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Twenty Years of Red Scare
Last Friday, Red Scare released a 17-song compilation titled 20 Years of Dreaming and Scheming, which of course commemorates the record label’s 20th anniversary. In addition to the compilation, they’re also marking the event with release shows this month in Chicago, Wisconsin, Portland, Seattle and Las Vegas. We recently spoke with label cofounder Toby Jeg about reaching this impressive milestone. We discussed how he went about putting this compilation together, what he’s looking forward to about the upcoming release parties, the future of Red Scare and more.
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Sludgeworth Plans More New Music After EP Release Show This Saturday
Last month, Sludgeworth released their first new music in over 30 years, a two-song EP titled Together Not Together. In 2022, the band reunited after a decades-long hiatus, when Red Scare Industries reissued their classic album, Losers of the Year. To help commemorate the long out-of-print record being available once again, they played a show at Cobra Lounge in April of 2023. It was during rehearsals for this show that new music began to surface.
When detailing how the new songs came about, drummer Brian McQuaid explained “It was really just kind of reconnecting with everybody. Part of the reason that subsequent shows happened is because we discovered that we missed each other. I know it sounds kind of fluffy, but I think everybody felt really good being around each other again.” Singer Dan Schafer continued, “Yeah, it’s funny because they said, ‘Oh, we got a new idea’ and I’m like, ‘Oh hell no.’ Then they sent it over and immediately the words and a melody, the ‘together not together’ popped in my head and I’m like, ‘Oh shit.’ I knew right then and it just changed everything. It was really effortless. It literally just came out of them and it came out of me. We could either move forward with it or set it off to the side, but it didn’t seem right to do that, so here we are.”
This Saturday, Sludgeworth will celebrate the release of their new EP with a sold-out show at the Beat Kitchen. When asked about the event, McQuaid said “Since that first show at Cobra, I think every show we’ve played has gotten better and better. Also, there was a real energy in the room that night at Cobra and I’m hoping to feel that again at Beat Kitchen. It’s a tight room and I think that has something to do with it. You see all these people that you haven’t seen in years or decades. It’s almost like a family affair, so that’s the vibe I’m looking for.”
Regarding next steps, the band shared that they plan to maintain their weekly practice schedule, with hopes of recording a new full-length this fall. While Schafer resides in downstate Illinois, he often collaborates with the rest of the band over email. “They usually record their rehearsals and then they’ll send them to me. I listen to it and I’ve been sending some ideas to them as well. We’ve been doing this kind of back and forth. They get together every week, so they sound pretty tight,” he said. McQuaid concluded the discussion by reflecting on the current state of the band. He said, “We’re all older now, so we’ve got kids and stuff. For a while, we had this life that was just like making sure that your kid stays alive and you pay the bills, and that was pretty much it. And then this came along and it’s a big hit again. So, I’m really grateful for that. I think we’re going to hold on to this for as long as we possibly can.”
Sludgeworth – “To Be the Same”
We recently caught up with some of the band members and discussed this seminal record. When asked about their impressions when they listen to these songs now, drummer Brian Vermin said “A lot of years went by before I revisited it. Once my son showed an interest in music and wanted to know more about the bands I was in, I played him Losers of the Year. His response was ‘these songs could still be popular today,’ so obviously the young boy has great taste. The songs are a timestamp in my life.” Singer Dan Schafer added “I also went years without listening to Sludgeworth and forgot that I used to intentionally sing a little gruffer. Honestly, I might have subconsciously imitated James Hetfield from Metallica, although I never would have admitted it then, (laughs).”
We’re sharing the video for one of the unreleased songs below, called “To Be the Same”. When recalling what inspired the creation of this song, Schafer said “I can remember playing bass with Brian and Dave, (guitarist Dave McClean). Strat, (bassist Mike Hootenstrat) was running late to practice and we started playing the parts via improvising. I thought about the idea of turning a blind eye to what is clearly wrong for fear of not fitting into the group. The words ‘To Be the Same’ came out and I rolled with the concept.” Guitarist Adam White shared his thoughts from a stylistic standpoint and said “I feel like we found a groove and went with it. I hear a lot of Fugazi influence in this song and love that. I liked that Sludgeworth kept experimenting with different stuff and did not fall into any simple formula like a Ramones-type band.”
When speaking about how the two unreleased songs complement the rest of the album, White said “I was actually surprised how well they fit in as far as the production and sound quality, but I always felt that these songs needed to be released. They’re definitely a good representation of our music and style.” Schafer was also pleased with their inclusion and said “I always liked how the record was sequenced, but was encouraged to find some unreleased tracks. These two were the obvious choices. I thought they were lost forever, but they were somehow thankfully retrieved.” Check out the video below and be sure to pre-order the record here.
Dan Vapid & The Cheats
Photo by Katie Hovland
Dan Vapid is back with his latest musical endeavor, Dan Vapid & The Cheats. After Screeching Weasel’s abrupt breakup, Vapid reunited with two former Methadones members, guitarist Mike Byrne and drummer Mike Soucy. He also recruited bassist Simon Lamb to complete the band’s lineup. They plan on recording their debut album this fall and releasing it next year. We spoke with Dan about the band’s origins, their influences, songwriting, touring and what he hopes to achieve with The Cheats. Continue Reading…
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