Pop Loser: Ego Death at a Republican Party

Welcome back to Pop Loser! This week, Hayley Williams has a suggestion for “Nazi bitches,” Kelly Clarkson admitted to being “obsessed” with AI (sigh), Chrissie Hynde shared one of her hottest takes yet, and Justin Timberlake finally apologized for his beatboxing phase. Huge news: I have a new favorite Roxy Music song. Plus, keep reading if you want to see Neil Young “hoover” some pistachios.

This Week in Music:

This week in Strangerland, instrumental rock trio Bering Sea stopped by the office for another episode of Noise Complaint. Jullianne Bell and I unleashed the first installment of our Scarecrow Psychotronic Movie challenge picks, offering a fucked-up movie recommendation for every day of October (you’re welcome!). Stay tuned for week two, dropping Thursday.  

Ego Death at a Republican Party. During her show in California on Saturday, Hayley Williams exclaimed “fuck ICE” and “free motherfucking Palestine” from the stage. Shortly after, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement to Fox News—because of course they did—stating: “We suggest Ms. Williams to [sic] thank them for their service, not belittle their sacrifice.” 

Williams got the last word, posting a screenshot of the DHS statement on her Instagram stories alongside the response: “And may I suggest all Nazi bitches suck on my fat dick.”

Miss AI-dependent. Kelly Clarkson shared some disappointing thoughts about AI on Bowen Yang and Matt Rodgers’ Las Culturistas podcast last week during their recurring “I Don’t Think So Honey” segment, in which host and guest rant about something that makes their blood boil for one minute. Clarkson must have missed the memo on this one, as she launched into a declaration of appreciation, gushing, “I love AI. There are very amazing things with AI that I am obsessed with—and I’m very into it artistically, too.” She declared that her only issue with said technology is when “AI artists” compete on a chart with humans, suggesting they should have their own, separate charts. 

Justin Timberlake apologizes for beatboxing, but “can’t promise” it won’t happen again. Timberlake has issued many apologies in recent years, including to the women he’s wronged (Britney Spears and Janet Jackson) and for his DWI that “ruined the tour.” This week, Timberlake took to the comment section of an Instagram video by pop culture historian Hannah Young’s, in which she addressed Timberlake’s history of compulsive beatboxing. He commented, “I often look back on that time as well. I still haven’t come up with any answers. I don’t know how to apologize enough for whatever those ambitions were.” He continued, “I hope you can forgive me. Also, I can’t promise I won’t do it again. God help us all.”

To each one’s own. Chrissie Hynde is no stranger to hot takes, good and bad. In the last year alone, she’s defended Brigitte Bardot’s legacy, compared concertgoers glued to their cell phones to “monkeys wanking,” and stated that she wants nothing to do with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This week, she added a plot twist by praising Taylor Swift’s widely disliked new song “Cleveland!” Hynde wrote on her Instagram: “I was thrilled to hear Taylor Swift’s new song, Cleveland. Now there’s a girl who stays on the cutting edge…”

New music incoming! Local legends Chastity Belt have announced their forthcoming album All My Friends, and dropped two tracks for early listening, “I Could Say Less” and “Pavement.” Electropop queen Slayyyter also revealed the name of her upcoming album, wor$t man in america (the “brother” album to her previous album, WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA). Meanwhile, Mogwai collaborated with Iggy Pop on their new song “Underground,”and  Bonny “Prince” Billy has detailed his upcoming tribute album to the Dutch singer-songwriter Jules de Corte.

Now, take a deep breath and enjoy…Neil Young “hoovering” pistachios at an airport lounge.

Music Events Worth Your Hard-Earned Money This Week:

Jane Remover: Live Exhibit Oct 7, Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages

Claire Conway, Verboten, and Will Orchard Oct 8, Conor Byrne Pub, 8 pm, 21+

Matt Storm with XOË Oct 8, The Mountain Room, 8 pm, 21+

Afrocop Oct 9, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, 7 pm, all ages

Rat Queen, Fiig, Devilwood, and Jacob T. Skeen Oct 9, Conor Byrne Pub, 8:30 pm, 21+

Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane Oct 10, Town Hall Seattle, 8 pm, all ages

Viva Vera 2026 Oct 10, Union Station, 5:30 pm, all ages

Zookraught, IX of Swords, Black Ends, Two Week Notice Oct 10, Sunset Tavern, 9 pm, 21+

Kishi Bashi: Sonderlust 10th Anniversary Tour Oct 10–11, Crocodile, various times, 21+

Iron & Wine Oct 13, 5th Avenue Theatre, 8 pm, all ages

The Songs That Keep Me Up at Night:

“Same Old Scene” by Roxy Music

This week, I finally watched the 1980 girl band classic, Times Square. The film follows two thirteen-year-old best friends who escape a mental hospital to live in an abandoned warehouse, where they make their own clothes and pursue their creative dreams of poetry and punk rock. The film has a perfect soundtrack of new wave and punk staples (Patti Smith, Gary Numan, Talking Heads, etc.), opening with Roxy Music’s addictive “Same Old Scene.” I can’t stop listening to this song.

“High Heels and Blue Jeans” by Jess Williamson

My personal most-anticipated album of the year, Jess Williamson’s A Mile South of Heaven, is out this Friday, and I couldn’t be more excited. “High Heels and Blue Jeans” is my favorite track she’s released from the album so far—it’s playful yet heartbreaking. My crystal ball tells me this album could bring her Kacey Musgraves-level fame. 

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