The infrequently-updated site blog, featuring a range of content including show reviews, musical musings and off-color ramblings on other varied topics.
Murder by Death recently hit the road and were joined by Laura Jane Grace. They had a stop in So-Cal, and of course, I couldn't miss an opportunity to see two of my favorite artists on one bill. Laura Jane Grace warmed up the crowd with a slew of Against Me!, Devouring Mothers, and solo tracks, including a few new songs entitled, "Tacos and Toast" and "Fuck You (Just Because)." With their stop in Pomona, Murder by Death brought something special. The band made it one of a few stops where they performed their 2003 album, Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them? with the addition of another set of songs spanning the rest of their discography. Check out the gallery below:
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.
San Antonio, TX political post-punks Nocturnal Prose are releasing their first long player Western Interests on the band's own Total Agency label. Featuring Yole Centeno on guitar, vocals, and synth, Nick Obregon on 2nd guitar, Aaron Marin on bass and Alan Codd on drums, the band had previously released a …
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Gatta Morta is the new supergroup formed by Buzz Osborne (Melvins), JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers),Coady Willis (Big Business), and Clinton Jacob (Mr. Phylzzz). Their new EP, Burn Witch Burn, is available now via Amphetamine Reptile Records. Check out the visualizer for their track "Black Hall" below: Read more Osborne comments: …
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Godflesh have announced their new album, Decay -- available September 25th via Relapse Records. You can check out their new track "Living/Ending" below: Read more Justin Broadrick comments: Decay was born from the same sessions as Purge. It was one huge pool of songs. I picked what I felt was …
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As We Shiver, a melodic post-hardcore band from Houston, TX, have a new EP on the way -- a split with Compilations of Austin, TX, which will be titled Down The Middle (Diverse Chorus Records). Check out a new song below. Read more
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Quicksand and Fucked up will be touring Canada later this year, just after Quicksand wraps up a run of dates in the US with Bane as the band continues to support their 2026 album Bring on the Psychics (Equal Vision). Dates are shared below, including a stop in Fresno, CA, …
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Post-hardcore band Vita Ruina will soon release a new 7", Modern Frames, out via Mind Over Matter Records on Sept. 18. The title track is streaming below, with the band noting: At its heart "Modern Frames" is about discovering that while the ‘frames’ we live in might break, change, or …
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Metallic hardcore band Lockslip shared a single from their upcoming debut album The Conversation, out Nov. 6. The record will release via Bleakhouse, run by King Yosef, who also appears on the lead single, "Gray World." The Los Angeles, CA based band formed in 2022 and has released a self-titled …
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Scorpion Milk is following its Slime of the Times debut with a new 6-song EP called Flesh Masks For Skulls, out via Peaceville on Sept. 25. The new EP has four new songs, plus two covers: "What We All Want," originally by Gang of Four and "Gut Feeling," originally by …
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The Format just released a bonus track from the Boycott Heaven sessions, “The Bar Is Set So Low,” as a fundraiser for the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, Immigrant Defense Network, Advocates for Immigrant Rights, and Latino Memphis. The band wrote the song as tensions with ICE …
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Kaonashi shared a new single today (below), "Typing...", out in advance of tours with The Callous Daoboys and The Number Twelve Looks Like You, as well as the Never Home Festival next weekend. The single releases via Equal Vision. Read more Tour Dates: 8/20 Philadelphia, PA – Never Home Fest …
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We debated between the band and album title winning our headline, and here's where we landed: a direct quation of the first 5 words of today's press release announcing that Genital Shame will release Wellness Plan on The Flenser on Oct. 30. The black metal project from Erin Dawson explores …
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Don Giovanni Records will released a limited vinyl Live Form Hell double LP from Weakened Friends, to be sold exclusively at independent record stores beginning on Sept. 25. The album was recorded at The Sinclase in Boston, MA. The band will be on tour with The Menzingers and Hot Water …
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Post-hardcore band Montclair has a new single, "Eyesight," out now, two shows this weekend with Boundaries and Koyo, and a new EP out Sept. 25. The EP is a self-titled 3-song release coming via new Morality Zine. Read more Montclair EP Tracklist: 1. Solace in the Moment After ft. Brie …
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Build Art Make Change has put together a 47-track compilation called Contra-ICE Vol. 1: ICE OUT, a benefit that will release on Oct. 2 via SoundsGood Records with contributions from kathleen Hanna, Ad-Rock, Tom Morello, Fred Armisen, Fishbone, Jello Biafra, and more. Proceeds will benefit National Day Laborer Organizing Network …
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Outer Battery Records will release a collection of rare recordings from Swervedriver, RAISE: DEMOS, which comes from the recording of the band's debut. The new release is available on Oct. 23 on vinyl, cd, cassette, and digital formats. This medium choice comes, in part, because the original demos for this …
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Dear Landlord announced new music, perhaps a new album, in a social media post today (below). The post does not state their lineup on the new recordings. The band released Dream Homes back in 2009. Read more
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Noise rock band Remote Viewing introduced "Retrain As A Swan," a new single from the band's forthcoming fourth album, State Violence, out on Sept. 18 on UK label Human Worth. A portion of proceeds will be donated to charitable organization Trussell. Read more STATE VIOLENCE tracklist: 1. #makemoneymakelovemakemoney 2. Retrain …
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Doom Scroll has a new album in October, with a US tour in support of Hans Gruber and the Die Hards just beforehand. The Colorado based folk-punk band will release Exhausted Dialogue on Oct. 6, kicking off the release cycle with new single, "The Ravine." Read more DOOM SCROLL TOUR …
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The Rat Utopia Experiment, T.R.U..E., has signed with Mom+Pop Music as the band prepares for a headlining tour, as well as dates with The Linda Lindas. New single “Lobotomize Me” highlights the Pacific Northwest band's blend of riot grrl culture and theatrical performance. Read more US FALL TOUR **WITH THE …
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Dead Sea Lords, of Gainesville, FL, have a new LP out next Friday when the band will release God Can't Count on 10" vinyl via Tor Johnson Records. Formed in 2019, the band features Shane Haven on drums (Panthro UK United 13, Radon), Jason Teisinger (Palatka) on bass, Danny Downing …
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