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Fest 24: Artist Interviews

Interviews / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

It's almost FEST time, and you know what that means: SPB has dived in to speak to a bunch of bands and artists playing this year's event. Some are FEST veterans with tips and highlights for newcomers, and others are FEST newbies with their own plans for the week. Read on to hear from a bunch of our favorite musicians about how they manage FEST, and anything else going on with them.The Bouncing SoulsThe BollweevilsThe CopyrightsChristy CostelloTired RadioTidesThe Bouncing SoulsPhoto: Josh CasinoOn tour this year to celebrate the new Born To Be, The Bouncing Souls has also been playing songs off three of their classics, which are celebrating milestone anniversaries Maniacal Laughter (30), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (25), and The Gold Record (20) in 2026.We caught up with vocalist Greg Attonito to discuss how making records has changed for the band over their 30+ year career.Scene Point Blank: How did Bouncing Souls approach songwriting and recording when the anniversary albums were made vs the new Born To Be?Greg Attonito: For roughly the first 20 years we wrote songs in the jam room together...usually rocking out at full volume. Later we realized it was sometimes good to hash out ideas on an acoustic before getting loud. It could go either way.The biggest difference between that time and writing/recording Born To Be was having Will Yip, our producer, involved in the process. For Born To Be we came into the studio with a few lyric ideas and some verses/choruses. Will … Read more

FEST LIBS 24 & Fest Survey Findings

Music / Fest 24 • October 16, 2026

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #5

Music / New Kids On The Block • October 13, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out … Read more

Red Rockers

Interviews • September 20, 2026

By 1981, the Red Rockers were famously branded "The American Clash" by Lester Bangs -- a tag that carried both … Read more

Latest album reviews — browse all

Roky Erickson And The Aliens

The Evil One (deluxe edition)
Fire Records (2026)

I feel very fortunate to have seen Roky Erickson perform live at SXSW backed by Okkervil River in 2010 or 2011. Erickson passed away in 2019 at the age of 71. For those of you who aren’t already disciples, Roky Erickson was the lead vocalist of legendary Texas psych rockers 13th Floor Elevators. Recorded after the breakup of the Elevators … Read more

Mike D

Thank You
Capitol (2026)

Beastie Boys were a huge part of my transition from teenager into adulthood. An album for every stage of their growth musically matched the many chapters of my own personal development. Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D were like cherished friends for my earholes. The world mourned together when we lost Adam Yauch to cancer in 2012 and were heartbroken knowing … Read more

Softjaw

Love Can't Kill You
Bachelor Records, Dandy Boy Records (2026)

I already wrote about these dudes in my mid-year top 5 since Oakland’s Dandy Boy Records released a compilation of their early digital singles back in April, and here they are following it up with a 12-song album of all new material! This second release proves Long Beach’s Softjaw have a masters in powerpop from the school of rock. I’m … Read more

Fontaines D.C.

Dopamine Chamber
XL Recordings (2026)

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS – “Tongue”, “Where Is Gone?”, “You Miss Me”, “Japan”If you’ve been here from the start, Fontaines D.C. will always conjure up gritty, political poetry and clashing, driving rhythms. Third album Skinty Fia, the defining breakthrough moment and fan favourite, gave them their first number one record in the UK and Ireland in 2022 – but can they improve … Read more

Additional album reviews

DeeCracks

True Nothing
Pirates Press (2026)

Let’s get crazy and out of control! That’s what the opening line of the album instructs us to do and I’m inclined to listen. I am new to the DeeCRACKS … Read more

Massive Nightmares

Ain't My World
Black Numbers (2026)

Massive Nighmares debuted in 2024 with a short EP. Now they return with a full-length. The band plays a somewhat even blend of punk, emo, and alt-rock. As an example, … Read more

Contention

Nuclear Summer
Daze (2026)

Contention, I would argue, has spent the last few years at or near the top of the heap of the return to 90's styled Straight Edge Metalcore. I am being … Read more

A Secret Revealed

The Ruin I Summoned Forth
Lifeforce (2026)

There are albums that use heaviness as an assault and others that use it to create an atmosphere. On The Ruin I Summoned Forth, A Secret Revealed manage to does … Read more

Time Spent Driving

Lost Leaves
Thirty Something Records (2026)

There's a particular challenge facing bands that came out of the late '90s and early '00s emo scene. You can recreate the sound people remember and risk becoming your own … Read more

Alien Chicks

Toys Taken at Birth
Alcopop! Records (2026)

EP HIGHLIGHTS – “5/4” & “I Killed Uncle Ben” Those who haven’t heard of Alien Chicks by now are sorely missing out. The Brixton trio have been consistently dropping singles … Read more

Drink Deep

In Reverse EP
Thirty Something Records (2026)

Upon first listen, those close to my age and who may share similar musical tastes may suspect that Drink Deep might be a band from Washington, D.C. For starters, the … Read more

Uncle Acid and the DeadBeats

Shapes of Midnight
Killer Candy Records (2026)

Stoner rock is one of the most astounding and incredible genres emerging in the rock scene today. It's a global phenomenon with countless bands across the world, plus various subgenres … Read more

News headlines — browse all

New Deniz Tek single out next week

Posted in Records on October 31, 2026

Deniz Tek has a new single called "Let 'Em Be Wrong / Taking Hits," out Nov. 6 on Wild Honey Records.The two-song 7" was recorded at 107 Sound, the family home of Ron and Scott Asheton in Ann Arbor, MI, and feature Deniz on guitar and lead vocals, Anne Tek … Read more

The Bad Plug: Plugology

Posted in Records on October 31, 2026

The Bad Plug is prepping to release their second album, the upcoming Plugology, coming Nov. 27 on Wild Honey Records. The band has also self-released several EPs previously and last … Read more

Future Nots in the present

Posted in Records on October 31, 2026

Formed last year by Ian O'Leary (Squint, Dragd), Danny Blaies (Brother Lee), Stephen Inman (Blight Future), and Emma Tiemann (Murder by Death), Future Nots will release their debut EP, Spite, … Read more

Lifesick announces When Brutality Becomes The Language

Posted in Records on October 31, 2026

January 22, 2027 will be the release date for When Brutality Becomes The Language, the latest album from Danish death metal/metallic hardcore band Lifesick. The new album is the band's … Read more

The third Ibex Clone

Posted in Records on October 30, 2026

Goner Records has announced a Nov. 13 release date for the new Ibex Clone album, Gravity Out, sharing the title track earlier this week.It's the third LP from the group. … Read more

The Lucky Eejits share 1/4 of an EP

Posted in Records on October 30, 2026

Oakland, CA punk band The Lucky Eejits will release a new EP in 2027, a planned 4-song digital release on Hey!Fever Records.The band recently shared "Nightmare" in advance, mayhap in … Read more

The Fighting Oligarchy Tour births Fighting Oligarchy Album

Posted in Records on October 30, 2026

SoundsGood Recors has announced a 19-trark album, not available on streaming, called Take America Back: The Fight Oligarchy Album. Featuring tracks by Dirty Projectors, Hüsker Dü, Neil Young, The Menzingers, … Read more

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