Graham's profile

Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Personal Site

www.scenepointblank.com

Graham's reviews

Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha

Fat Possum, 2007

With the over saturation of the industry, technology making the ability to record a feasible option for anyone who has ever picked up an instrument, and the Internet spreading music like the plague, what's often lost is authenticity. Currently, there are waves upon waves of like sounding bands making it easy to get flustered and discouraged in a search for something with sustenance. But rest assured, Andrew Bird is it. On his latest effort, Armchair Apocrypha, the classically trained Bird…

Antibalas – Security

Anti, 2007

The Anti label is willing to produce the type of DIY artists who are obviously more concerned with what their music is doing for them as opposed to what it may do for whoever is listening. It's this type of balls out approach that brings us Brooklyn's Antibalas: a reggae-infused, ska-inspired, band playing funk-derived afrobeats. If that description seems longwinded, it needs to be. Feeling more like a jam session than a record, their label debut, Security, offers seven tracks…

Art in Manila – Set the Woods on Fire

Saddle Creek, 2007

With the indefinite hiatus of Azure Ray, the duo of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink ventured into the lives of solo recording artists with different intentions. Maria offered up her 11:11 album, which was more or less a continuation of the established Azure Ray sound, focusing on the vaguely folk indie pop which had won her over her with the pair's fan base. Orenda's The Invisible Ones was much more lofty in it's ambitions; taking on an approach to song…

Beep Beep – Enchanted Islands

Saddle Creek, 2009

Taking a five year hiatus between albums, Beep Beep released Enchanted Islands, the follow up to 2004’s Business Casual, earlier this year. Given the current pace of the music industry, and a slight change from the original lineup, Enchanted Island has a feel closer to a debut album rather than a sophomore effort. The band freely plays with esoteric tempos, and rhythms, making something that’s not quite indie, while hinting at elements of jazz and noise, to the hauntingly melodic…

Bloc Party – A Weekend in the City

Vice, 2007

Being a favorite of my friends and I during our Friday/Saturday night pre-pub dance parties, I had a certain set of expectations for what the new Bloc Party would sound like. While 2005's Silent Alarm carried a handful of mellower tracks, making up the bulk of the filler on the album, it was pushed to popularity by its killer single "Banquet" and some similarly catchy up tempo tracks; managing to resonate with the hipster snobs and OC crowd alike. Though…

Bon Iver – Blood Bank

Jagjaguar, 2009

Bon Iver’s 2008 release For Emma, Forever Ago was made in troubled times. Supposedly, after suffering the loss of a band and girlfriend while dealing with poor personal health, singer Justin Vernon spent three months of the winter in his father’s cottage, located in a remote area of Northern Wisconsin. His time spent in isolation birthed the album, a haunting nine tracks of lo-fi folk, sung with a falsetto vocal style both gripping and subtle. This year’s follow up EP…

Bright Eyes – Cassadaga

Saddle Creek, 2007

In what's seemingly an attempt to depart from the boy wonder tagline which has chased him his entire career, Conor Oberst takes on a more mature tone with Cassadaga, the latest of his half a dozen plus releases. This album sees Bright Eyes, now consisting of the aforementioned Oberst, Nate Walcott and Mike Mogis, devoid of the introspective, angst ridden, lyricism they're closely associated with, but rather taking the role of story telling to new levels; dealing with motifs of…

Coconut Records – Davy

Young Baby, 2009

Jason Schwartzman is in a number of my favorite movies. He was the self righteous student lead in Rushmore, the soul searching environmental activist in I

Cursive – Happy Hollow

Saddle Creek, 2006

After completing their tour in support of the 2003 release The Ugly Organ, Cursive went on what many fans feared to be an indefinite hiatus. During the break lead vocalist Tim Kasher and guitarist Ted Stevens took time to focus on their other projects, releasing The Good Life's Album of the Year and Mayday's Bushido Karaoke, well the rest of the band members helped out Conor Oberst and The Faint on the Digital Ash tour. Rumors of a break-up continued…

Cursive – Mama, I'm Swollen

Saddle Creek, 2009

I first got the chance to interview Tim Kasher directly after the release of Cursive’s Happy Hollow. A friend and I drove two and a half hours to Buffalo, NY and caught up with the band in the lobby of a Best Western Express not far from the venue. Their tour manager told us that they needed to soundcheck soon, but we could have twenty minutes to do the interview. I hit a button on my oversized tape recorder and…

Cursive – The Difference Between Houses and Homes

Saddle Creek, 2005

The release of Cursive's The Difference Between Houses and Homes: Lost Songs and Lose Ends reminded me what it was like to be excited for an album to come out. I was giddy like a kid waiting for Christmas; eagerly counting down how many more sleeps it would be until I was able to get my small, greasy, hands on my proverbial present. After many drawn out days of anticipation, the day finally came and I rushed to my local…

Foot Foot – Trumpet

Oedipus, 2008

There is something about Foot Foot I can’t quite place. The Californian husband and wife duo is described in their press release as creating “music to dream to, evoking the sand-scabbed knees and street-tarred soles of Los Angeles childhood.” And while Foot Foot certainly conjures up a literate and soulful record with their third release Trumpet, I don’t think the dreamscape quite reveals where their music comes from. No, the wailing drawls and simplistic folk tunes that make up Trumpet…

Frank Turner – Poetry of the Deed

Epitaph, 2009

There are a slew of musicians who take the role of singer-songwriter after the break up of their former bands. At times this can showcase the talent that drove the bands to their success, or alternately show the need for collaboration to flesh out their ideas into worthwhile songs. Frank Turner fronted the mildly successful post-hardcore act Million Dead before venturing into a career as a solo artist. While the typical route of a solo act is to take a…

Georgie James – Places

Saddle Creek, 2009

Bridging elements of power/indie pop while harnessing a danceable sound reminiscent of the better radio friendly tracks from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, Georgie James gives us Places. The Washington D.C. songwriting duo consisting of John Davis, drummer of the disbanded Dischord act Q and Not U, and Laura Burhenn, a locally established solo musician, share vocal duties and instrumentation on the debut, creating a charming blend to their melody. Drawing comparisons to an up beat version of Death Cab…

Jack's Mannequin – The Glass Passenger

Sire, 2008

A lot of artists resist fame. I’ve done interviews with bands for nearly five years now and have heard countless times from both nameless and recognizable acts that there were never any aspirations for a hit radio single or a gold album. For these people it seemed when something reached a point of popularity it lost authenticity. By acknowledging the idea of notoriety as an accident they were able to maintain a personal concept of credibility. The flip side to…

Justice of the Unicorns – Angels with Uzis

Little Lamb, 2008

Yesterday, I received my bi-monthly batch of promos. While sorting through the records an album named Angels with Uzis by the band Justice of the Unicorns caught my eye. If the image on your right is a bit too small let me take the liberty of describing what’s going on with the album’s cover. Above a burning skyline is what I can only assume to be a six year olds interpretation of angels, complete with triangle breasts and polka dotted…

Ladyfinger (ne) – Dusk

Saddle Creek, 2009

I thought rock was a dead scene. The radio repeatedly fed me the term since my early teens, pushing different versions of the same band on the airways. Everything sounded like a watered down rendition of some seventies ideal I never cared about. Nothing I’d ever heard described as rock had any heart, let alone any balls. Ladyfinger (ne) are not some kind of saviors to the genre, but their latest release Dusk embodies what a rock record should be:…

Little Brazil – Son

Anodyne Records, 2009

Musician Landon Hedges spent the better part of the late nineties/early two thousands playing along side Saddle Creek’s most prominent singer/songwriters Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes. Desaparecidos) and Tim Kasher (Cursive, The Good Life). Looking for a more personal creative outlet, Hedge’s began writing songs under the moniker Little Brazil. While originally planned as a solo project, Little Brazil quickly evolved into a full band, with Hedges making use of other Omaha natives to fill out the group. After seven years,…

Maria Taylor – 11:11

Saddle Creek, 2005

A spotlight can show a lot about a person. Over the course of her career Maria Taylor has been, arguably, the driving force behind both the bands Azure Ray and Now It's Overhead, as well as lending her talents to various other artists including Crooked Fingers and Moby. Despite gaining moderate recognition for her work with groups, Taylor's delicate style has always been accompanied, or combined, with the writing talents of others. Her solo effort, 11:11, marks the first time…

Maria Taylor – Ladyluck

Nettwerk, 2009

Maria Taylor has developed a fanbase based on her quiet and soulful tunes, endearing and charming enough to cockle the heartstrings of nearly any cynic. She has a knack for capturing adult takes on both sentimentality and romance, a talent which has landed many of her songs in the background of numerous romantic comedies and sitcoms. Two solo albums removed from her songwriting duo of Azure Ray, Taylor’s Ladyluck continues the trend of emotionally driven pop. Dealing with the hardships…

Maria Taylor – Lynn Teeter Flower

Saddle Creek, 2007

One of the first reviews I ever did for this website was for Maria Taylor's debut solo album, 11:11. It's been two years since our respective efforts and I think it's safe to say that we've both matured. On Lynn Teeter Flower, a record named for a family friend, Taylor succeeds in capturing her own sound, rather than borrowing from her past experiences. To this end, there is no denying that the music is a definitive reflection of the songstress,…

Matt and Kim – Grand

Fader, 2009

Today’s pop music is severely lacking in fun. We have over-hyped pseudo celebrities running around with no pants, actors with the impression that talent in one field somehow gives them rights to move into another, and Justin is too busy with Jessica to come back and make everything alright. Matt and Kim gained a reputation as the fun band at the numerous Brooklyn house parties during their humble beginnings: evading the cops while pounding through their up tempo, indie-punkish, tracks…

Metric – Live It Out

Last Gang, 2005

The attention gained by The Arcade Fire last year has been a blessing and a curse for Canadian indie music. In one respect the scene has been put in the spotlight by the mass media, which have discovered what many insiders have known for years: Canada produces some of the best music in the genre. Unfortunately the amount of hype now generated around these canuks rivals that of Celine Dion, Keanu Reeves, and maple syrup combined. This hype has led…

Middle Distance Runner – Middle Distance Runner

Independent, 2007

Dabbling coolly with grit of the ‘the’ band sound while borrowing ruminants of Brit rock’s pop sensibility, Middle Distance Runner offer up something with the potential for a real fan based success. Hinting at better things throughout the six-track effort, the five-piece uses the formulaic idea of songwriting based around guitar/synth hooks layered with a full and strong rhythm section. What comes across are some very promising tracks for a band toying with the flirtation of national exposure, though lacking…

Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero

Interscope, 2007

The year I was born, Trent Reznor, under his Nine Inch Nails alias, released Pretty Hate Machine, an album which through the iconographic concept of the mix tape circuit launched his career. Fueled by a nihilistic sense of self-realization, and far too much booze, Reznor produced tracks which resonated with audiences for their highly inter personal lyrics and the "industrial" sound new to main stream listeners. Taking expansive amounts of time between records to explore and perfect his craft, the…

Oedipus – Covetous

The Den Recorders, 2008

Oedipus, a three piece making more noise than a three piece rightly should, manage the type of grandiose guitar rock both melodic and epic, while never coming across as trying too hard. Their latest EP, Covetous, offers seven over-sexed, balls out, tracks at a clock time of just under half an hour. Vocalist/bassist Jeremy Haffner’s harmonic wail sets the band on an equal playing field to any radio-friendly group you’d find on your local “alternative” station, while the subtle use…

Okkervil River – The Stage Names

Jagjaguwar, 2007

It’s a rare commodity to find a record that just seems to get it right. I mean really get it. The kind of disc that echoes your little world, your thoughts and your feelings, back to you in lines that you just wish you had the talent to write yourself. The kind of album that has you walking the long way home, or even skipping class to just sit and listen. With the amount of music thrown at us on…

Okkervil River – The Stand Ins

Jagjaguwar, 2008

“But there's this idea that nobody can tell you if something is good or not, you have to decide whether you think it's good. And nobody is more of an authority than anyone else.” The quote above is part of a response singer Will Sheff said when interviewed about his then forthcoming record The Stage Names. The interviewer had asked if he was worried about alienating those who had latched on to the melodrama put forth in the album’s predecessor…

Playmaker – Playmaker

Independent, 2007

Throwing their gauntlet down with their multitudes of contemporaries comes Playmaker, a straight up, and authentic, Brit-rock band by way of the greater Toronto Area. While that might seem slightly paradoxical, Chris Barry, the front of the trio, is quick to let you know where his origins lie with his strongly accented vocals seeping infectiously through the speakers from the first track onwards. Making a name for themselves among the locals as The Strange, Playmaker offer up their first EP…

Project 86 – Picket Fence Cartel

Tooth & Nail, 2009

Ideological stances are polarizing. They come with a set of existing concepts and reference points that are often hard to overlook. I didn’t want to talk about religion in this review. I didn’t want to talk about religion as much as Project 86 doesn’t want to limit themselves as a solely religious band, but it’s difficult to ignore a prevailing Christian message. It’s difficult to ignore for the same reason we pay attention to the satanic references of other musicians…

Putois – The Problem is not a Problem Anymore

Cerebral Cliff, 2008

A friend asked me the other day if it would be possible to write a record review vein of a musical genre. I mean we all get sick of the formulaic quality these things often take, don’t we? For me this means constantly trying new things out. My biggest setback isn’t in telling a reader whether I think some thing is terrible or fantastic, it’s the curse I’m plagued with by most records that end up on my desk. How…

Ravens and Chimes – Reichenbach Falls

Better Looking, 2007

Lets paint a picture. After weeks of midterms and presentations in combination with 'seasonal' weather, I couldn't decide if I was more exhausted or cold. I was half asleep riding shotgun back to my parents house when I first slid Ravens and Chimes into the CD deck of my best friend's over sized SUV. About a week previously both of us had gone through breakups, and after exhausting the numerous causes of why these things happened, neither of us were…

Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Merge, 2007

Over the course of the last year Jim Eno, drummer of Spoon and certified electrical engineer, has produced some of 2007's best albums while working with his boys in Spoon to bring us Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Before even getting to the musical element of the record’s equation, any enthusiast is quick to note the amazing quality to the mixing and production value on this the latest installment of the band's catalog. It's enough to put Eno among the…

St. Vincent – Marry Me

Beggars Banquet, 2007

Those familiar with Sufjan Stevens or The Polyphonic Spree might recognize Annie Clark for her accompaniment to their most recent tours and discs. Earlier this year the multitalented indie rock darling released her first solo LP under the stage name St. Vincent. Like the aforementioned bands, Clark pushes forward her fair share of quirks in the triumphant debut that is Marry Me, with songs like “Jesus Saves, I Spend” and “Human Racing” leaving the listener pleasantly bemused. Contrarily the album's…

The Johnson Report – The Johnson Report

Independent, 2010

During all of high school, Jen dated Zach. Jen was, hands down, the most beautiful girl in our year. Beyond that, she was extremely smart and cultured: she had been across Europe a couple of times and could tell you the capitals of all the provinces and states if she was asked. There wasn’t a guy that I knew who didn’t have some sort of a thing for her. None of us could figure out how Zach had managed to…

The Mumlers – Thickets and Stitches

Galaxia, 2008

Busy! From the packaging onward, The Mumlers emit an adorably quirky vibe far too big to fit into their little debut album. The seven piece from San Jose bring us Thickets and Stitches, a blues inspired-folk fused indie rock ditty of a record. As one might expect from the aforementioned description, the disc sees a wide variety of instruments accompanying lyrics that can only be described as cute. The fault of the disc, unfortunately, lies in the band wanting to…

The Photographic – Pictures of a Changing World

Galaxia, 2008

Clocking in at just under an hour, Pictures of a Changing World is truly a cohesive release encompassing a gamut of emotions; a valiant task considering The Photographic don't have the luxury of words. Like most instrumental bands the two-piece is heavily reliant on reoccurring themes while expanding on such ideas with the help of loops. The effort comes across as an ambient jam session varying between the up-tempo rifts and the mildly self indulgent slower tracks, allowing for a…

The Spill Canvas – No Really, I’m Fine

Sire, 2007

Patient: The Spill Canvas Brought in by: Sire Records, after a missed bandwagon. Previous History/Notes: Patient claims No Really, I’m fine!. Third commitment to facility. This session a follow up to patient’s most recent visit; the One Fell Swoop incident. Symptoms: Suffers from extreme emotional stagnation; clinging firmly to the belief that the year is permanently 2004, and as such relationships that ended around that time still hold relevant for constant scrutiny. Discourse about said relationships is plagued with crippling…

The Spill Canvas – One Fell Swoop

111, 2005

The Spill Canvas's debut LP Sunsets and Car Crashes showed us that in high school the members of the band were very, very, sad. With their sophomore follow-up, One Fell Swoop, it looks like the boys are out to prove they're still not over it. Self proclaimed as 'intense and emotionally driven,' The Spill Canvas are the type of band that clich's are derived from. Musically they vary between acoustic ballads and three cord melodies. Their lyrics deal with topics…

Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell

Saddle Creek, 2008

Tokyo Police Club's A Lesson In Crime put the band in an awkward position. The seven-song EP gained a substantial amount of praise/coverage for it's less than twenty-minute run time, showing a glimpse of energetic indie pop somewhere between a dance party and a rock out that, despite it's length, made it one of the best releases of 2006. In addition to gaining an amount of notoriety, it allowed Tokyo Police Club the ability postpone their full-time jobs and academic…

Two Gallants – The Scenery of Farewell

Saddle Creek, 2007

Two Gallants have left many critics, myself included, dumbfounded for a means of describing their music. Those less talented have made illusions to their folk rock contemporaries and labelmates, or a certain well-known rock duo, claiming vocalist/guitarist Adam Fontaine and drummer Hyde Edneud as the bastard sons of these groupings. The closest thing I have come across as to giving the band justice is that the two tap into something much older then they supposedly have the right to, refreshing…

Graham's features

Pretty Girls Make Graves

Since the "grunge revolution" of the early 90's critics, promoters, journalists, and fans alike have been looking for a music scene to redefine rock and roll in the same way that the city of Seattle did. Over the years there have been various it bands coming from the undergrounds of places like New York, Montreal, Los Angeles, and even Omaha. With each of these bands we're promised the same cliches; a new voice for our generation, a sound completely unique, or music that will change the way we think about music. Along with the initial it bands comes a list…

The Organ

SPB's Graham sat down with Katie Sketch of The Organ, who were conceived in 2001. Beginning her musical training at three years old with classical violin training, it's safe to say that Katie's life was always going to involve music. SPB talked to her to find out a little more about her band, their label, and life. Scene Point Blank: Would you mind introducing yourself for the tape recorder and all the people who will be reading this interview? Katie: My name is Katie Sketch from The Organ. Scene Point Blank: First of all I wanted to say thanks a…

Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene)

Scene Point Blank: Thanks very much for taking time to sit down with me first of all. A lot of people who may be reading this are quite aware of the work you’ve done in The Broken Social Scene, but may not be as familiar with your solo work. For those who haven’t had the chance to hear it, how would you describe your music? Jason Collett: It’s more narrative than the sound circus that is the Broken Social Scene, and definitely in a more singer songwriter vain. I’ve always been into song writers. I’ve taken influence from artists like…

Two Gallants

A month or so back, I was given the opportunity to sit down with one of the Saddle Creek label's latest additions, Two Gallants. For the better part of the past four years the band has been on what is essentially one never ending tour, traveling all across North America and Europe, with their distinct brand of folk rock. A very distinct brand of folk rock. Combining a traditional storytelling element with raw instrumentals and somewhat raspy voices, Tyson Vogel and Adam Stephens create a sound much bigger than two members rightfully should be allowed to. Their latest album, "What…

Rise Against

After the success of their recent record "The Sufferer and the Witness", the melodic punk/hardcore scene's favourites, Rise Against, continue to promote their political ideas with a keen emphasis on provoking thought rather than sloganeering and preaching. Our man Graham put together some questions for frontman Tim McIlrath; here's what he said. Scene Point Blank: The new CD "The Sufferer and the Witness" sees a fairly wide range; from a spoken word short story written on a tour with the Mad Caddies in 'The Approaching Curve', to the band's softer bits and a duet with Emily Schambra in 'Roadside', to…

French Kicks

A month or so ago now, I received a telephone call from my friend Laura. She had been asked by Vagrant Records to do an interview with French Kicks. But because of her fairly severe problem with procrastination, she had neglected to get together any questions. Now, eight hours before the interview was suppose to happen, she informs me that rather than canceling I was going with her for moral support. Fine, okay, I could do that. We small talk for a little while longer; catching up on how school's been, what's been up between mutual friends, and what not.…

Jack's Mannequin

Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMahon's side project from the widely successful Something Corporate, features a personal edge that McMahon's previous work seemed unable to replicate. Emotional, therapeutic and cathartic, Jack's Mannequin is the sound, as McMahon himself puts it, of a healing process. Scene Point Blank's Graham sat down with Andrew to talk about the band. Scene Point Blank: After the release of your last album, Jack's Mannequin went out on a very well received headlining tour. The dates you're doing now, with Panic! at the Disco, see you having to cater to an audience who aren't necessarily there to see…

Heavens

Fans of Alkaline Trio and F-Minus would be forgiven for thinking their respective idols would be unlikely to occupy too similar territory. However, as Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio and Joe Steinbrick of F-Minus unite to form Heavens, they create a middle ground that encompasses goth, rock, electronic and alternative music. Comparisons to Brian Eno or even Joy Division have been made, and it's clear that Skiba and Steinbrick's efforts have been attracting attention. SPB's Graham sat down with the guys to find out what it was all about. Scene Point Blank: When reading through your bio, or any of…

Placebo

Much to the delight of my parents, Placebo were the band who inspired me to steal my mothers eyeliner at the lofty age of eleven. Unfortunately, even after a career with such longevity, these overtones are still what many associate with the band. For fans and anyone else paying attention, however, the trio bring so much more than a pretty boy aesthetic. This became evident after sitting down with Stefan(bass), and Steve(drums). Promptly ignoring the no smoking by law, and killing my efforts for small talk, the two showed they weren't there to shoot the shit, and certainly gave no…

Maria Taylor

One half of the songwriting duo Azure Ray, for nearly a decade Maria Taylor has been writing and recording music on a professional level. With the release of her second solo effort Lynn Teeter Flower, Maria ventures further into finding her own voice: capturing a type of songwriting with both a personal and universal appeal. Recently I had the chance to sit down with the songstress before her Toronto gig, to discuss the release and catch up on the latest from the Saddle Creek label: Scene Point Blank: Your new album, Lynn Teeter Flower, runs a full gamut of sounds…

The Faint

As a means of introduction, The Faint, as a collective, are a band whose tongues have been firmly planted in their cheeks for years. Dealing with an array of what could be innuendo - or perhaps is just straight up dirty talk - to a blend of synth orientated, danceable, indie with a rock sensibility, the boys seem inclined, and capable, of stimulating their listeners in every sense of the word. Currently in the studio, The Faint ventured out on a short stint of one-off shows over the beginning of the summer. SPB was lucky enough to witness the experience…

Tim Kasher

Tim Kasher has been at the center of the Omaha/Saddle Creek universe since the early 90's. As the years have passed by Kasher has risen to the forefront of the indie rock world fronting highly-touted musical acts Cursive and The Good Life. Despite all his success, Kasher has remained a grounded individual, never letting success go to his head. Scene Point Blank recently spoke with Kasher about all things Cursive, The Good Life, and other worldly topics. Scene Point Blank: The tour Cursive is just finishing up now with Against Me! and Mastodon seems like an odd combination of bands.…

Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins has made a name for himself in all avenues that he has put forth his effort towards. He's an accomplished musician, public speaker, actor, televesion host, etc. Scene Point Blank recently had the opportunitiy to correspsond with Mr. Rollins, and to delve into his psyche. Though I've been doing this for years now, the most difficult interviews I have to conduct are always with the people I admire. On one hand this is what I'd like to do with my life, so there is a need to make myself seem both professional and astute, but on the other…

Holy Roman Empire

Holy Roman Empire may have started out as a project for a number of hardcore and punk superstars, but the female-fronted indie rock group has quickly evolved into one of the most intriguing and fresh sounding artists in all of music. Scene Point Blank spoke with guitarist Jay Jancetic about the recording of their debut full-length, defining the band's sound, and inspiration. Scene Point Blank: You're about to head out on tour in support of Rise Against. Though Holy Roman Empire is obviously not new comers to the stage, at least not individually, the sizes of the venues Rise Against…

Blaqk Audio

Born out of a shared loved for electronic music, Blaqk Audio represents the endless passion that Davey Havok and Jade Puget have to create music. Scene Point Blank recently spoke with Puget about what precipitated the release CexCells and what he and Havok hope to achieve with their latest musical venture. Scene Point Blank: The first interview I actually did was with Adam, of your other band, back in 2003. Since that time there have obviously been a lot of changes in your life. I was wondering if you could tell me a little about those changes and if the…

Tiger Army

From their modest beginnings amongst the punk world of Gilman St. in the mid 1990's, Tiger Army has grown into one of the world's biggest psychobilly acts. Scene Point Blank recently caught up with vocalist/guitarist Nick 13 during the band's Canadian headlining tour. Here's what went down. Scene Point Blank: You recently finished off a headlining tour across Canada. Tell me how that tour came about and how it went? Nick 13: The tour was great. Crossing the border is a pain, which we'd done for Warped Tour and support slots with Rancid and Social Distortion. So a while back…

Rise Against

Rise Against have steadily risen in popularly from their punk and hardcore roots into a major label backed group that nearly topped the Billboard charts. In spite of their success the band has continued to set forth a political-minded assault on the music world. Scene Point Blank corresponded with vocalist Tim McIlrath about the band's latest full-length, Appeal to Reason. Scene Point Blank: Since the last time the site had a chance to speak with you Rise Against have seen a fairly significant increase in popularity. Though there has always been an ardent political theme to your music, does the…

Matt & Kim

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Matt Johnson, one half of the clap your hands, sing along, indie pop duo Matt and Kim. The pair have been on a near constant tour over the past four years, briefly taking some time off to write/record/produce their sophomore album Grand, which was released earlier this year to the avail of people with ears. Grand manages to capture what is so often overlooked in the pop world: it is one of the most fun records I've ever listened to. At eleven tracks and a clock time of just under half an…

Polar Bear Club

In the last year Polar Bear Club has made the transition to a full-time band, signed to one of the biggest hardcore labels around, and toured the globe. Scene Point Blank spoke with vocalist Jimmy Stadt about the growth of the band, how his theatre background has helped his music career, and the importance of ambiguity in his lyrics. Scene Point Blank: You guys recently did some shows with The Gaslight Anthem in Europe. Was that the first time you had been over there as a band? Jimmy Stadt: Yeah, it was. We did a lot of England, a lot…

Pictures For Sad Children (John Campbell)

Comic strip artist John Campbell has made quite a name for himself over the years with his web-comic "Pictures for Sad Children." His snide, sarcastic, and depressed subject matter have made the strip a popular read for many, including a substantial readership with the indie music world. Scene Point Blank spoke with Campbell about his work and what's on the horizon. Scene Point Blank: Thanks very much for taking the time to do this John. You were at the Toronto Comicbook Festival over the weekend. Can you tell me a little about that experience? John Campbell: It was a public…

Broadway Calls

The Fest 8: SPB Interviews Toys That Kill, Underground Railroad to Candyland Dan Padilla, Tiltwheel Nothington Dear Landlord Off With Their Heads Outbreak Used Kids Less Than Jake Polar Bear Club Broadway Calls Scene Point Blank: You recently played a slew of headlining gigs on the Westcoast. I recently read that you don't feel as though you're ready to be more than support on this side of North America. How come? Ty: We just haven't spent enough time over here. It took us a long time to get to where we are on the Westcoast and we're just now feeling…

Frank Turner

After cutting his teeth with the short-lived British post-punk act Million Dead, vocalist/guitarist Frank Turner has moved on to a hugely successful solo career, making his mark as an alt.country influenced folk punker playing alongside acts like Social Distortion and The Offspring. SPB sat down with him during a Canadian tour earlier this year to get his opinions on songwriting, punk scenes and underwear. Scene Point Blank: This isn’t the first time you’ve played Toronto, but the last show was support for the Offspring in a much larger venue. Can you tell me a little about how a smaller headlining…

Frank Turner

Scene Point Blank: The last time we had the chance to talk we discussed your growing popularity. You're starting to reach the level of success in North America that you have in the UK. How does that feel? Frank Turner: It's been very gratifying. I want to phrase this is a way that doesn't sound dickish, but we've been through this type of things before in the UK, so in a way it's kind of nostalgic. We went through playing this size of venue and this type of crowd in late 2009, but over there we're starting into our first arena…

Murder By Death (III)

In this, their third SPB interview, Murder By Death vocalist Adam Turla and cellist Sarah Balliet talk to us about touring pizza parlours, the perks of being on Tarantino's soundtracks, "old-time" compact discs and concept albums. You can read our earlier interviews with the band here and here. Scene Point Blank: This last tour has seen you play smaller venues than the band has normally done. Can you tell me how that differentiates from being in larger ones? Adam: This is interesting because it's the Canadian Music Week. You can go in and do, sort of, a warm up for…

Upcoming Talent #6: Foot Foot

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 the vocals, it's a start. For me, listening to Foot Foot bares a reminder of a child-like type of listening: something you can equally sink your teeth into or have as a pleasant backdrop. The un-ironic stance and literate tone…

Upcoming Talent #7: Idle Tigers

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. Hawkins is a charming English man residing in Toronto that plays under the moniker Idle Tigers. Maybe it was in my head, but coming in as an undergraduate who grew up on punk rock, the room carried a vibe like…