Music

Barry Taylor Visits Dine Alone Records

by Barry Taylor

A little over a decade ago the corporate music industry was blown apart courtesy of Shawn Fanning and the internet and a new era was born; an era that benefited both the music fan and the independent record label.

Gone are the days of having to rely on radio, magazines and MTV for new music.  Big labels that once held unquestionable monopolies now have to play on a level field.  Enter Joel Carriere, President and Owner of Bedlam Management and  Dine Alone Records.

With a roster that’s the envy of most in the Canadian music industry Carriere’s launched heavy weights like Alexisonfire, City and Colour and Bedouin Soundclash and it looks like he may have another one in the Arkells.  His label is also soaked in indie rock credibility with the likes of Attack In Black, Walter Schreifels, Sleepercar and Moneen calling Dine Alone Records home.

What makes the St. Catherine’s native so successful is his unwavering belief in the bands he works with.  Last year members of Alexisonfire, Moneen, the Abandon Hearts Club and BWC Studios got together in the studio and came up with some hard core tracks.  Carriere heard them, liked them and released them on a 7 inch.

Whether it’s the aforementioned hard core project Hunter or the platinum selling City and Colour Carriere and his team at Dine Alone and Bedlam are religious about their bands.  Fortunately for music fans, these messiahs are already here.

How did Bedlam Management come to be?

Bedlam Music Mgmt was a natural progression of what I was doing in my early 20’s and what I always loved doing, being involved in music.  At the time St. Catharines didn’t provide the obvious route to getting involved in music.  What I did was create my own route, one that was littered with mistakes and forgiving people.  Now that I look back on it, it was amazing and we’ve have come a long way.  St. Catharines was a massive part of it.

I started DJ’ing clubs, started helping out with concerts, worked at Sam the Records man, took over a major festival, started a huge email list that catered to Niagara and Buffalo, and everything I did, I did it with passion and conviction.  I was creating a scene with people and pulling in all the individual parts to making something bigger.

The management thing came together from knowing the individual members in
Alexisonfire.  I had been helping Dallas [Green] before AOF on some level and
doing other random things for the other guys bands.  For me I was just doing everything I could for them and then…a manager was born hahaha. I’m only 33 and have been working with Dallas in some form or another for 12 years.
Was starting your own record label a goal when you started out working with bands?

Not really, it was more of a pipe dream, I would say I wanted to but in the back of my head where the hard honest truth lies, I didn’t want to.  These days its not really the smartest thing to do.  It’s a ton of financial risk with minimal reward. The label was started to do something different with Dallas’ solo stuff.  It didn’t fit in with Distorts roster and Dallas and I spoke about it for a while.  It wasn’t meant to turn into what it has.  The thing about managing is that you end up having to make up for everyone’s mistakes, so having a label killed a list of headaches for me. But created a whole new list hahaha.

I am very proud of where it’s at, proud of how hard the label sticks behind bands.  I firmly believe a label should go beyond the call of duty with its artists.  I am excited that Dine Alone is now signing bands I don’t manage, which is the next logical step

Do you prefer one over the other?

They each provide different pitfalls and rewards.  Managing is huge emotional investment, its draining and can really mess with your head.  There is less financial commitment but you give your life to those bands.  The label is less emotional but the financial risk could cripple your future.  I do prefer managing artists.  I love building bands as any one that knows me can attest to.  But I love being part of the immediate team with an artist.  I like calling the shots.  I like dealing with everything on a world wide level. Managing turns me on a bit more than a label if I have to choose.

Rock stars are notorious for being divas.  Without getting into specifics how do you deal with this?

It’s actually really crippling to ones soul to witness this.  I am still attempting to figure it out to be honest.  I work with my head and  from my heart and when artists have these moments I take it really hard.  I’ve had horrible experiences with bands.  Your ability as a manager comes from the artists ability to respect and trust you.  Lots of artists have a hard time with that and that’s why people in the industry call managing artists the hardest job in music.  You mix this with friendships, insecurities, drugs, alcohol and you have yourself a recipe for a horrible relationship.  I really feel now, more so than ever, as I grow as a human,
that I’m in a really good place with everything and my roster. I finally work with a list of bands I really trust and enjoy.  At this point all you can do is communicate with an artist honestly and cross your fingers that it’s enough.

Though there’s likely challenges there must be some pretty good stories too…

Since I’ve been a kid I’ve understood that life is simply made up of experiences, the more experiences you have, the more you will learn and hopefully grow.  This musical path I am on has given me story after story after story.  I fucking absolutely love it.  I am typing this from Austin, Texas and they have lost my luggage.  It took me 16 hours to get here and 6 flights.  But that first taste of BBQ and seeing City and Colour ‘s sold out show will make it all better.  For an average human from an average city with an average education I have some great above average stories. Some stories will remain with me, some will remain with a short list of people and some are meant for whoever is listening.

What’s the craziest rock star moment you’ve had with one of your bands?

There was this one week in LA.  We met with this billionaire dude on the roof of his penthouse sweet.  (Oh by the way, the roof is where they filmed Don’t You Cry by Gun n’ Roses)  So at 3am we get a helicopter ride tour over Hollywood. Then we go into Jim Henson’s studio in LA to demo some tracks.  I end up taking a pee next to Paul McCartney and having a chit chat with him in the washroom for almost 10 minutes.  That same week I went to diner with Andy Summers of The Police and got rather drunk with him and the band I was working with.  I had some X rated fun as well that week.  Overall, that was one good trip.

You’ve been with Alexis, Bedouin and City and Colour from the very beginning. What’s it like to see bands go from obscurity to full on rock stars?

I love it.  I really like developing artists.  I like when everything is against us and we have to over come it.  I like it when there is no money and we have to think outside the box.  I find the ride really fun when its with the right people.  I’m really proud to share in these accomplishments.  The Arkells is our latest band we’ve been working with and that’s been such a great experience as well.

Soooo, to answer your question, to see a band hit those milestones is the best feeling in the world.  To see bands hit them and not appreciate them or the hard work that goes into it, is the worst feeling in the entire world.

How are your bands received in other countries?

Every band has a different path and different results.  Our bands all do  very well.  I am Austin right now for City and Colour’s sold out show, 1200 people.  Then I fly to LA for his sold out show, which sold out in 2 weeks.  Our bands work hard and we work hard and we always find a way around a brick wall.  

What’s coming up for 2010?

I am getting married to an amazing female.  We bought new offices and we are putting in a basketball net.  The label is signing about 5 new bands.  We have some big concert announcements.  Making some new EPs and full lengths with our current roster.  We are gearing up for some big years with City and Arkells. 2010 will see AOF finish of their touring cycle around the world.  My sights are set on breaking USA with our artists on a much larger level.

Oh, we’ve got a Hunter discography coming out (laughs)

Wait.  What’s that about?

They’ve got two 7 inches currently and we are going to put out another 7 inch to complete the epic trilogy and then a discography of the 7 inches.  Its something that we loved growing up that a lot of punk and hardcore bands used to do.

Nice.  Any other specifics?

There’s an Alexisonfire EP coming out.  It’s brand new recordings that don’t really fit the Alexis mould. Rumor has it that it will be more thrash punk and stoner stuff.  It’s called Dogs Blood.

Plus we’re gonna release City and Colour “Bring Me Your Love” and “Sometimes” on vinyl.  “Old Crows/Young Cardinals” will be coming out on vinyl shortly.  We are really excited for Moneen’s first album “Smaller Chairs” to get vinyl release.

Sounds amazing.  Any parting words?

I just wanted to add it’s so easy for us to take advantage of what we’ve got.  Everyone needs to remember to step outside of yourself and situations and really look at it logically. It’s never really is as bad as you think.  Now that that’s said, I’m going to go have diner with some great people, call my fiancé and tell her I miss her, see a great show and raise a glass of Texas style Long Island Ice Tea to a smile.  Cheers