"If you want to make this interview really short, you can just tell people that owning a label is all about schlepping boxes to the post office," Red Scare Industries founder Toby Jeg jokes over the phone to Chicagoist, days before he heads overseas as tour manager for recently reinvigorated Chicago punks The Lawrence Arms.

You wouldn't know it from his persistent sarcasm and hilarious wisecracks but Jeg is at the helm of one of Chicago's best loved punk rock record labels. Red Scare ushered in its tenth anniversary this year with a 17-song artist compilation (which included the first new song from Alkaline Trio/The Lawrence Arms supergroup The Falcon in eight years).

The celebration continues this weekend with a stacked show Saturday at the Metro featuring Red Scare bands old and new like Teenage Bottlerocket, Masked Intruder, The Methadones, The Lillingtons, The Falcon and more. Acoustic sets from Nothington and Brendan Kelly at the Gingerman Tavern bookend the weekend. You can find tickets and a full schedule of the festivities, here.

CHICAGOIST: It's actually hard to believe Red Scare is only ten years old. It feels like it's been around for much longer just because of its imprint in the punk scene.

TOBY JEG: That's interesting because most people feel it's the opposite. Like, "Holy shit, it's been ten years?!" From my perspective, somebody who schleps a lot of boxes and has to deal with un-rock and roll things like production deadlines, it also feels like longer than ten years. [laughs] I'm right there with you.

C: Well, I meant it in a good way.

TOBY JEG: No, I get you. It's such a legacy. I'm with you there.

C: Remind me how long you've been based in Chicago because you started Red Scare on the West Coast, right?

TOBY JEG: Yeah, I started the label when I was still working at Fat Wreck Chords in San Francisco. I moved here in early 2007. And Chicago has been so awesome. People show up to shows, the bands are great and everyone is supportive. People always ask, why move from San Francisco to Chicago? And if you made that move, you would know. It's just a wonderful, vibrant music community.

C: It seemed like there was a bit of a lull in the Chicago punk scene and now it seems like I'm hearing about way more local bands and shows than I did five years ago.

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Interview: Toby Jeg Reflects On Ten Years Of Red Scare Industries