Loren

Remember Election Day 2024? Maybe you shouldn't. Maybe you've blocked it out. That's fair, but there was one pleasant surprise that day: a new EP from Wisconsin's Arms Aloft. It took a while to claw out of the darkness in November, then Year End 2024 coverage took over the Scene Point Blank editorial calendar but now we caught up with … Read more

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene … Read more

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 (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we caught up with Chuck Ragan, known as the gruffest voice of Hot … Read more

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 (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we chat with Kevin Purcell (guitar/vocals) of Retirement about running Portland bike shop … Read more

It's been a while since I put another playlist up. I actually had this 99% done a couple of months ago, but everything went haywire and the list went on hold. This edition of Search/Play/Repeat is a quick play, running about 30 minutes in total. Enjoy! Read more

Visual Learner, BlackDots, City Mouse, Couch Potato Massacre Cloudland Theater Minneapolis, MN May 7, 2025 I’m embarrassed that I haven’t covered any shows at Cloudland for SPB previously. It’s a relatively new addition to the Minneapolis scene and a welcome addition that feels as much like a community space as … Read more

Sometimes I get all introspective and ask myself why I do this. Not very often, but the answer is always because I like music. It's that simple. I like to discover new stuff and I like to share it. Every year, the staff at Scene Point Blank sink a ton … Read more

Vices, outlets, escapes... I'm not sure where things are at here in November of 2024. But as we battle our demons and look for meaning, or escape, music is a blessing. Here's a new playlist. Many of these artists have been covered at Scene Point Blank, mixed in with tracks … Read more

Murals, a new band featuring members of Hail The Sun, Sufferer, and slenderbodies, has announced a 7-song EP out on Nov. 14 on Equal Vision Records. The trio of Shane Gann (guitar/vocals), Blake Dahlinger (drums) and Tony Bautista (bass/vocals), play progressive hardcore, on display in "tough" a new single out … Read more

Comprised of Sara Neidorf (Sarattma, Mad Kate | The Tide, Hypnodrone Ensemble, ex-Brian Jonestown Massacre) on drums and Isabel Merten (No Chronicles) on bass and founded in 2017, "nightmare jazz" duo Mellowdeath has a self-titled debut album out on Nov. 14 of this year. The Germany-based project just shared "1772" … Read more

WIth both bands set to play at FEST 23 later this month, Little Low and Unseemlier (pictured), have announced a split single out on Oct. 3. Earlier this year Little Low released Sunshine Guilt, and Unseemlier released I Have a Screw Loose, Somewhere, both via Sell The Hear Records. Read … Read more

Now stretching into its 15th year, the ongoing Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin collaboration has announced the release of Stygian Bough Vol. II, out this fall. Vol. 1 released in 2020. The two bands will also team up for a European tour at the start of 2026, playing the new … Read more