Loren

Remember Election Day 2024? Maybe you shouldn't. Maybe you've blocked it out. That's fair, but there was one pleasant surprise that day: a new EP from Wisconsin's Arms Aloft. It took a while to claw out of the darkness in November, then Year End 2024 coverage took over the Scene Point Blank editorial calendar but now we caught up with … 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

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

It's been a while since I put another playlist up. I actually had this 99% done a couple of months ago, but everything went haywire and the list went on hold. This edition of Search/Play/Repeat is a quick play, running about 30 minutes in total. Enjoy! Read more

Visual Learner, BlackDots, City Mouse, Couch Potato Massacre Cloudland Theater Minneapolis, MN May 7, 2025 I’m embarrassed that I haven’t covered any shows at Cloudland for SPB previously. It’s a relatively new addition to the Minneapolis scene and a welcome addition that feels as much like a community space as … Read more

Sometimes I get all introspective and ask myself why I do this. Not very often, but the answer is always because I like music. It's that simple. I like to discover new stuff and I like to share it. Every year, the staff at Scene Point Blank sink a ton … Read more

Vices, outlets, escapes... I'm not sure where things are at here in November of 2024. But as we battle our demons and look for meaning, or escape, music is a blessing. Here's a new playlist. Many of these artists have been covered at Scene Point Blank, mixed in with tracks … Read more

Playing DIY punk with an indie-pop warmth, Olympia, WA based trio Wavers has a new album, out now, called Look What I Found. It's upbeat, uptempo and angry but with a greater breadth of emotion that alternates between melodic, aggressive, and reflective. The band formed in 2021 and just released … Read more

DFMK has a new album on the way, Playa Nuclear, out Oct. 17 on Alternative Tentacles. The first single is "Mi Rutina," which continues the band's Tijuana garage-spin on punked up rock 'n' roll. "The song’s lyrics deal with emotional withdrawal, and an introspection on human connections, feelings of being … Read more

Denver, CO based 4-piece Broken Record shared news of their third labum, the upcoming Routine, out on Oct. 14 on Power Goth Recordings. The album was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Justin Pizzoferrato, and produced by Pizzoferrato and band founder Lauren Beecher. Read more Here's the first single: A few … Read more

Hüsker Dü has a 4xLP boxset on the way courtesy of Numero Group, 1985: The Miracle Year, out on Nov. 7. The band consisted of Bob Mould, Grant Hart, and Greg Norton. The boxset includes a live set from Jan. 30, 1095 at First Avenue venue in its entirety, plus … Read more