Tobias Jeg (Red Scare Industries)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)
I'll omit any releases on my own label, because I may be shitty and shameless, but not that shitty and shameless:
- Cobra Skulls "Agitations"
- Swingin' Utters "Here Under Protest"
- Alkaline Trio "Damnesia"
- The Dwarves "The Dwarves Are Born Again"
- Wild Flag "Wild Flag"
What band did you discover in 2011 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I actually saw a fantastic new band in Madison, Wisconsin a little while back called Masked Intruder. I was travelling with the Cobra Skulls/Nothington tour and they were the opener. A kickass pop-punk band with a hilarious on-stage shtick and we all were immediately in love with them. I sit through a lot of so-so opening bands, but there's nothing better than seeing an unheard of band and being genuinely impressed. That's what going out to rock 'n' roll shows is all about. I would love to do a record with those guys...
How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?
Looking back on it, it may have been the best year ever for Red Scare. Shit! It started off especially nice because we found out that one of our releases (The Menzingers Chamberlain Waits) was voted best album of 2010 by the folks at Punknews.org. Then Alternative Press did a "label spotlight" on us and we were voted Best Local Label in the Chicago Reader, a huge weekly in our hometown. More importantly than all the recognition for our silly record company, we did a decent job of helping our friends bring their music to the rest of the world. Overall, it was a pretty positive and fruitful 2011 for much of the Red Scare family and that's how I'll remember it.
What can we look forward to from you in 2012?
From ME? Like personally? Shoot... well, The Menzingers are foolhardy enough to take me to Australia in February/March. So I guess the Aussies get to look forward to my loutish behavior and German-American wherewithal. My friends and I do shows in Chicago as "Red Scare Presents" and we plan on doing more of that shit. They're less "concerts" and more "unhinged drinkathons", but the crowds that come out and join us are STOKED. I think everybody looks forward to more of those parties around Chicago in 2012.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?
We're putting out some great stuff from Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds, The Sidekicks, The Holy Mess, etc etc. That's just what our little operation will be doing next year, but I also am looking forward to new stuff from our comrades in Teenage Bottlerocket and The Menzingers. I hear One Man Army is doing something in 2012, and that's cool to hear.
What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?
Musically, I thought a record we put out from a band called The Heat Tape would catch on. Absolutely lovable songs, but they kinda don't have an angle...or a proper label behind them! Heh heh. Beyond bands and songs, I guess I was (and still am) hoping for some reform when it comes to what we do in this country to protect Intellectual Property. I hate to get all gloomy/preachy on ya, but filesharing hangs over us like a rickety pendulum, and in order for us to keep enabling bands to make music, our government needs to protect American innovations, be it art or software or patents or whatever. Maybe we'll be saved in 2012?
