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Fest 23: Artist Interviews

Interviews / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

FEST 23 takes place later this month, from Oct. 24-26 in Gainesville, FL. Something like a billion bands are driving, flying, canoeing, and snowshoeing to the festival from across the country -- many of them for the first time and many come back to play nearly every year. Scene Point Blank has traveled to “over half” of them (we’ve lost count -- it's a theme you’ll read in this feature) and each has been a blast, merging a strong and positive community atmosphere with great musical finds and old favorites. This year we reached out to six bands to share their thoughts about The Fest, what they will do in Gainesville this year, and what new projects they might have in store. https://thefestfl.com/ Read the interviews below: Reconciler Celebration Summer Miller Lowlifes Pool Kids Rodeo Boys Partial Traces Reconciler Like many of the bands in this feature, Reconciler are punk veterans who play the festival often, but not quite every year. It's an annual tradition but also -- at least in this writer's opinion -- something of a showcase of what the southeastern US punk scene has to offer. We caught with guitarist/vocalist Joseph Lazzari to talk about regional punk, their latest EP and, of course, FEST 23. Scene Point Blank: What's the first thing you think of when I say the word “Fest"? Joseph Lazzari: Best weekend of the year Scene Point Blank: What was your favorite or most memorable experience at FEST 22? Joseph Lazzari: Its always hangin’ … Read more

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

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

Guest List: ADD Records Picks 5 Favorite Leatherface Songs

Music / The Set List • October 18, 2025

This summer Little Rocket Records announced Leatherface: The Peel Sessions, a collection of live studio recordings with Leatherface from the … Read more

Bo Diddley Plaza: Behind the Scenes at Fest

Music / Fest 23 • October 6, 2025

For close to a quarter-century punk fans have flocked to Florida for The Fest. Boasting a lineup of 300+ bands … Read more

Latest album reviews — browse all

Action/Adventure

Ever After
Pure Noise (2025)

Chicago’s Action/Adventure have been grinding the pop-punk trenches since 2014. They have always played pop-punk like it still has something to prove because for them, it does. They went viral in 2020 on TikTok with their song “Barricades” by calling out the exact thing no one in the scene wanted to say out loud. The genre is full of white … Read more

217

In Your Gaze
Time To Kill (2025)

If you didn’t know, hardcore and punk are alive and thriving in Italy. When I come across bands from there, their scene never ceases to amaze me. Italy gave us Raw Power and Negazione in the ’80s, Slander and Strength Approach in the 2010s. Now 217 picks up that lineage with their own mix of fire and reflection by keeping … Read more

Ugly Stick

Absinthe
Hovercraft Records (2025)

Contrary to what I said on Vh1’s Behind the Music, Tim from Hovercraft is one of my favourite human beings. I suppose in some ways that’s not saying much but Tim plays in one of my favourite bands, I’m a fan of his art and on top of those two things and running a label, his day job is saving … Read more

Ace Enders

Posture Syndrome
Pure Noise (2025)

If the name Ace Enders sounds familiar, it should. He’s been the voice behind The Early November, one of Drive-Thru Records’ cornerstone emo bands in the early 2000s. While that scene exploded, Ace carved his own path with that band, as well as solo experiments under the name I Can Make a Mess, and the occasional record as Ace Enders … Read more

Additional album reviews

Summer Blue

Self Titled EP
New Morality Zine (2025)

You may not be familiar with the band Summer Blue, but that’s your issue. If you do know the San Jose, CA based band, then you know how enjoyable they … Read more

Relay For Death

Mutual Consuming
Helen Scarsdale Agency (2025)

At a time when experimental artists are constantly churning out new music, it is curious to find some that take their time. Rachel and Roxann Spikula might not be the … Read more

Scorching Tomb

Ossuary
Time To Kill (2025)

Whenever I see the cover art of an album for a metal band and there’s impaled skulls, blood, and a logo I can’t read, I know I’m getting ready to … Read more

CF98

Stupid Punk
Double Helix, SBAM (2025)

If I said that Poland is known for pierogis and punk rock, would you believe me? Punk has a deep history in Poland ranging all the way back to the … Read more

Cluster Lizard

Herts
Prostir (2025)

Dmytro Fedorenko and Kateryna Zavoloka are two legendary artists who have defined much of contemporary experimental electronic music through both their various projects and through the now-defunct Kvitnu record label. … Read more

Street Eaters

Opaque
Dirt Cult (2025)

Sometimes I'm surprised at how averse I am to change. Hearing that Street Eaters had expanded to a trio caused me more trepidation than I want to admit -- and, … Read more

Faulty Cognitions

They Promised Us Heaven
Dead Broke Records (2025)

On their debut, Somehow, We Are Here, Faulty Cognitions made their statement. This wasn't a garage-punk band in the style of the members' previous bands (Low Culture and Shang-A-Lang, among … Read more

The Penske File

Reprieve
Gunner Records, Stomp Records (2025)

I used to dislike punk music where people sing. And, well, I'm still not super fond of it but there is an exception to every rule. The Penske File are … Read more

News headlines — browse all

SPB featured stream: Gus Baldwin

Posted in Records on October 30, 2025

Earlier this year Austin, TX based Gus Baldwin & The Sketch released a peppy new wave meets punk rock album simply called The Sketch. Now, lead vocalist and namesake Gus Baldwin is back with a solo, self-titled album too, out as of Oct. 24 on Permanent Teeth label. While The … Read more

Cold Waves turns the tide

Posted in Shows on November 11, 2025

The annual Chicago, IL event Cold Waves, long a bastion of darkwave and industrial music, has announced a more progressive and shoegazey tone for its 2026 spinoff, Space Echo, taking … Read more

Floating Boy from Florida

Posted in Records on November 9, 2025

Formed seven years ago, Sarasota, FL based emo/punk band Floating Boy has announced their debut full-length, a record called Perfect Place, kicking off the new year with a Jan. 1, … Read more

Scott McCloud Come(s) Round

Posted in Records on November 8, 2025

Scott McCloud is set to release his solo debut. McCloud's career has included work with Girls Against Boys, Soulside, Paramount Styles, and AGRIO, leading us to the present -- which … Read more

Shudder To Think of new music

Posted in Records on November 8, 2025

having just wrapped up their first tour in 17 yeras, Shudder To Think has released their first new music in nearly twice as long. The "Thirst Walk/Playback" single, available on … Read more

Juno Driver shares a new single

Posted in Records on November 8, 2025

Juno Driver, born in Toney, AL and currently based in Portland, OR, has a new record on the way: if u knew me before i found myself, im so sorry … Read more

The newest from Drunken Sailor

Posted in Labels on November 8, 2025

Drunken Sailor Records just issued two new records on Friday Nov. 7: Fantasma - Phase IV and Wiccans - Quase, bands from New York and Texas, respectively. As they are … Read more

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