Tobias Jeg (owner) Red Scare Industries
What is your name and band/label/etc?
Tobias Jeg from the Chicago-based punk label, Red Scare.
What are your top five albums that were released in 2012? (In order 1-5)
Hmmm, really putting me on the spot. Here's a list minus any Red Scare releases, which are obviously the year's best, duh...
- Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth
- The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past
- Teenage Bottlerocket - Freak Out!
- White Lung - Sorry
- Classics Of Love - S/T
What band did you discover in 2012 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I'd say Masked Intruder. Even though I technically "discovered" them in 2011, it wasn't until this year that we introduced them to the world by putting out their debut record. They've blown up faster than any other band we've worked with and it's cool to know that we can still share good music with lots of other people. It's really fun to see a band catch fire like they have; it's kinda why we do this.
How will you remember 2012? (In terms of music)
More distro woes for the label, but we still managed to have our biggest and best year yet. Not to sound like a vain asshole, but I really didn't get into much new music because I spent so much time listening to Red Scare releases. We had a great and diverse output this year, so I'm content listening to all my friends' records. I went to both Riot Fest and Gainesville Fest this year and had a blast, so it was a good year for carousing at festivals too. Let's see, what else... I guess "the industry" rewarded renowned dipshit and woman-beater, Chris Brown, with a Grammy. That was nice.
What can we look forward to from you in 2013?
Me and some friends have been working on a site for Static Age, which was a TV show we did briefly in Chicago. Not that the world needs another crummy website, but it should be a fun challenge and new experience. Masked Intruder will probably be doing a new record too, so it'll be exciting to see what they do next after the immediate success of their debut. I'm also hoping to roll out a bunch or vinyl represses from our more popular Red Scare titles that have been outta print for a while. That should make some nerds happy.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2013?
I hear that The Lawrence Arms are doing a new album, so that should be interesting. I love Swingin' Utters, so I'll definitely check their new one out. An Off With Their Heads album from Blasting Room sounds intriguing. Does Game of Thrones count as a record? How about watching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl? Man, 2013 is gonna be rad...
Fundraising sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have made a strong impact on the ability of artists to release music. Do you think this approach is a trend, or will it continue to shape how artists produce their material?
I have no idea bacause I've never worked with a band that ever used crowd funding. It seems that most bands of my generation or our niche find it weird or undignifying to ask for money from fans. Maybe that'll change? We just do things the old-fashioned way: bankroll the recording, sell the music, pay the bands. It may be outmoded in 2012, so I am fully prepared to hang it up when the scene deems us unnecessary. The sooner it happens the sooner I can get back to playing Dungeons & Dragons.
