Loren

Here in Scene Point Blank Land, I sometimes get lost in the inbox of endless submissions and new music. I find things I like, but the great digital expanse still makes the records feel, well, a little too distant. Music is supposed to be personal, even if I'm not standing in the front row of a dimly lit room soaking … Read more

It was about a year ago I discovered Unseemlier, shortly before the release of I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere. It's a wordy title and a somewhat unwieldy band name -- and I’ll use that “a lot going on in a little space” metaphor even further to talk about the band's "heavy emo / soft punk" sound. It's singsong at … Read more

It feels like a lifetime ago when Mitt Romney referenced a "war on women" during the 2012 presidential cycle. A lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same -- but a new politically-charged band formed in the aftermath of that comment, calling themselves War On Women. Now, roughly 14 years later, War on Women are releasing their fifth full-length … Read more

The Arrivals have been a band for 30 years -- though they’ve made us wait 16 years for the follow-up to 2010’s Volatile Molotov. While a ton of time has passed and the band has moved, literally in some cases, and raised children in others, their sound is still the same: thoughtful and timeless DIY punk, rooted in foundational rock … Read more

The less I say about 2025 the better. Well, except to say that Scene Point Blank's 2025 Year End coverage is in development so, actually, I'll be talking about the year a lot. Search/Play/Repeat is a sporadic playlist feature that's just about sharing music though, instead of hitting some topical … 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

Quicksand, currently in preparation to release Bring On The Physics on July 17 (Equal Vision), has announced a headlining tour this summer with Bane. The band shared new song, "Crystallize," last week: Read more Live dates: JUNE 11 — Hradec Králové 7, CZ — Rock for People 2026 at Park … Read more

Tom Morello just shared the new single "Adjourn It," featuring Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) and Roman Morello. The single comes adjacent to Morello's Power To The People Festival, scheduled for Oct. 3 in Columbia, MD near Washington, DC. The community action-minded event will feature performances from Bruce Springsteen, … Read more

Taking place Sept. 10-13 at multiple venues in Austin, TX, Levitation 2026 will include sets from Bikini Kill, American Football, Gibby Haynes, Man Or Astroman?, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, and more. Learn more about tickets and lineup via their website. Read more

New England melodic hardcore band Stab just joined with Unbeaten Records, announcing the news with a brand new song, "New England Numb" featuring Mat Kerekes (Citizen). Formed just last year, the band is planning to release a debut album called Lost in Maine on July 24 via Unbeaten. Listen to … Read more