 10 years, you get pretty close to ’em. I consider JJCnV my siblings, but in a recent interview I was referenced as their son hahaha —  I’ve wanted to record these duets with Dana for a couple of years now so I’m really glad the opportunity arrived to make ’em happen.

You’re based in Tempe, Arizona, and they’re based in nearby Phoenix. Are you all part of the same live music scene? If so, what is that scene like?

Oh yeah — Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale — wherever there’s a venue to play at in the Valley, it’s all considered the PHX scene here. While I’m sure it’s this way in most places, the scene here is pretty fractured by genre and style although there are folx who book shows with various types of bands.

The punk/rocknroll scene I’m lucky to be part of is amazing here. All kinds of age ranges, really fun clubs and bars to play in, and an incredible mix of people. A huge DIY/house show element too although I think most of us prefer to play in a venue!

Frank Labor provides a guitar solo on “You Suck.” Can you tell me a little bit about him and what you like about his music?

Frank is the man! A legend in the game who’s played in tons of bands like The Tickets, Labor Party, Battered Suitcases, The 16 Eyes (a personal fave), Jeff Dahl Band, and 8Five Kalidocolor. He currently plays in his new band Thee Oblidiots with his wife Sharon.

He always brings the energy and is the master of the garage-punk sound. I knew I needed some of that on YOU SUCK and was absolutely thrilled when he said he would lay down the solo. I think it came out pretty epic but that’s just what Frank does!

Do you think your new tracks will eventually appear on an album, or are they meant to stand on their own?

I just may yet release them all together on an album. However, I have so much material I’d like to record, I can also see myself foregoing all the early singles when it comes time to put a proper album out. We’ll see, I suppose!

What’s on the horizon for you?

By the time this runs, I will hopefully have the band together to record a new EPs worth of material. Other than that, it’ll always be about recording tracks with friends and getting stuff out there… I’ve got a phone filled with voice memos that I need to turn into actual songs!