Each year in late May, the 4-day party and noise-rock festival Caterwaul takes over multiple venues in Minneapolis. It’s a stacked lineup this year, to put it mildly, with each night’s headliners FACS, Young Widows, Naw, Pissed Jeans, and Uniform -- and that’s leaving a ton of other great bands off the list in the name of keeping our intro short. SPB teamed up with organizers Conan Neutron, Rainer Fronz, and Melanie Thomas to get a feel for the fest. In addition to the bands named already, hear from Deaf Club, Buildings, Kowloon Walled City, Violenteer, Unstable Shapes, Something Is Waiting, Upright Forms, and Tonguecutter. -- Must-see bands at Caterwaul 2025 Matt K. (Pissed Jeans) Wipes are fronted by Allentown legend Ray Gurz, gotta peep their set. Find a big enough piece of trash and he'll do a skateboard trick on it. Uniform feel like bruthers from different muthers even though I only see those guys in person like once every four years at this point... dying to see them play their last album, it's their best yet. Deaf Club seem like a real hoot, getting accidentally kicked in the face by Justin Pearson is the hardcore equivalent of the Pope dabbing ash on your forehead (RIP). Big'n would be great to catch, understated legends for sure. Justin Pearson (Deaf Club) Obviously, Pissed Jeans as they are one of the coolest modern bands around. I'm also looking forward to seeing the homies Young Widows, Fotocrime, Conan Neutron, and Uniform. However … Read more
There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not … Read more
Steven Fairweather is a Canadian musician, radio show host, and comic book writer. He is best known as the bassist … Read more
How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day … Read more
The debut album from Florida punk band Miller Lowlifes features a vintage baseball theme, best enjoyed with a can of cheap domestic beer in hand. The metaphor fits, as Pinch Hitters focuses on the American dream -- and where it stands in 2025. The vintage educational TV audio clips add to this past-meets-present theme. It's an album that's equally about … Read more
I’ve never reviewed a box set before but Art Brut released my favourite sprechgesang anti-art-punk album of the early aughts so I figured I’d give it a go. 2005’s Bang Bang Rock & Roll placed Art Brut among the “Art Wave” scene but was more post-punk revival than “Indie Sleaze”. Argos has cited Jonathan Richman and Axl Rose as his … Read more
Few bands have as fitting a name as The Slow Death. They play forlorn, self-deprecating punk that’s heavily influenced by lonesome country. The music itself is more driving and punchy, but many of the lyrics would fit just well in a somber old-timey country ballad. It’s forceful music that punches inward instead of at The Man. The first song is … Read more
People in the indie punk scene in Canada can usually be linked by six degrees of separation. I’ve never met Golden Shitter guitarist Matt Ellis IRL but I became acquainted with him when he played in the short lived Plastic Heads with Jon Sharron. Having played with everyone from Chokehold to Brutal Knights, along with the criminally underrated Valley Boys, … Read more
The Raging Nathans are a unique band. They play '90s influenced punk that checks a ton of familiar boxes. It will appeal to fans of the old "EpiFat" sound, as … Read more
Rodeo Boys play in the punk circuit but there's so much going on in their music. I'll broadly summarize it as guitar music. This description, of course, might be biased … Read more
Li Jianhong's philosophy surpasses the direct relationship of a musician with their instrument of choice. Instead, Li has advocated for Environment Improvisation, where the urge to create and improvise is … Read more
Some reviews are written after years of listening to a band and knowing nearly everything about them. Sometimes I listen to a record on repeat for weeks before I even … Read more
Randy Moore, of Get Married, The Moore Family Band, Teens in Trouble, and Spiritworld, as well as Dan Andriano & The Bygones and Lektron, now hsa a solo effort underway too -- Bones Shredder. He will release his solo debut under the Bones Shedder moniker this fall, coming Sept. 19 … Read more
“It’s always been the case that everyone is going through something that you may not be aware of,” Mac McCaughan of Superchunk says, via press release, when speaking of the … Read more
Today Is The Day, at work on a new album, has announced both a Rich Hall tribute show performanc ein Brooklyn, NY this summer, plus a North American tour with … Read more
May 30 marked the release of a new 2-song 7" from Chicago pop-punk band The Methadones, the band's first new music in 15 years, available from Red Scare Industries/Stardumb Records. … Read more
Seattle, WA punk band The rowns has announced a live album, Live at Rebellion, recorded at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, UK. “Rebellion has always been a highlight of our year, … Read more
William Covert Trio, an avant-garde noise rock project out of Chicago, IL, has announced an EP called Dream Void, out July 25. The instrumental record was composed by Covert, who … Read more
Last week Marhouse Records band Dr Sure's Unusual Practice released the new blue tape, a 4-song collection of poppy synthy garage-punk tunes. The band will be on tour in the … Read more
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