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.
Scene Point Blank is excited to share a love song to danger, the debut album from DC-based punk band little a. It was recorded between June 2023 and July 2024, then mixed in the fall of 2025.The band play "no-frills" punk with a message, drawing influence from the classic DC …
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Wavemaking Australian band The Chats just announced upcoming third album, Half Cut. Now the band is band with more updates: North American and UK/European tour dates in 2027.All the confirmed dates are shared eblow. The band will be touring Australia to close out this year. Read more THE CHATS — …
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USA Nails shared a new single/video for "Two Grim Choices" this week, a song off their upcoming new album Routine Flesh, which comes out on via SKiN GRAFT Records and One Little Independent on Feb. 10, 2027."Day three of recording I think, we were trying to mix things up," says …
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Pure Noise Records has justed signed concealer. -- a metalcore band from Orlando, FL. The label's first action, in addition to sharing the news of course, is to re-release the band's This Room Could Be Heaven debut album.Preorders are open now, with an ETA of Dec. 18. Read more concealer. …
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Art-rock band Perennial is following this year's new album, Modernism, with a run of dates on the US West Coast in January next year.The album released on Sept. 18 on Ernest Jenning Record Co (US) and Safe Suburban Home (UK). Read more Tour Dates:January 06 - San Diego CA @ …
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Projectile Players has announced a reissue of the 1985 album Last Time I Drank... by Cerritos, CA punk band Channel 3.The reissue is entirely remastered and includes two songs from the Airborne EP, both of which appeared on the original cassette.The album returns to circulation on Nov. 13, following 41 …
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On Dec. 10, Andy Blade (Eater) and Derwood Andrews (Generation X) latest track will release digitally, a seasonal "Christmas Song (For When It All Goes Wrong)." On this latest collaboration between the two long-active musicians, they also bring in Rat Scabies (The Damned) on drums.Blade and Andrews previously teamed up …
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Beginning in March 2026, Alexisonfire will cross the US on a co-headlining tour with Poison the Well, with Touche Amore also along for the ride.All the dates, venue, info, etc, is shared below. Read more Alexisonfire tour datesMar 25, 2027 – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TXMar 26, 2027 – …
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The Funeral Arrangement is a new solo project from Myk Porter (Brandtson, Swarm of Bats, Golden Streets of Paradise). The effort sees release via Steadfast Records, announcing the grimly titled Sooner Or Later EP, out Nov. 11 on Steadfast Records.The title track debuted today, one of seven song son the …
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Taleen Kali will release their new album, Aepex on February 26th via Dum Dum Records. You can check out their new single, "Black Rose" below featuring AFI Bassist, Hunter Burgan, on guest saxophone. Read more Kali comments on the song: 'Black Rose' is our dark desert song, featuring Hunter Burgan …
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Agriculture recently digitally released their live album, The Spiritual Sound, Live in Europe 2026, but you can pre-order the vinyl or CD release now over at Flenser before it releases on November 27th.The Spiritual Sound, Live in Europe 2026 track list:My Garden (Live at Roadburn 2026)Flea (Live in Glasgow 2026)Micah …
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The Slow Death will release their upcoming album, Yesterday's Numbers, on November 20th via Anxious & Angry and Don't Sing Records. You can check out their 2nd single, "You're Not Coming Back" over at Bandcamp. Jesse Thorson comments on the track:This song is kinda the whole reason I put this …
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East End Redemption, a pop-punk/skatepunk band out of Portland, ME is back with a new EP, following last year's Crashing Down.The new EP comes with a sci-fi theme, on display in "Marooned," out now on streaming platforms.You can also read an interview with the band here. Read more
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Spy Rock Memories, a collection of reflections from Lookout Records founder Larry Livermore that was first published in 2013 will be reissued in an expanded edition on March 2, 2027, featuring new material contributed by Aaron Cometbus and Tre Cool, new material from Livermore, and 22 additional photos.
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Deniz Tek has a new single called "Let 'Em Be Wrong / Taking Hits," out Nov. 6 on Wild Honey Records.The two-song 7" was recorded at 107 Sound, the family home of Ron and Scott Asheton in Ann Arbor, MI, and feature Deniz on guitar and lead vocals, Anne Tek …
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The Bad Plug is prepping to release their second album, the upcoming Plugology, coming Nov. 27 on Wild Honey Records. The band has also self-released several EPs previously and last released a 7" called Macho Man just last year.
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Formed last year by Ian O'Leary (Squint, Dragd), Danny Blaies (Brother Lee), Stephen Inman (Blight Future), and Emma Tiemann (Murder by Death), Future Nots will release their debut EP, Spite, on Oct. 30. The band play garage rock rooted rock 'n' roll. The live clip below showcases that and also …
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January 22, 2027 will be the release date for When Brutality Becomes The Language, the latest album from Danish death metal/metallic hardcore band Lifesick. The new album is the band's fifth studio album thes far, and they share a new single, "All Eyes On Me," now. The record will release …
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Goner Records has announced a Nov. 13 release date for the new Ibex Clone album, Gravity Out, sharing the title track earlier this week.It's the third LP from the group. Here's the single: Read more UPCOMING DATES - MEMPHIS, TNNov. 13 - Memphis Listening Lab - Gravity Listening PartyNov. 14 …
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Oakland, CA punk band The Lucky Eejits will release a new EP in 2027, a planned 4-song digital release on Hey!Fever Records.The band recently shared "Nightmare" in advance, mayhap in time for Halloween.“We were super stoked to get back into the studio and lay down these new songs,” vocalist Casey …
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