Hey folks, Toby here, and the SPB team asked me to provide some insights about some stuff from our catalog now that Red Scare is (you gotta be shittin’ me?!) twenty years old. Specifically a “memory or modern take” on some past releases, and they picked some doozies, so let’s dive in…
We’re as surprised as label head Toby Jeg seems to be that it’s been twenty years since Red Scare Industries was founded.
Throughout the year the label has celebrated the milestone, playing label showcase parties in select cities and releasing a compilation too.
Following Scene Point Blank’s “History 101” tradition, Toby reflects on 10 items from Red Scare’s deep catalog with Scene Point Blank
The Falcon – God Don’t Make No Trash -or- Up Your Ass With Broken Glass (2004)
CCCP 101
If we’re going by the catalog numbers, this is the first Red Scare release, but it actually came out the same time as the Enemy You album, CCCP 102. There’s a real “fog of war” around this record because it was produced in such guerilla fashion, but I think that adds to the fun. In other words, it’s a pretty raw recording. That’s not to say it sounds like shit, because it sounds exactly like it needs to sound. But I remember hearing whispers of, “We had to break into the Trio’s practice space to track this one part” and shit like that. Yet this thing came out sounding good because Neil has dog ears, and because -- and I don’t think anyone in the band would have a problem with me saying this -- Neil is the soul of The Falcon. Everyone was talking about this EP when it came out and it set them up for an absolute classic full-length.
Drakulas – OWOWOWOWOWOWOW (2015)
CCCP 189
This is funny. I was selling merch for The Lawrence Arms at a show they were playing with Rise Against in Chicago at Aragon. Huge venue. I’m walking in during the Rise Against soundcheck, where nobody else is in this cavernous place except the band, and Rise guitar player Zach Blair says booming into the mic, “TOBY, ARE YOU GOING TO PUT OUT THE DRAKULAS 7” OR WHAT?” I felt like I didn’t have much choice, haha. Truth is, I love Zach (henceforth known as Zakula), and I think Mike Wiebe is easily among the top 3 singers alive, so this was an easy yes. This is maybe their best release, and what I really love about this band is the wacky lore they have concocted for the band’s backstory. They’re, uhhh, like a post-apocalyptic street gang with… cult tendencies? It’s worth googling.
The Menzingers – Hold On, Dodge (2009)
CCCP 124
The band was just starting to create a buzz and we had already agreed to work together, so I thought an EP was a great way to start the relationship. I don’t wanna give Red Scare too much credit (because the bands deserve all the credit for their craft), but we do a good job of “developing” a growing artist. And sometimes I think bands are too eager for a big tour or a big recording project, etc. So they busted out this EP-- and it’s incredible, as we all know -- but I remember reading or hearing somewhere that Greg felt Red Scare didn’t feel confident enough in The Menzingers doing an LP to start with. He coulda just been fucking around, but this is not true! Either way, doing this 7” then the album was the right move for them. You can already hear that they’re a different, vastly improved band. But it would be interesting to hear an album’s worth of material from their Hold On, Dodge” stage. They were a little more raw and scream-y, but the album would not be as good as Chamberlain Waits, so they made the right call, and the proof is the terrific band that they are today.
Various Artists – Red Scare Industries: 10 Years Of Your Dumb Bullshit (2014)
CCCP 182
So this was the first of these compilations we ever did, and at the time it was the hardest project we had ever put together. Search me for why we keep doing them, ha. I have already heard from a buncha people this (new one) is the best one yet, best punk comp in ages, etc., but that’s just recency bias. I remember when we reached 10 years, my old boss, Erin Burkett (of Fat Wreck Chords) was talking to me and we were both dumbfounded (and vaguely annoyed, haha) that Red Scare was already 10 years old. Now look at this goddamn place!
To go along with this record, we did this big ass show at Metro in Chicago with like 10 bands and it was great. It lasted an entire day and we set the all-time record for alcohol sales at Metro. This was a huge achievement in my eyes, and I wanna congratulate all the showgoers for their record-setting efforts. Granted, there’s an asterisk, because we had like 8 hours to do it, but it still counted! Fast-forward one year, and that nü-country dude, Eric Church, did a surprise set at Metro after his Lollapalooza set. They brought in their arena rock lighting rig, their own ridiculous sound board… it was a scene. Anyhow, their entire show was two hours long, and I’ll be damned, those suburban wannabe hicks beat our booze record. So yeah, that’s the tale of Red Scare at 10 years.
The Brokedowns – Sick Of Space (2018)
CCCP 211
This album probably has best song titles of any Brokedowns album, which is to say it has the best song titles of any album, ever. The Brokedowns have remained super consistent with all their LPs, but they have grown and improved with each one. They’ve got a strange canon of characters in all their music videos, and they continued the saga with this album, as they did a music video of Merle and GG Alin playing table tennis. A normal band would get canceled for parodying two of the grossest dudes ever, but not The Brokedowns. The artwork for this album in also terrific, weirdly reminiscent of D4’s Situationist Comedy, but starring some freaky ditch wizard. Overall: this record is pretty fuckin’ disturbing.
INTERMISSION! I thought I was out the woods, but Loren from SPB insisted I need to discuss five more releases of MY choosing. Who’s gonna read all this shit?! Okay, I will pick five more records, and the theme for these picks will be underrated/underappreciated releases. The underdogs! Just like you and me… alright, let’s go:
The Heat Tape – Raccoon Valley Recordings (2011)
CCCP 143
This is a side project from Brett Hunter of The Copyrights and Dear Landlord. It’s lo-fi garage punk like The Marked Men or Japanther or Jay Reatard. All DIY, analog home recordings. It’s basically Brett and some dudes from his trailer park in rural Illinois, and all the songs document the hijinks of the neighborhood: chickens, guns, misdelivered mail, etc. Sonically, it’s admittedly a bit of a square peg for Red Scare, but the songs are so good and catchy. In terms on underrated Red Scare releases, this is my #1. They do play a rare show now and then, so maybe there’s still hope for The Heat Tape? I once saw them play a party in an actual barnyard. Respect.
Various Artists – Untitled 21: A Juvenile Tribute To Swingin’ Utters (2010)
CCCP 135
Compilations often go under the radar, but this one has some big bands on it: Dropkick Murphys, Cobra Skulls, Off With Their Heads, TBR, Fucked Up, and a bunch more. 31 bands in total! This was CD and digital-only because it’s got so much music on it, and I just realized that this was never on Bandcamp, so we remedied that. Turns out this article was good for something after all! Most tribute albums are full of filler, but I am a massive Utters fan and I made sure that didn't happen here. Matt from Druglords of the Avenues picked many of the bands, and whether you’re an Utters fan or not, I think it’s worth revisiting. Cover art by the man himself, Johnny Peebucks!
Elway - Hence My Optimism (2012)
CCCP 158
Elway is pretty well established in the overall punk scene and among the Red Scare pantheon, but not enough people know this EP. I love doing 7”s and EPs, but one of the problems is nobody listens to that shit! And for whatever reason, the Spotify (et al) algorithms don’t seem to like them either. But this 7” has a couple of Elway’s best songs, so if you’re watching Elway perform live and hear a rad song that you don’t know, it’s probably from this EP.
The All Brights – …Are Wild For The Night! (2015)
CCCP 152
Dave Hause has made a lot of music, but I think some of his best stuff is from The All Brights. Yes, I’m biased because it’s on Red Scare and faster/bouncier than his other projects, but these songs are so good and so fun. All four of these guys know how to rip too, as it’s basically a Santa Barbara super group. They have two EPs and this is mandatory listening for me whenever summer is approaching. I lived in Los Angeles for two months and I got to see them play live a couple times and it was an absolute delight. Please bug these beach bozos and demand they do more stuff!
The Sidekicks – Awkward Breeds (2012)
CCCP 156
Anyone with any decent taste already knows this spectacular album -- and half the people that follow Red Scare bands will tell you this is the best release on the entire catalog… Yet it’s still an unheralded masterpiece relative to how good this LP is. 2012 had a buncha great indie/punk records, but this was the Album of the Year. I can’t really say anything that’ll do it justice, but if you haven’t heard these songs yet, you are in for a treat. The Sidekicks are currently inactive, but Steve and Matt are busy with a new thing called Superviolet, so check them out if you’re craving the ‘Kicks.
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Final thoughts: thanks for reading all this crap if ya made it this far! And thanks for supporting these bands over the years! - Toby
