Blogpost: Search/Play/Repeat - January (Part 1)

Posted by Aaron H • February 1, 2020

Posted by Aaron H • February 1, 2020

January - Part 1: An Introduction

Hiya folks!


Welcome to my new Search/Play/Repeat blog. One of the ideas and influences I got for this blog began when I started to see articles that suggest people stop discovering new music by around the age of 30. This caused a bout of introspection. Why? Well, because I was coming up on 30 and realized I was fitting into that statistic way more than I was comfortable with.


Listening to and discovering music has always been a huge part of who I am. It's one of the reasons why I'm writing for SPB to begin with, but over time, day-to-day life becomes exhausting. You start to realize you have less and less time to do the things that you enjoy, and you start to feel like you're losing a piece of yourself. It's something that was taking a toll on me and having an effect on my contributions to Scene Point Blank.


Another point of influence came when a forum I frequent proposed a challenge to listen to 50 albums that you haven't heard before. It seemed like a good start to helping me break my routine. Music is more easily accessible now than it's ever been before. Technology makes it incredibly easy to discover new music as well as venture into the past and listen to the albums you may not have actually had much interest in if it weren't so accessible. From the "classics" to the new or obscure. I mean, we live in a time where you can listen to most of, if not all, 100-something Frank Zappa albums at will. It's as simple as searching for what you want, pressing the "play" button, and repeating the process. And that's what I'm going to do.


Over the course of the year, I'm going to listen to and discover as much music as I can find the time to do. I'm going to try and listen to some "critically-acclaimed" albums I never got to growing up.  I'm going to try and listen to some new 2020 releases. I'm going to try and fill in the gaps from artists I already like and hopefully find some new ones along the way. At the end of each month, I'll share a playlist of my favorite/notable songs from some of those albums and maybe sneak in some new singles that grab my attention. I may even chime in from time to time in the middle of the month to talk about what I've been listening to. In the end, I hope you find something new that you like as well.

TL:DR Version: I listen to albums I haven't to before and then make a playlist. Head to Part 2 for January's playlist.

Aaron H • February 1, 2020

More recent blogposts

Search/Play/Repeat - December 2025

Posted by Loren • December 8, 2025

The less I say about 2025 the better. Well, except to say that Scene Point Blank's 2025 Year End coverage is in development so, actually, I'll be talking about the year a lot. Search/Play/Repeat is a sporadic playlist feature that's just about sharing music though, instead of hitting some topical theme. The following half-hour of mostly punk music is a … Read more

The Mars Volta @ The RMA 11/28/25

Posted by Aaron H • December 3, 2025

The Mars Volta: Credit - AMH The Mars Volta just wrapped up their US tour in support of their new album, Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio, and on their run, they brought their show to the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. It was Black Friday and the holidays were in full effect around downtown Riverside where the venue sits, as the … Read more

Unearth @ The Opera House

Posted by Mirela Z. • November 28, 2025

Unearth @ The Opera House Toronto, ON, CA November 27, 2025 Unearth Live Review – Atreyu - 'The Curse' 20+1 Years Anniversary Tour Unearth saved the best for last. Closing out their seventh tour date in Toronto as part of Atreyu’s The Curse Anniversary Tour, they delivered an explosive, high-energy set that had the entire Opera House headbanging from the … Read more

Zakk Sabbath – American Winter Tour 2025

Posted by Mirela Z. • November 26, 2025

Zakk Sabath @ The Vine Showroom at del Lago Casino Waterloo, NY, USA November 21, 2025 Zakk Sabbath Live Review – American Winter Tour 2025 It’s officially official: Zakk is carrying the torch for Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s legacy. The sold-out venue kicked off the night with Bonfire, an AC/DC cover band all the way from L.A. Not your typical … Read more

Murder by Death/AJJ @ Pappy and Harriet's 10/31/25

Posted by Aaron H • November 10, 2025

Murder by Death: Credit - AMH It's bittersweet to be making this post. Murder by Death are currently on the road for their Farewell Tour. Murder by Death have been a part of my life for the past 20 years. Some of my longest-lasting friendships were formed through this band, and my love for them and their music is unconditional. … Read more

Thrice - Horizons/West Tour 2025

Posted by Mirela Z. • November 7, 2025

Thrice @ Danforth Music Hall Toronto, Canada November 4, 2025 Thrice Live Review – Horizons/West Tour 2025 I was genuinely thrilled to finally get the chance to see and photograph Thrice — a band that’s been on my radar for years. Their latest release, Horizons/West, feels like a powerful step forward: deeply introspective yet full of urgency, blending their trademark … Read more

The Exploited: Punks Not Dead – 45 Years Tour 2025

Posted by Mirela Z. • October 22, 2025

The Exploited @ The Rockpile Bar & Nightclub Toronto, Canada October 19, 2025 PUNKS NOT DEAD – 45 YEARS TOUR 2025 The OGs of punk rock, The Exploited, all the way from Edinburgh, Scotland, kicked off their 2025 Canadian Tour in Toronto, Canada, and I was there to capture it! Growing up in Montreal, surrounded by my metalhead friends, I … Read more

Rilo Kiley @ The Greek Theater 10/14/25

Posted by Aaron H • October 20, 2025

Rilo Kiley - Credit: AMH After nearly two decades of thinking it would never happen, Rilo Kiley announced a reunion tour in the early Spring of this year. I was overcome with excitement at the thought of getting to see such an amazing band again. The "Sometimes When You're On, You're Really Fucking On" Tour was Rilo Kiley's statement that … Read more

Texas is the Reason/Ted Leo/Slow Joy 10/8/25

Posted by Aaron H • October 13, 2025

Texas is the Reason - Credit: AMH Texas is the Reason just finished out a scattering of reunion shows leading up to their appearance at Best Friends Forever Fest in Vegas. I had the pleasure of catching their performance at The Observatory in Orange County with support from Ted Leo (sans The Pharmacists) and Dallas solo artist, Slow Joy. Slow … Read more

Cursive/Chris Crisci @ Constellation Room 9/11/25

Posted by Aaron H • September 17, 2025

Cursive - Credit: AMH Cursive are currently rounding out a year of touring on their 2024 release, Devourer. Between supporting slots for Sunny Day Real Estate, Cursive have been headlining their own shows across the western United States. They recently headlined a show at Santa Ana's Constellation Room with The Appleseed Cast's Chris Crisci along for the ride. Crisci ran … Read more