Blog — Page 1 of 278

The infrequently-updated site blog, featuring a range of content including show reviews, musical musings and off-color ramblings on other varied topics.

Sum 41 @ Scotiabank Arena

Posted by Mirela Z. • June 19, 2025

Sum 41

final shows - day 1 of 2

Scotiabank Arena

Toronto Canada

Jan. 28, 2025

All photos by @front.row.fans

 

Gallery: Sum 41 Final show 1/2 Jan 28, 2025 (30 photos)

Mirela Z. • June 19, 2025

Play/Search/Repeat - May 2025

Posted by Loren • May 27, 2025

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!

Loren • May 27, 2025

Visual Learner / BlackDots / City Mouse

Posted by Loren • May 14, 2025

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 a club. In other words, it’s clean instead of dingy, I guess. Anyway, last week I hit up the space to see two touring bands with sets sandwiched between two locals.
 
Couch Potato Massacre play poppy sloppy punk with a TV theme, raised on late night cable movies with low budgets. It’s fun and energetic and the band knows that, while the music matters, so do the vibes. It was a fun set and my first time seeing them in person

photo by Loren Green​​

I know City Mouse aren’t a household name or anything, but I’m still mildly surprised they played second -- not that order of bands matters in any way unless you’re stuck in traffic. I’m not even sure how many times I’ve seen Miski and co. play, but this was the first non-festival set and it ripped and roared with the same urgency, but with that more personal element you get when the band knows you’re there for them, specifically (and they aren’t on a rigid set schedule). Even will a fill-in bassist, it was an emotional, evocative set lead by the dueling guitars of Miski and Davey Tiltwheel. While City Mouse has been a project for several years, there are only two full-lengths, and the set leaned into last year’s So Far Out but included a healthy dose of the near-decade old songs from Get Right too. Simply put, you can hear the passion in Miski’s voice on every note and, live, you can see it too. It’s been a while since I saw a band work up a good sweat on stage and that was definitely the case during City Mouse’s set – and continued for two more bands.

photo by Loren Green

BlackDots are another band that doesn’t play in Minneapolis all that often (or maybe I’m out of the loop). They play poppy, somewhat minimal, straight-up punk. Or that’s what I’ve always thought on record. Live I get more of a country rhythm behind it, which makes sense as the band is from Denver and that Western lifestyle. It’s chill punk: smooth, cool and laid back instead of fierce and angry. What really struck me was how much the band smiles as they play. It’s infectious and it highlights how just a simple thing can manifest into a greater experience for the whole room. I’d complain that the set was too short, but the band really only has a couple albums’ worth of songs, mostly released via EPs, so that explains that. Besides, always leave ‘em wanting more, right?
 
Visual Learner popped only my radar last year. After three…how shall I word this?...after three “older” bands, Visual Learner brought more physical energy to the stage with constant movement and even more sweat. Their brand of noise-rock fueled punk rawk was a nice dissonant contrast to the melodic focus of the other bands and it built to a climactic mood of chaotic noise – even if the band were repeatedly joking (or not) about it being their bedtime as the early show wrapped up.

Gallery: Visual Learner @ Cloudland (11 photos)

Loren • May 14, 2025

HORSE the Band @ The Glass House 4/26/25

Posted by Aaron H • May 2, 2025

HORSE the Band - Credit: AMH

HORSE the Band are on the road celebrating the 20th anniversary of their sophomore album, The Mechanical Hand. Joining them for the first leg of the tour was Pomona locals, Othiel, Flake from Wichita, Kansas, and LA's "melodic crust" quartet, Lagrimas. It's an odd feeling to remember being at the record release show for this album back in 2005. I still remember when the band brought out a cake and handed out "pieces" to the crowd. I remember Erik taking the stage in his revealing Lord Gold outfit. I remember Nathan throwing up on stage a foot away from me, but most of all, I remember being youthful, full of life, and able to sing along to every song without getting winded. Now, I'm back in the front seeing Horse the Band for the first time in probably 16 or 17 years at The Glass House, and not much has changed. Nathan is still cracking jokes and bantering back and forth. The band is still hopping around like they're 25. Ed Edge is still the greatest triangle performer in "Nintendocore." You can check out a gallery of photos from the show below and be sure to catch the band on the second leg of The Mechanical Hand 20th Anniversary Tour this June when they hit up the Midwest and East Coast.

 

Gallery: HORSE the band/lagrimas/flake/othiel 4/26/25 (49 photos)

Aaron H • May 2, 2025

The Linda Lindas/BYOP/Chicano Mosh @ GHCH 4/1/25

Posted by Aaron H • April 5, 2025

The Linda Lindas - Credit: AMH

After spending the Summer playing stadiums opening for Green Day and The Rolling Stones, The Linda Lindas are out on the road supporting their new album, No Obligation. For their first major headlining tour since releasing their sophomore album last Fall, the young punk quartet brought along Garage-Punk veterans, Be Your Own Pet for the western leg of the tour and recruited somewhat locals, Chicano Mosh for their show at The Glass House in Pomona, CA.

Chicano Mosh - Credit: AMH

Chicano Mosh are a blend of upbeat Pop-Punk and Garage-Rock built on Mexican pride. Their own band of followers made sure to come out and show their support for the up-and-comers, brandishing the Mexican flag and singing along.

Be your Own Pet - Credit: AMH

Be Your Own Pet were next. The troupe rambled around the stage while courting the crowd with tracks from their 2023 release, Mommy -- their first album after breaking up in 2008 -- while throwing in numbers from their first 2 albums. Frontwoman, Jermina Pearl never let up with her nonstop dancing and whipping her head back and forth enough to give ME a sore neck.

The Linda Lindas - Credit: AMH

It was time for The Linda Lindas. The four heralds of young punk walked out to the sound of Jawbreaker's "Boxcar." They opened with the title track of their sophomore album, No Obligation. The mix of kids and adults screamed along with bass player and vocalist, Eloise Wong while bandmate Lucia De La Garza stomped and hopped around the stage. The band continued on with tracks from No Obligation, eventually rounding out the entire album while sneaking covers of The Talking Heads and Los Prisioneros' "Tren Al Sur" in between.

They finished the set with their viral "Racist, Sexist Boy" but not before Eloise used their platform to speak out, yelling to "Free Palestine," "Protect Trans Kids," and "Protect Immigrants." A declaration that seemed to deter at least one concertgoer. Someone who'd been filming most of the set decided to leave following the remarks. I can only hope The Linda Lindas continue to speak out and upset fascists.

The Linda Lindas/BYOP/Chicano Mosh - Credit: AMH

The band came back for their encore that included a cover of Green Day's "When I Come Around" with an interlude of Jawbreaker's "Want" and their hit single "All In My Head." When it came time to close out the night, they invited Be Your Own Pet and Chicano Mosh back on stage for a dance party while they performed Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl."

The Linda Lindas are ushering in a new generation of Punk rockers and their live shows are their soap boxes. The band are great performers and this was one of the best shows I've seen so far this year. They'll be heading to the Midwest and East Coast with Pinkshift for the second leg of their headlining tour. Check out a gallery of photos from the show below.

 

Gallery: Linda Lindas/BYOP/Chicano Mosh 4/1/25 (51 photos)

Aaron H • April 5, 2025

Latest news stories

SPB featured stream: Alien Boys - Live at Rain City Recorders

Posted in Records on June 10, 2025

Vancouver punk band Alien Boys has a new EP out on June 11, and Scene Point Blank is excited to feature a full stream. The record, Live at Rain City Recorders, gives away the theme in its title -- the 4-song record was recorded live, in a single take, at … Read more

Important dates from Kerosene Heights

Posted in Records on June 21, 2025

North Carolina's Kerosene Heights recently announced their signing to SideOneDummy. Now the band is band with ah update: a release date for their label debut. The band will release Blame It On The Weather on August 15. In the meantime, the band is currently on a short tour, to be … Read more

Buñuel on the road

Posted in Tours on June 21, 2025

Following last year's Mansuetude (SKiN GRAFT/Overdrive), noise-rock band Buñuel is hitting the road across North America this month and next. Today Is The Day will join them for the entire tour, with additional support on select dates that includes Murderous Again, Cancerslug, and Spiritual Poison. The band, featuring David Hemery, … Read more

Dear Boy teaser track

Posted in Bands on June 21, 2025

Los Angeles, CA indie band Dear Boy is back, sharing "Kelly Green," the first single from the band's upcoming second album -- a follow-up to Forever Sometimes (2022). The album will release later this year on Last Gang Records. Read more Read more

Half Dizzy summertime jamz

Posted in Bands on June 21, 2025

Long Island, NY punk band Half Dizzy just unveiled a new single, "Turn This Up," an anthemic singalong out on Punkerton Records and produced by Pete Steinkopf (Bouncing Souls). “Get ready to turn up the heat with this upbeat summertime punk rock banger,” guitarist/vocalist Daniel Marchelewski says, getting into the … Read more

Prepare to get Gucked Up

Posted in Records on June 21, 2025

Formed in 2022, GUCK has announced their upcoming LP, Gucked Up, out on Three One G. The band formed in 2022 and features current and former members of Gnarwhal, Pile, Designer, Prized Pig, Sprain, Argentinum Astrum, and more. Three One G, who is selling preorders now, paraphrases it as "loud, … Read more

Forever Scorned, limited (It Dies Today)

Posted in Records on June 21, 2025

Buffalo, NY based metalcore band It Dies Todday's EP, Forever Scorned, is being reissued by DAZE. The record initially came out in 2002 on Life Sentence Records, prior to the band signing with Trustkill. The original pressing features 6 songs and the new edition ads three more from the band's … Read more

Stay The Course for more Stay The Course

Posted in Bands on June 21, 2025

Wichita, KS punk pop-punk band Stay the Course has signed with Punkerton Records, sharing a new single, "Dreams." The band joined the label in March, but "Dreams" is their first official release through the new label, which will also release a full-length later this year titled Red Flag. Stay the … Read more

A double date with Mercy Music and Danger Days

Posted in Records on June 20, 2025

Double Helix Records will release a split 7" featuring Mercy Music, from Las Vegas, and Danger Days, an international punk collective, out soon. More specifically, the two song split hits digital platforms on June 27, followed by a vinyl release on July 11. To expand on the above, Danger Days … Read more

Punk Rock Raduno 8 in Italy

Posted in Shows on June 19, 2025

"In a world of overpriced, over-polished festivals run by big players with big names, we choose to do the opposite," says Punk Rock Raduno. "No tickets. No headliners. No barriers. No profit." Features 40+ bands from many countries, the small stage event takes place this year from July 17-20 in … Read more

Behold the new Abhorrent Expanse

Posted in Records on June 19, 2025

Based between Chicago and Minneapolis, avant jazz/drone-infused death metal collective Abhorrent Expanse just announced their second album, Enter The Misanthropocene, out August 15 on Amalgam Music.The new record features 11 movements, improvised live by the band on April 10 at Signaturetone Recording in Minneapolis. The lineup for the recording is … Read more

Excide gives "Your Flowers"

Posted in Bands on June 19, 2025

Post-hardcore band Excite has just shared a new single, "Your Flowers." "This song is all about feeling deceived, manipulated, and taken advantage of," the band says in a statement. "We put so much of ourselves into what we create, and only ever want it to have a fair shot out … Read more

Red Scare tunes in with Tired Radio

Posted in Labels on June 19, 2025

Red Scare Industries has just announced the addition of Tired Radio to their roster. Based in Brooklyn, NY, "Their music isn’t your standard Red Scare fare -- it’s kinda heavy emo-punk. Think Jersey and Long Island. People love ‘em though, and they just got added to The Fest. They’ll be … Read more

End It with Wrong Side Of Heaven

Posted in Records on June 19, 2025

Baltimore, MD based hardcore band End It just announced their debut full-length, the upcoming Wrong Side Of Heaven, out August 29th on Flatspot Records. The band kicks off the new album cycle with a hot video for "Pale Horse," highlighting hardcore's eternal youth vibes. The record was recoreded at Salad … Read more

Dwarves and Burn Kit

Posted in Tours on June 18, 2025

Bit-of-everything punx the Dwarves are on the road this summer, playing dates on the US East Coast and in the eastern Midwest, joined on tour by Burn Kit, fro Boston, MA and New Hampshire. The Dwarves recently released Lollipops & Rainbows, which comes from the Blood, Guts & Pussy recording … Read more

Try Scorpion Milk

Posted in Labels on June 18, 2025

Scorpion Milk, a solo project from Mat McNerney (Beastmilk, Grave Pleasures), just joined Peaceville Records, with plans for a release this fall. The solo project pulls form UK anarcho-punk and 80s post-punk, the label says, equally brash and danceable. “I’m live-wired to release Scorpion Milk on Peaceville, the first label … Read more

Scalp joins Closed Casket

Posted in Records on June 18, 2025

Self-dubbed "West Coast Death Violence" band Scalp has joined Closed Casket Activities, sharing the single "Conspiracy" from the band's soon to come alnum, Not Worthy of Human Compassion. It's the third album overall from the band: catchy hardcore with death metal, grind, d-beat, and powerviolence elements. The record has 13 … Read more

A new Motion City Soundtrack

Posted in Records on June 17, 2025

Ten years after Panic Stations, Motion City Soundtrack returns with a new album out on Sept. 19. The new record is called The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World and release on Epitaph Records. The band reconvened after a three year hiatus in 2019, playing sporadic shows in recent years and … Read more

Orlando's international punk showcase in October

Posted in Shows on June 17, 2025

Long-running international punk spectacular Foreign Dissent, which takes place in Orlando, FL prior to The Fest each year, has announced its tenth lineup. Taking place at Will's Pub on Oct. 20, the concertfeatures 10 bands this year from six different countries. All 10 bands are listed below, but 2025's event … Read more

Mike Huguenor's tale of two guitars

Posted in Records on June 17, 2025

Mike Huguenor (Jeff Rosenstock, Shinobu, Hard Girls) is prepping the June 27 release of a new album, Surfing the Web with the Alien, an all-guitar instrumental record. The new album was created under self-imposed limitations: each song created entirely with two guitars: one electric, one acoustic. The latest single is … Read more