Feature / Music
Pre-gaming For The Fest

Words: Scottie • Posted pre-2010

Cloak/Dagger

Scene Point Blank: How many times has the band played The Fest?

Cloak/Dagger: This year is going to be our second time at The Fest and it is going to be at the end of our U.S. tour. Can't wait.

Scene Point Blank: Seeing how The Fest has been dubbed the pinnacle of beard rock, which bands playing do you think have the best bearded members? Do you have suggestions or requests for facial hair at this year's The Fest?

Cloak/Dagger: I think out of all the bands I watched play last year no one was bearded. I think that if people rocked a Captain Lou Albino look with rubber bands in their beards I could get behind that.

Scene Point Blank: What have been some of the high and low points of previous The Fests?

Cloak/Dagger: High point was playing the show, eating tacos, Collin kissing some strange man and seeing pretty much all of Richmond relocating to Florida. The low point was some drunk kid wiping blood on me as he passed grabbing at my Paint It Black shirt saying, "Fuck yeah that band rules"!

Scene Point Blank: What bands are you most psyched to see at this year's The Fest?

Cloak/Dagger: Without a doubt number one on the list is Marked Men. We all love that band and they don't play too much outside of Texas. I also want to see the reunited 108, Government Warning, of course and Avail.

Scene Point Blank: What are you most looking forward to aside from seeing other bands at this year's The Fest?

Cloak/Dagger: Seeing the Richmond field trip after being gone from home for a month. Hanging out eating horrible food and seeing friends you don't see all the time all in one place.

Scene Point Blank: For all the first timers do you have any advice before attending The Fest this year or any suggestions for things to check out in the off time?

Cloak/Dagger: Get ready to be showed out. Check out some newer bands you haven't seen yet at the smaller shows. Be nice to the pizza spot down the street and buy our new CD, thanks.

Related features

Skyway

One Question Interviews • May 23, 2025

Andrew Burgess (Skyway) SPB: What is your favorite protest song? Burgess: My favorite protest song? That's a tough one. I think it's impossible to talk about protest songs without mentioning the all-time greats that have held up over the years. I'm talking about songs like "We Shall Overcome," "We Will … Read more

ButcherBird

One Question Interviews • May 22, 2025

Rob (ButcherBird – guitar) SPB: How do you draw the line between taking influence vs. mimicking? Rob: When it comes to human creativity, almost nothing is truly and completely new. There’s a song by Iron Monkey called “House Anxiety” which has an absolutely crushing riff in it -- and it’s … Read more

Perfect Buzz

One Question Interviews • May 20, 2025

Petey J. Cool (Perfect Buzz) SPB: What is the best TV theme song? Petey J. Cool: I’ve still never seen an episode of Hawaii Five-O, but when I was a kid I’d get to catch the opening sequence just before I was marched off to bed. I was fascinated because … Read more

Caterwaul 2025

Music • May 13, 2025

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 … Read more

Ilya Arbatman (Rotary Club)

Book store co-owner

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • May 13, 2025

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 … Read more

More from this section

Caterwaul 2025

Music • May 13, 2025

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 … Read more

Guest List: Steven Fairweather (Gob) – The Gateway And The Getaway

Music / The Set List • May 13, 2025

Steven Fairweather is a Canadian musician, radio show host, and comic book writer. He is best known as the bassist of the punk band Gob and the founder of Stranger Radio, an independent online radio station. -- Before the internet, before streaming, before Shazam could tell you what was playing … Read more

2024: A Year In Review

Music / Year End 2024 • January 13, 2025

It's a new year – hooray. And things are off to a fine start, too. If the thought of corrupt governments, AI domination, unmoderated social networks and endless war is causing you to retreat into the past, we don't blame you. In fact, we encourage it! Our writers have summed … Read more