In 2004 Tobias Jeg left a gig at pop-punk powerhouse Fat Wreck Chords to found Red Scare Industries, which he relocated from San Francisco to Chicago in 2007 in part so he could work more closely with the label’s other principal player, Brendan Kelly (also of the Lawrence Arms). Red Scare reaches the double digits this year, and Gossip Wolf has the scoop on its tenth-anniversary weekend—which will be anchored by an all-day Metro show on Sat 10/25. So far the bill includes Elgin band the Brokedowns; the first set in three years by the Methadones, led by former Screeching Weasel guitarist Dan Vapid; Wyoming pop-punk outfit the Lillingtons; and the original lineup of the Falcon, the local supergroup whose debut EP was Red Scare’s first release. Red Scare also plans to drop a compilation in the fall, and Jeg says more artists and events will be announced for the weekend. Tickets to the Metro show are $25 and just went on sale: bit.ly/redscarefest.
Gossip Wolf doesn’t consider it hyperbole to call Chicago producers Jeremiah Meece and Brandon Boom, aka The-Drum, tastemakers. They’ve been at the decks for some of the city’s most forward-looking psychedelic rap and R&B over the past few years—their lush, woozy avant-pop beats have grounded not only their own LPs but also releases by local MCs Kit and the GTW, R&B group Jody, and buzzed-about NYC rappers Le1f and Mykki Blanco. Now the two of them have ambitions to launch their own label, Lo Motion! They’ll start this month with a digital compilation that includes cuts from velvet-voiced singer Dre Green, Jody member Khallee, and beat maker Bengfang. Later this year, Lo Motion’s first physical release will be a USB-wristband edition of electronic jams from Winston, aka former Mahjongg dude Hunter Husar. Eventually, they plan to “focus on USB in-bedded sculpture/art and clothing” and offer a monthly subscription service.
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