Interview With Josh Carlson, Owner Of Independent Record Store Redscroll Records
TIS The Indie Spiritualist & JC= Josh Carlson
TIS: As far back as I can remember, I’ve seen you distro’ing at shows throughout the state, and New England for that matter, which ultimately culminated in your opening Redscroll
Records. Can you talk a little about the history there?
JC: Sure, I started a label under the name “Redscroll Records” when I was 15. After putting out a few releases, I had sort of accidentally built a distro through trading with other small labels. It was shortly after that when I started making orders from distributors. It was just sort of a fun hobby until after I dropped out of college and was just working a stupid job. Then I decided to go at it full time and I was rolling up to two or three shows a week with a thousand titles. It got to be too much, I couldn’t fit everything into an SUV and I was constantly getting into altercations with people who would mosh into my tables.
I had to make the jump to the next level, so I partnered up with my friend Rick and went legit.
TIS: What’s going on with The Redscroll Label? A few years back you released Wrench In The Works Prodigal Transmission Album but then called it quits. Recently however, you released an album from Hostage Calm. Anything else in the works?
JC: We released the Hostage Calm debut full length called, “Lens”. Since then we released a live cassette recording by Ipsissimus entitled, “Goatcultrites”. Last month, Ipsissimus inked a deal with Metal Blade. If you haven’t checked them out yet, get on it. We also have a 7¨ coming out by Iron Hand.
The label end of things is just sort of a fun thing for us. A way to showcase what’s going on in Connecticut and what our friends are up to. We aren’t constantly hunting for bands or anything like that.
TIS: I remember seeing Call it Arson play an acoustic set a few years back at Redscroll Records. Who else have you had play there? Did I see something about Black Pyramid playing there a while back (and why the hell wasn’t I there if so)?
JC: There may be a secret event from time to time that I could open a portal to for you. Black Pyramid may have been at the other end of the portal last spring. Our blog offers key updates.
TIS: A lot of the older folks I talk with, who went to shows back in the day at 158, The Tune Inn or Boiler Room seem a bit jaded or disgruntled with what’s become of the CT music scene, and no longer attend shows. Granted, the late 80′s-mid 90′s was an amazing time for music in CT, but there seems to be a resurgence that’s been happening which some people possibly aren’t giving a chance. And of course, there’s also people who will say the scene has always been great. So, where do you stand on all of this?
JC: People get old and busy. They don’t want to hang out with kids young enough to be their own kids on their one night off a week. Saying, “the 90′s were an amazing time and then there was a drop off,” is a nostalgic point of view. People from the 70′s, 80′s and 00′s also feel their time in underground music was an amazing time, and it was for them. It’s all relative.
TIS: What up and coming bands should people keep an eye out for?
JC: CT is a hot bed for new music activity. Here is a short list of active to semi-active bands from this state that deserve your attention: Iron Hand, Ipsissimus, Canvas, Estrogen Highs, Medication, Stone Titan, The Hammer, Cable, My Heart To Joy, Hate Your Guts, Stabyou, Brass Caskets, and Ferocious Fucking Teeth.
TIS: High Fidelity. True to life, or Hollywood jargon?
JC: No one should ever be that big of a douche to a customer unless they cross a major line.
TIS: Top 10 albums of 2010 so far?
JC: Top 10 lists make me want to pull my hair out. So far these are the real stand outs for me. It’s not 10, but its the best I can do.
Vaccine – Human Hatred
Integrity – Blackest Curse
Gray Ghost – Succubus
Nomos – Notes From The Acheron
Black Breath – Heavy Breathing
Burning Love – Songs For Burning Lovers
Rival Mob – Hardcore For Hardcore