Tobias Jeg (Red Scare Industries)
Best street food of 2025: Hamdi’s cart at 42nd and 8th
What are your top five albums that were released in 2025? (In order 1-5)
Like most people, I prefer Red Scare releases to all other music, but each year I offer an unbiased response to Pass The Mic and list 5 non-Red Scare punk songs that are worth checking out.
Here they are:
- Kong Kong - Paul The Guru
- Alkaline Trio - Oblivion
- Nobro - Doomtown
- Sweet Gloom - Loudmouths
- Béton Armé - Coup de Foudre
What band did you discover in 2025 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? How so?
I saw Nobro at Pouzza Fest and it was probably the best set I have ever seen at any festival. They were the last band to play on Saturday and we were pretty dusted, but we wanted to see a couple songs. We ended up staying for the whole thing and loved every bit of it. Hell, I think they played two encores?! They sound like 10 different bands all at once. Super fun.
Honorable mention to Sweet Gloom, who I saw at The Fest in Florida. Never heard any of their music before, but I’m hooked now. I love that dude’s vocal stylings and melodies.
How will you remember 2025 (in terms of music)?
Red Scare put out so many releases! The Methadones, Arms Aloft, Elway, The Brokedowns, Sam Russo, Tired Radio, Won’t Stay Dead, a tour EP with new songs from Brendan Kelly and Guerilla Poubelle… yeah, it was busy. But good! I’m very grateful that people are enjoying this music and getting out to shows. Hats off to the punks.
I went to Canada three times this year. It was my tiny act of solidarity with our friendly neighbors to the North who somehow got wrapped up in the political chaos and stupidity of the USA. Sorry about that, guys. We’re workin’ on it. I strongly recommend a visit up there, as everyone was warm and welcoming.
What can we look forward to from you in 2026?
Red Scare has releases from American Steel, a split EP with Tightwire and Canadian Rifle, a new Sludgeworth LP is in the can… I’m probably forgetting some stuff. Last year I wrote about how NOFX said they would give us a song for a split with F.U.s, but those guys have been avoiding my calls. Hmmm. What’s the point of these lists if they can’t be weaponized?!
I would love to work with some new bands, but they gotta tour 8 days a week. So if you are 1) Beautiful, 2) Independently wealthy or have already won the lottery, 3) A generational songwriter (see all other Red Scare artists, for example), and 4) Willing to fritter away your only days here on god’s green Earth playing shows in places like Tulsa and Nashua, NH… then get at me and let’s do some business.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2026?
See above! I know Red Scare alum like The Menzingers and Sincere Engineer have new records coming, and I always look forward to their new music. I think Social Distortion and The Flatliners have new albums too, and I like those bands. I’m into Broadway, and I believe there’s a Dolly Parton show and a Lost Boys(?!) musical coming in 2026, so I would try and catch those if/when I’m in NYC.
Singles rule the music scene right now. How has that affected you as a band or label? Has it influenced your approach to new releases or touring?
It’s the way of the future, so it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me: I hate it, haha. We can debate the merits of the formats (single vs. EP vs. full-length) all day, but the reason artists are doing more singles is because the streaming services demand that bands/labels are constantly creating content for them. “YOU MUST HAVE A NEW SINGLE EVERY 60 DAYS AND YOU MUST PUSH YOUR AUDIENCE TOWARDS OUR APP OR ELSE THE ALGORITHM WILL COME FOR YOUR CHILDREN.” And I get it, fuck labels too, because they have historically exploited bands, but this feels different to me because it’s coming from tech bro culture. Say what you will about the scumbags associated with the music biz, but at least they were human beings! I’ll take Phil Spector over a goddamn robot, ya know?
As a consumer, I don’t like a litany of singles because it’s a mess. If we’re gonna have a discography in digital form, let’s at least do it right and make it organized and reflect that music is a SPECIAL thing, not just a string of files with afterthought artwork. Or maybe I’m just an outta touch Grognard pissin’ in the wind. Wouldn’t be the first time...
Tobias Jeg – social media links
- Twitter: @RedScareToby
