Tobias Jeg (Red Scare Industries)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)
It's a 5-way tie!
- Bishops Green - A Chance To Change
- Success - Radio Recovery
- Red City Radio - s/t
- Kacey Musgraves - Pageant Material
- Sam Russo - Greyhound Dreams
2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
That's easy: The Lippies from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I saw them play a party in Vegas and it was the first time they'd been on the road. The singer Tonia is a powerhouse vocalist and the band has an awesome old-school, punk vibe. I tell everyone to go see them and everyone inevitably texts/calls me back with a, "Holy shit, dude!"
3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)
Red Scare put out some good records and had a fairly solid year, but two of our long-time comrades passed away: David Jones from Enemy You and Brandon Carlisle of Teenage Bottlerocket. Both those guys were close personal friends of mine and were part of the Red Scare family since year one. Sometimes I think I feel like I've lost two of my limbs.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?
There will be a new record from The Falcon. The Lippies will also put out their Red Scare debut. I guess The Brokedowns are already recording new songs? They must've come across some good Krokodil out in the Chicago burbs... Nothington's record (we're calling "Chinese Democracy") has been getting mixed for 13 months now, so maybe that will come out someday? Who the fuck knows! Oh, and The All Brights are doing another EP. Have you heard them? They're awesome and fun.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?
In addition to all the music we're putting out (which will be the best shit of the year, just like every year), I'm really stoked on this new album from The Lippies. They really blow my mind and I am stoked for the rest of the punk world to finally hear them too. What else... I hear The Menzingers are recording new stuff, and they obviously rule.
I looked at a 2016 release schedule and see that there's new crap coming from Iggy Azalea, Modest Mouse, RHCP, Bon Jovi... plenty I'm not looking forward to.
6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?
What I have seen is more people telling me that they basically buy vinyl for the download code and see the LP as owning stock in the band. Something not to listen to but to sell down the road if it becomes more valuable. We don't put DL codes in our vinyl, so I hear this spiel all the time from people who are bummed because they bought a record to flip on eBay, not to listen to. HERE'S MY THING: we sell music. Proudly. I'm not going broke and humping boxes down to the post office so some dorks can have collectibles. No fucking way. We're the only label that feels this way apparently, but I stand by it. If you want to hear the music digitally, get it on iTunes. You want it for your record player, get the vinyl. You want it for... you get the idea! Format is stupid. The music and the message is important.
