Big Sad, which plays The Hub in Tampa, Florida on Nov. 30, 2024. Credit: Photo by Rachel Framingheddu

In a new video for “Torture On 3,” photographer Patrick John Horne turns Big Sad’s nihilistic punk anthem into an anxiety-inducing cartoon (“For every beautiful death, there’s a couple of assholes, taking their first breath until there’s nothing left,” the lyrics say).

“It’s a cute little ditty about overpopulation and endless consumerism and greed from the point of view of some dumb human acting like he’s not part of the problem,” Richie Lawler, guitarist-vocalist for the Tampa band, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, about the latest single from Black Umbrellas (out now via New Granada Records).

In the end, Horne addresses the monster inside all of us, but offers a glimmer of hope for anyone willing to examine the darkness.

“Through art, hard work, and starting within, we can transform ourselves and, in turn, the world around us,” he told CL. “ …and perhaps, we can avoid ruining the paradise we’ve been given.”

There’s no cover to see Big Sad play Emo Night Tampa at The Hub in Tampa on Saturday, Nov. 30.