Features / Upcoming Talent

Our series

We post a variety of features in recurring series – click below to browse them.

• Against Orthodoxy

  A regular series by Robert F.

• Beyond Casual Observation

  A wide-ranging guest column written by BJ from Ancient Shores, mainly covering film but extending into philosophy and aesthetics too. Check out BJ's work on the A389 podcast.

• Don't Quit Your Day Job

  How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music.

• era vulgaris

  Guest column by T of Vegas

• Feast with the Famine

  A cookery column by Nick, vocalist with metal band The Famine. Veggie/vegan friendly!

• Fest 11

  A roundup of coverage of the annual punk rock festival held in Gainesville, Florida

• Fest 12

  Our annual roundup from Gainesville, FL's famous Fest.

• Fest 13

  SPB's coverage of the annual festival in Gainesville, Florida.

• Fest 16

  Our coverage of the annual Fest extravaganza.

• Fest 19

  Our coverage of the 19th edition of the Fest – an independent multi-day, multiple-venue music festival held annually in Gainesville, Florida.

• Fest 20

  All our coverage from the long-running music festival

• Fest 21

  Articles about the Fest 21

• History 101

  We dive into the back catalog of a record label and ask them to nominate their most memorable releases from their label's history–with a few suggestions of our own.

• Jukebox Jury

  An interview format where we ask a band to rate and review a bunch of music

• On The Air

  A radio DJ profile series created by Christopher D & Matt Hutchison.

• Only Death Is Real

  There’s so much music released, whether physically or digitally, that keeping up with what’s going on becomes almost like a full time job. With Only Death Is Real, the aim is to bring you something new.

• Remember that one time...?

  A life lived and lessons learned by Eddie Spaghetti of Supersuckers.

• Running on Nothing

  Welcome to Running on Nothing, the latest addition to our stable of columns at Scene Point Blank. Running on Nothing offers a look at the world through the eyes of Kole, bassist of The Lippies, guitarist of The Bloody Lips, and gigposter artist.

• Scatenato Ma Non Troppo

  We survey some of the other music releases out there.  Results may vary...may get weird, but hopefully something covered here piques your interest.

• Scene Point Local

  A semi-regular column where we choose a specific area and give a local scene report.

• Table Talk

  Discussing the state of the music business at the kitchen table

• The Greatest Story Ever Told

  A brief but englightening chat with an artist who reveals an interesting or unexpected story from their career

• The Set List

  A collection of items grouped by topic, eg. "Top 5 Worst Beatles Songs" or "Top 10 best '77 punk releases".

• What's That Noise?

  One-question interviews with artists where we find out about the gear and equipment they use to achieve their sound.

• Year End 2012

  A collection of coverage rounding up the year 2012, covering our favorite albums, shows, bands, and more, as well as asking record labels and bands about their past twelve months in music

• Year End 2013

  It's the end of 2013, so here's our best-of roundup for the last twelve months.

• Year End 2014

  Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2014.

• Year End 2015

  Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2015.

• Year End 2016

  Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2016.

• Year End 2017

  Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2017.  

• Year End 2018

  Our summary of the best music (and more) of 2018.

• Year End 2019

  Our wrap-up of the best music and more from 2019

• Year End 2020

  Our wrap-up of the best music and more for the year we'll all want to otherwise forget, 2020.

• Year End 2021

  Our roundup of the best music from the worst year (since the previous one, anyway).

• Year End 2022

  Our favorite music and more from the year 2022

• Year End 2023

  Our roundup of the best music of the year 2023

More recent features — Upcoming Talent

Upcoming Talent #10: The Deathtones

Upcoming Talent • August 24, 2022

Slashing their way into Upcoming Talent this time we have Pennsylvanian horrorpunk heavyweights The Deathtones. We quiz the familiar-looking, masked 4-piece on their career so far avoiding (because I'm scared) the awkward questions about their family life, previous workplaces and mother issues (you've seen them, right?!!!). Scene Point Blank: Hello to The Deathtones thank you so much for joining us. … Read more

Upcoming Talent #9: Alpha Omega

Upcoming Talent • May 18, 2022

Welcome to the newly revived feature "Upcoming Talent". This is where we pass the baton to unsigned bands from all corners of the globe and give them the chance to tell us all about themselves. Combine this with a full discography low down, merch, social and gig links with some rather fine photos of our chosen band and I think … Read more

Scene Point Local: Central Massachusetts

Upcoming Talent / Scene Point Local • July 7, 2011

In the first of a new style for our Upcoming Talent section, Scott W. highlights three bands from the central Massachusetts area that we're recommending you check out. Without further ado, here they are. --- Central Massachusetts has always been a hotbed of great musicians and artists, everything from acoustic folk to death metal can be found here if you … Read more

Upcoming Talent #8: Infernal Stronghold

Upcoming Talent

  The world of heavy metal is endlessly going through phases of popularity. Amidst the hordes of current thrash and black metal trend followers are genuine artists, writing music because that's all that they know. They like their music fast, loud, abrasive, and pay no regard to what others think of them. Scene Point Blank recently spoke with guitarist Eddie … Read more

Upcoming Talent #1: Sundowner

Upcoming Talent

My original intention was to introduce this article explaining the disappointment we all come to upon realizing that youth is fleeting, however I'll spare the euphemisms. Growing up sucks! Aside from all the responsibilities that are thrust upon you like paying bills and having to work a shitty job everyday, there are, still, greater disappointments. Sometimes your favorite bands break … Read more

Upcoming Talent #2: I Rise

Upcoming Talent

Forming in the latter part of 2006 and almost immediately playing shows, Worcester?s I Rise is making quite some noise for such a young band. Featuring former members of the now-defunct Worcester band Youth Attack, I Rise is playing a style of hardcore almost extinct in today?s scene. With a sound similar to bands like Inside Out and Burn, I … Read more

Upcoming Talent #3: Lemuria

Upcoming Talent

When I first immersed myself in the independent music scene, most of the songs I loved were worthy of the term "feel-good hit." Bands kept things simple and catchy, making you want to move your body regardless of skill. Best of all, the music lacked the over-production and emphasis on an annoyingly repetitive chorus that made commercial music such a … Read more

Upcoming Talent #4: Mouthbreather

Upcoming Talent

Unless you're one of those people that consider D.C. to be a part of Virginia, then it's safe to say that Richmond is the punk capitol of the state. With such a tightly knit community, bands are constantly springing up and coming out with new and innovative music. Mouthbreather is one of those bands, forming from the ashes of popular … Read more

Upcoming Talent #5: Police & Thieves

Upcoming Talent

D.C. punk and hardcore always seems to be categorized by highs and lows: great bands starting and breaking up, venues opening and closing, etc? It's been that way since the days of Minor Threat and will probably continue to be a constant, a reliable seesaw over time. Regardless of the change, new bands will always rise up from the ashes … Read more

Upcoming Talent #6: Foot Foot

Upcoming Talent

The poetic styling of Josh and Robin Brown, making up the band Foot Foot, carry a certain feeling I can't quite place. Their bibliography states, "This is music to dream to, evoking the sand-scabbed knees and street-tarred soles of Los Angeles." And while that's not exactly what I'm trying to say about the folk-esque melodies or the comforting drawls of … Read more

Upcoming Talent #7: Idle Tigers

Upcoming Talent

With the amount of time I've been doing interviews for, it's pretty rare that I find myself intimidated by a group of people. A few nights ago, however, entering a full venue of late-twentysomethings or older, I was nervous as a first timer. The crowd, consisting of literary types, including a former professor of mine, were there for Ross Hawkins. … Read more