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:
Corridoré's Abandon is coming out next month. It is the second album from the atmospheric post-black metal band from Madison, WI, out on August 22 on Hypaethral Records. The album explores themes of isolation, grief, and human resilience over eight tracks. “The songs that make up Abandon were written before …
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On Sept. 12, Vancouver post-hardcore band By A Thread will release their first album since 2011. The new record is to be titled Mirrored Life, out on Spartan Records. "Void," the first single, debuted earlier this week and is shared below. “As we get older I do see people lose …
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Garage rock band The Vasco Era just shared "I Don't Mind," the title track from their forthcoming new album due on Sept. 19. It is the band's first album in 14 years, out via Marthouse Records. “I Don’t Mind is about walking around seeing the lies and accepting them,” vocalist …
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No Apologies, a hardcore band from Sydney, AU, has announced Life, their first album in 15 years. Life will release on August 29 on Last Ride Records, with the title track out now. Pete Abordi and Peter Bursky (also of Sumeru), Andres Hyde (drums), Chris Wilson (guitar), and Patrick Taylor …
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Car BOmb has a busy 2025, announcing a new EP and tour ddates in Europe, the UK, and Australia. The band will release Tiles Whisper Dreams EP on August 1, a three song EP and the band's first new music since Moridal in 2019. A new single, "Blindsides," just debuted …
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Montreal, QC ska-punk band The Planet Smashers return, propping to release their tenth album, On The Dancefloor, on August 22 Stomp Records. The 13-song album includes guest spots from Neville Staple (The Specials), Charley “Aitch” Bembridge (The Selecter), and Sara Johnston (Bran Van 3000). Read more
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Vancouver melodic punk band Die Job has a 5-song EP out next month. Titled Hazards of Occupation it comes out on August 8 via Kinda Rool Records, produced, mixed, and mastered by Shafer Carson. The group just released the second single from the EP, embedded below. Read more
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For the very first time, the legendary Uli Jon Roth - guitar visionary, composer, and original Scorpions mastermind - will bring his celestial fretwork to Australian stages this September, with three exclusive shows that promise to be nothing short of mythic. This is not a support act. Not a side-stage …
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The Carolyn is about to follow-up their 3-song Harmful History EP with a new full-length collection of heart-on-sleeve punk rock. The trio from Atlanta, GA shared two new singles in late June, both of which will be on the upcoming Pyramid Scheme of Grief, a new 11-song collection. Both new …
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The Albert Square, a project from songwriter Sim Castro (Kitty Kat Fan Club, Ogikubo Station, Teens in Trouble), has announced Swallow You Whole, a new EP out August 1 on Sneak Dog Records. It's the first release under The Albert Square moniker in nearly a decade, beginning with lead single …
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Milwaukee, WI author Sahan Jayasuriya has a new book coming out next month, Don't Say Please: The Oral History of Die Kreuzen. It will be available on August 5 through Feral House and collects interviews, including Thurston Moore, Steve Albini, Neko Case, Butch Vig, and Lou Barlow, as well as …
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Boneflower, a post-hardcore band from Madrid, is set to release their Deathwish label debut Reveries -- out on July 25. The band formed a decade ago, in 2015, releasing two LPs thus far and several singles on a variety of independent labels. Read more Boneflower on tour: 09/08 Berlin, Germany …
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Swiss post-punk band Torpedo has a new single, a new album, and a US tour too. The band hits the US West Coast beginning on July 10 in advance of their latest album, What the f#*ked do we all do now? | Lights. The band formed in 2016 and has …
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Radio Silence: A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore is being re-released in a new expanded edition from Revelation Records Books. The collection of photography, flyers, and more was originally published in 2008 by MTV Press/powerHouse in a partnership between designer Nathan Nedorostek and writer / musician Anthony Pappalardo (In …
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Perfect 100, a project from Andrew Madore of Brooklyn, NY, just shared the single "Sunday," coming from Perfect 100's debut EP, out July 21 on bloody knuckles label. Think four songs of fuzzy guitars and clean melodies. Read more Perfect 100 track list: 1. Sunday 2. Missing Out 3. Longway …
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Formed as a trio on Reunion Island and now a duo located in Lorraine, FR, noise-rock band Pamplemousse has announced their fourth album, Porcelain, out Sept. 26 on A Tant Rêver du Roi label. The band also shared a new video/single "More Beautiful Than Madonna" this week. It is their …
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The Problem With Kids Today, a poppy punk band from Connecticut, are set to release Take It!. Take It! is the band's third album, this one recorded in a backyard shed in Branford, CT and produced by Joe LeMieux. Fittingly, it will release on their In The Shed Records imprint …
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Defunct Atlanta, emo-hardcore/math-rock band Some Soviet Station -- Chris McNeal, Jesse Smith, Justin Snyder, and Lee Corum -- will see the upcoming reissue of their 2000 self-titled album released on vinyl for the first time, out on July 25 via Expert Work Records. It was recorded by Bob Weston, and …
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Last year American Football celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut album. Now that live performance is being released as a film and one-pressing vinyl album, (Live in Los Angeles), courtesy of Polyvinyl. The recording was captured over two nights at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA in 2024. …
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Playing a show at Avant Garde Bar in their hometown of Ottawa, ON tonight, noise punk band Tucana has a new single that debuted on July 2, "Yes-Man." Listen below. The band will also be playing at Cornwall Chaos Fest next month. Read more SHOWS 4 JUL – Avant Garde …
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