The infrequently-updated site blog, featuring a range of content including show reviews, musical musings and off-color ramblings on other varied topics.
The second iteration of Caterwaul festival took place in Minneapolis, MN over Memorial Day weekend, spanning two venues and three days/nights. The lineup is too big too list thoroughly but you can read about it here.
Headliners included Flipper (with Shannon Selberg), Chat Pile, Child Bite, VAZ, and Tongue Party. While Scene Point Blank was unable to personally attend, we did the next best thing -- we got a guest contributor to supply us with some original photos from the festival.
A thousand thank yous to the talented John Oakes for taking these shots.
For the past month, Greg Puciato of Killer Be Killed, Black Queen, Dillinger Escape Plan, and now Better Lovers, has been touring North America for his first solo tour after finishing a stint with Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell. With the release of Mirrorcell in 2022, Puciato had 2 full-lengths under his belt to fill his set but still managed to throw in a few surprises.
Deaf Club - Photo Credit AMH
Opening the show was solo Industrial act, Trace Amount-- a pseudonym for producer/vocalist, Brandon Gallagher. Despite people still filing in, Trace Amount still delivered a lively set to warm up the crowd. Following Trace Amount was Justin Pearson's (The Locust) latest project, Deaf Club. The band blasted into the room before the curtain covering the stage was done opening. After all these years, Pearson is as wild as ever. He never took a second to slow down between constantly jumping to the barricade to rile up the audience to even running to the back of the dance floor to shout from the sound booth. Deaf Club played a tight set which even included a cover of Nirvana's "Tourette's."
Escuela Grind - Photo Credit AMH
Rounding out Greg Puciato's support for the tour was power violence group, Escuela Grind. Katerina Economou's impeccable growl never wavered as they bounced around the stage to drummer, Jesse Fuente's blast beats. The band ended up running through an entire new EP they plan to record later this year as well ended the set with a cover of Hatebreed's, "Filth."
Photo Credit AMH
Greg took to the stage for his last show of the tour, opening with the combo of "In This Hell You Find Yourself" and "Reality Spiral." Throughout the night, he continued to play through tracks from his newest album,Mirrorcell, and tracks like "Deep Set Eyes" and "Roach Hiss" from Child Soldier -- the latter of which had Converge'sBen Koller on drums. Throughout the set, he would jump up to the crowd to sing along. When he came out for his encore, he proclaimed that they'd be doing a bunch of extra songs and some more special guests would be joining him. The first of the surprises were a couple of Black Queen songs, including "Secret Scream" and "The End Where We Start" with special guest, Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle. Next up were Gil Sharone and Tyler Bates to join in on their song "Now You've Really Done It" from the Dark Knights: Death Metal soundtrack. Greg ended the night with Dillinger Escape Plan's 'One of Us is the Killer." He'd been teasing the song throughout the tour, but tonight was the first night he and the band performed the entire song. Greg threw his face into the crowd for support on the vocals, spending much of the track at the barricade. The song ended and so does Greg's first solo tour. He delivered a strong performance and continues to be one of the greatest frontmen in the business. Not for one moment was he not giving his all.
I wasn't the only one to catch Greg on this tour. Be sure to check out Kevin's blog too!
Sleaford Mods
Opera House
Sydney, Australia
02 June 2023
photo courtesy of @k.a.vv
When I first encountered Sleaford Mods many moons ago, their abrasive, electronically charged minimalist punk-hop that framed their rants about the austerity of a deeply divided, modern day England and the trials of working class life felt like an indulgent lecture about the futility of modern day life.
In other words, it was irresistibly appealing.
photo courtesy of @k.a.vv
With Sleaford Mods’ idiosyncratic post-everything melange comprised in equal parts of social commentary, rapid-fire stream of consciousness vocal delivery, rowdy Northern piss-taking and all out advocacy for letting yourself go, there is something to be found for anyone who harbours a modicum of interest in punk or hip hop.
Carried by pulsating, repetitive productions of bass and drums as the main instrumental elements and set in scene by a bank of bright, flickering lights serving as an entrancing torrent of visual stimuli intensifying every angle, the rawness, intensity and immediacy of the duo incarnating within the confines of Sydney’s Opera House still feels as intact as it was when I first encountered them in an art café in London.
Much more popular but still retaining purpose by remaining politically engaged and visceral, the woefully vitriolic emissions and ostrich-esque demeanour of inimitable vocalist Jason Williamson, who manages to embody a different personality with each barked lyric as he paces the stage tweaking and contorting, flanked by beatmaker Andrew Fearn, who after pushing play on his laptop indulges in frantically flailing his arms and legs for the duration of the show, result in a seamless, endlessly energetic and engaging show that musically sits comfortably between Anarcho-punk, Britpop, Grime and dancehall, which translates effortlessly and resonates with the definingly middle-aged crowd.
photo courtesy of @k.a.vvphoto courtesy of @k.a.vvphoto courtesy of @k.a.vv
Mamma Mia! – The Musical
Lyric Theatre
Sydney, Australia
27 May 2023
photo courtesy of Sam Bisso
Memory tends to work either through the reverberation of strong emotions or through repetition, which is something that the Swedish supergroup ABBA had perfectioned ever since the quartet first incarnated more than five decades ago in Stockholm.
The fact that ABBA split up in 1982 has not changed their status as one of pop’s most triumphant acts with a sheer endless catalogue of ridiculously catchy wall-to-wall hits, proving that music is just as good a medium for all the significant feelings as written, metrical composition.
With no shortage of ABBA tributes, ABBAtars and the omnipresence of their tunes, the global musical phenomenon MAMMA MIA! has established itself as one of their more successful franchises centred around twenty-two of the most iconic and uplifting songs of the pop juggernaut.
Tonight’s Australian production features Donna Sheridan, known from her role as Miss Honey in the Australian production of Matilda The Musical, and the emerging Australian actor Sarah Krndija, who supported by an illustrious cast of talent are set in scene by Director Gary Young, sharp acrobatic choreography acts courtesy of Tom Hodgson and Michael Waters’ excellent bright sound design.
The result is an immensely contagious fun night of danceable rhythms with the storyline and symmetrical narrative being mere vessels for the music with the atmosphere that ensues being not a welcome side-effect but an integral component of the equation that provides a light-hearted forum for audiences to let their hair down.
Post-Punk pioneers, Gang of Four recently had a short run of shows leading up to their performance at Cruel World Fest in Pasadena, CA. I managed to catch the show as they rolled through The Glass House where they ran through a powerful set primarily focused on their 1979 debut, Entertainment!, with a smattering of tracks from their subsequent records through the 80s. Filling in for the late Andy Gill was David Pajo of Slint, while Sara Lee returned to take up bass duties. The chemistry between the band was great and was one of the best shows I've seen this year so far. You can check out the gallery below:
Our featured stream of the month comes from Tonguecutter, whose debut full-length Minnow releases on May 2 on Learning Curve Records. The band is a trio from Muskegon, MI, with a sound that is heavy and aggressive, which contrarily both sharp and blunt. It’s no accident that the first song …
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Fresh off their newest album Cometh the Storm, High on Fire has announced a European tour that hits 16 cities in 9 countries, beginning in late October. The tour includes stops at Samhain Festival (NL), Bruges is Doomed (BE), and the Damnation Festival (UK), in addition to headlining shows where …
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AJ Peacox, of Weatherbox, Sundressed, Kit Major, and more., has announced a new solo project where the songwriter/multi-instrumentalist takes on everything himself. The first single is "Driveway Song," released a week ago on Dark Horse Coffee Records. “There’s something universal about standing in the driveway watching someone pull away – …
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Flatwaves will release a new album, Tell Me Secrets, coming via their own Abandon Everything Records on July 11. Based in Philadelphia, PA, the band released Numbra in 2022 with Tell Me Secrets being their second LP. Listen to a single via a New Noise post this week. Read more …
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Jangle pop Manchester band Autocamper just premiered "Again," the lead single from their debut album, out this summer. The band will release What Do You Do All Day? on July via Slumberland (USA) Safe Suburban Home (UK). Listen to the song now: Read more Track List: 1 Again 2 Red …
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Punk musician Walt Hamburger just shared the single "Insolence," a pop-punk number with contributions from Neil Hennessy (Lawrence Arms), Asher Simon (Joey Cape's Bad Loud), Mikey Erg (Ergs, Unlovables), and Jon Snodgrass (Drag the River, Scorpios). The single will appear on Hamburger's upcoming album, ...And Louie!, out June 20 (Thousand …
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Powerplant just released a new 2-song 7", Crashing Cars, out on Arcane Dynamics. The synth-punk band formed by Theo Zhykharyev drew attention with People in the Sun in 2019, a one-man project that recruited bassist Karim Newble (Hitmen, Island of Love), drummer Lloyd Clipston (Arms Race, Tramadol), and synth player …
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Members of Shot Baker, 88 Fingers Louie, and No Enemy have come together to form Pretty Atomic, a new Chicago, IL rooted punk band who will release a 4-song EP called Idle Age on June 6. The band features Tony Kovacs (vocals), Andy Maggio (guitar/vocals), Nat Wright (bass/vocals), and Chris …
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Deadguy has set a date of June 27 for Near-Death Travel Services, the first album from the metalcore band in 30 years, coming via Relapse Records. Formed in New Jersey in another century, the band returned to action in 2021, playing live shows and eventually putting down new music too, …
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Tankcrimes just announced the release of Destination Extinction, a new full-length from mincecore band Haggus -- part crust, part grind, more parts unknown and mixed together. The album comes out on June 20. The band also released a double single, "Rotting Off / Do You Love Mincecore?” Destination Extinction is …
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Summer Darling Tapes just announced its 50th release, also its third year compilation mixtape -- titled Liquid Diamonds. Artists featured are: Healng / Blood Rave / Coatie Pop / Cure For Youth / Total Pleasure / Loner Statue / Blue Heron Holy Ghost / Grass Fed / Lozenge / High …
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Volcano, a short-lived band featuring members of Meat Puppets, Sublime, and The Ziggens, will see their 200$-recorded album release officially in 2025. Titled Volcanic, it releases via Don Giovanni Records on June 20. The band features a core lineup of singer-guitarist Curt Kirkwood, (Meat Puppets), drummer Bud Gaugh (Sublime), and …
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Joliette, a post-hardcore band from Mexico City, just shared a new single today in advance of their next album, Pérdidas Variables, which releases on June 20 via Persistent Vision Records. Formed in 2011, the band play a tempered version of scream. The new record, Pérdidas Variables, is described as "A …
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New band ButcherBird has an EP out on May 30 via Drowning Sea God Records, Drought/Deluge. The label calls the band "extreme, proggy and punky with noises from pedals that the band's guitarist built himself." It's a fair description, though we've personally lean on the hard and heavy elements in …
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Lookers, of Rhode Island, release their new album Deeper today, and SPB is excited to premiere a video for the title track from their new album on Almost Ready Records. The band is equally mood, mysterious, seductive and somber, with influence that ranges from post-punk to pop. We asked vocalist …
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Museum of Light shared a standalone single recently, the song comes from the Diviner sessions, but didn't fit the mood of the album. The song notably features a spoken word interlude from Johnny Chal, noted by their publicist as "a New Zealander who survived a cardiac event while in Sydney. …
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Kansas City noise-rock band Season To Risk recently released 1-800-MELTDOWN for Record Store Day (Init Records), following that up immediately with a run of live dates in the central US. The band debuted with major label Columbia in the 1990s heyday. The group never broke up, but opted for sporadic …
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Scottish punk band Cleavers will release their debut album, Bad Luck, You Can Make It Next Time, on July 11 via Grievous Angles on LP, cd, cassette, and digitally. The record has 11 melodic punk songs, including "Give Me The Time" below. Read more Bad Luck, You Can Make It …
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Originally released in 2010 to a rave 8.5/10 review by SPB, Locian's The Crystal World will get a 15-year anniversary reissue courtesy of Utech Records -- which also released the original back in the day. Preorders are open now for the June 12 release. The first album with drummer Steven …
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Swans has announced more dates in Europe and the UK this fall. The band, set to release Birthing on May 30 (Young God Records/Mute), recently announced North American dates in support of the album, as well as the final cycle for this "big sound" version of the long-running project currently …
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