Recent features

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

Jon Snodgrass has been in the music industry and punk scene for the better part of 30 years, playing with bands such as Drag the River, Armchair Martian, Scorpios, and more. He currently performs most frequently under the name Snodgrass + Buddies, where he plays with a backing band of often familiar faces. His work varies in style and substance … Read more

 We've rolled out an extra-special feature for this year's Fest: that's right, it's FEST LIBS. You've played it before, but not like this – fill in our interactive form here, then sit back and read your customised FEST LIBS. The results may surprise you. But before you go generate your own FEST LIBS, we've asked some friends in bands performing … Read more

While I want to say that Scene Point Blank went big this year with so many interviews in this feature, the truth is that it's barely a fraction of the bands that play at FEST 22, taking place in Gainesville, FL from Oct. 25-27. The artists featured are just a small sample who we've asked to talk about why they … Read more

Part of the fun of running a site like Scene Point Blank is that I’m continually getting packages in the mail. I prefer physical media, even if it gets overwhelming sometimes. Related to that, it takes a lot to stand out from the pack. But as I began receiving promos from Snappy Little Numbers some time ago, their packages did … Read more

Greg Jacobs managed the bands Big DRILL Car, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, and Supernova and has worked at the record labels Enigma, CRUZ, SST, Cargo, Capitol (for one day), and Trust. He currently manages two of the aforementioned bands (even though they’re inactive), freelances for one of the aforementioned labels, is a music photographer and has a … Read more

Formed about one year ago, Massive Nightmares started life first as a trio and now a quartet. The band members (Tom Ciesluk, Myke Doyle, Alex Heinz, and Pat Lavalle) have played in a variety of bands previously, including Great Lakes USA, No Trigger, Save Ends, and David New Joy. That experience shows on the band’s new album, a self-titled and … Read more

Making something out of nothing every year. FEST 22 takes place in Gainesville, FL this October 25-27. It’s rare for any musical venue to last that long, be it a festival, a venue or even a band. Obviously, a lot has changed in the world in that time, from band cycles to new technology to changing venues. And that doesn’t … Read more

It’s supposed to be about the music, man. But that doesn’t mean stage presence and legendary characters aren’t part of what make punk rock so exciting. The scene has embraced larger than life types since the early days -- many of which have been immortalized as bobbleheads, action figures, and other collectibles by Aggronautix, a one-person company run by Clint … Read more