Recent features

Steven Fairweather is a Canadian musician, radio show host, and comic book writer. He is best known as the bassist of the punk band Gob and the founder of Stranger Radio, an independent online radio station. -- Before the internet, before streaming, before Shazam could tell you what was playing in my local dive bar jukebox in five seconds flat … Read more

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we caught up with Chuck Ragan, known as the gruffest voice of Hot … Read more

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we chat with Kevin Purcell (guitar/vocals) of Retirement about running Portland bike shop … Read more

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene … Read more

There is perhaps no bigger music fan than Peter Jesperson. His passion for music translated to jumping feet first and not eschewing situations but embracing them, constantly creating, supporting, and believing in himself and others. Peter's ebullient personality was a touchstone for many who experienced the contact musical highs that emanated enthusiasm. With a down-to-earth personality combined with a comprehensive … Read more

What's not to love about driving across North American highways in a well-used van, drinking copious amounts of beer, blaring Hall & Oates and passing a well-used copy of Catcher In the Rye amongst sweating, stinking punk rock brethren? The answer is contained in Mike Magrann's Miles Per Gallon book. It is a delectable tale of punk pock pioneer camaraderie: … Read more

It's a new year – hooray. And things are off to a fine start, too. If the thought of corrupt governments, AI domination, unmoderated social networks and endless war is causing you to retreat into the past, we don't blame you. In fact, we encourage it! Our writers have summed up the best things about 2024 across a range of … Read more

It's 2025, somehow. When did this happen?! Okay, okay, four days ago. But honestly. It feels like 2012 was only a few months ago. Is it just SPB who's feeling a little, well, timestruck? But don't worry – we've got you. Did 2024 pass you by, too? Still not caught up on all the albums you suspect were released in … Read more

It's a SPB tradition to formally "pass the mic" to our artist and label friends to tell us about their year in music. What albums did they enjoy? What shows did they see? What are they looking forward to for the new year? We're joined this year by a host of folks: Frank Turner, Justin Pearson, Tobias Jeg, Body Stuff, … Read more

I'm alive and so are 999! They formed in London in 1976 and quickly became one of the favourites of the first wave of the UK punk scene. Energetic, colourful shows soon took them a hop, skip, and swim across the large pond to North America where they continued gathering their large rabid cult following. 999 – Emergency at the … Read more

Hey folks, Toby here, and the SPB team asked me to provide some insights about some stuff from our catalog now that Red Scare is (you gotta be shittin’ me?!) twenty years old. Specifically a “memory or modern take” on some past releases, and they picked some doozies, so let’s dive in… We’re as surprised as label head Toby Jeg … Read more

UltraBomb is Greg Norton - Bass (Hüsker Dü), Finny McConnell - Vocals and Guitars (The Mahones), and Derek O'Brien - Drums (Social Distortion), replacing Jamie Oliver (UK Subs). References are being dropped like an UltraBomb (like that? ha!) so, that being said: are they a supergroup or power trio? Neither is probably too far off the intended red bullseye. However, … Read more

I’ve talked about having a writer’s block this year. So when I set myself down (after a stern talk to motivate myself) I looked at this blank page thinking: what on earth should I discuss this time around? At first I thought I would put another couple of labels in the spotlight. I still like how my previous column turned … Read more

Hailing from Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Anomalys have almost been together for 20 years! Not mellowing with age (it’s not in the formula), they continue to ply their trade of high-energy rock and roll: burning up stages and leaving supporting bands and fans in limpid pools of blubbering, drooling, melted flesh. They drank the rock ‘n’ roll purple Kool-Aid and … Read more

How do you sum up a 3-day weekend where you’ve spent approximately 36 hours watching live music and seen nearly 50 bands -- and also missed another 300? The Fest is a wonderful beast where you venue hop to catch up-and-comers, watch headliners outside on the big stage, and stumble onto one-off side projects with some of your favorite musicians … Read more