Name: Eric J. Herboth
Record Label: Arborvitae

Interview conducted via e-mail, November 2001.

T: How old are you?
E: I recently hit the big 2-5!

T: Is Arborvitae a self-sustaining entity or do you work another job? If so, what is it?
E: Arborvitae pays some of my bills, yes. Right now it is my main "job," as it's required a lot of time with new releases. I also write for newspapers/magazines, run a design studio, and I'll soon be returning to my job as a letter carrier for the USPS. I've had a number of jobs in my day, but Arborvitae is my "career."

T: You are based out of Illinois, right? How close are you to Chicago? Is Chicago an inclusive scene or is it hard to make a splash in that big of a pond?
E: I live in Champaign, which is 2 hours south of Chicago. Champaign is where the university is. It's also where the bands HUM, Braid, Castor, Sarge, American Football, Menthol, Hardvark, C-Clamp, Poster Children, Absinthe Blind, DMS, Wolfie, National Skyline and various other bands come from. I think the Chicago post-rock scene overshadows and excludes a lot of people, not just Champaign. In all honesty, I think there's comraderie between the two towns. HUM always went up to play Lounge Axe and the Sea and Cake, Dianogah, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. have come down here a couple of times.

T: When did Arborvitae start and what was your first release? Were there other labels or bands that offered you advice while you were getting started?
E: AV started when I lived in Germany, because I wanted to put together a Traluma/Johnny Angel split 7", which never happened. I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of really awesome people who have given up so much advice. Ken Shipley (Tree/Rykodisk), Matt Lundsford (Polyvinyl), Fred Popalo (Divot), Bernie McGinn (Caulfield), Robb (Saddle Creek), Matt (File 13) and my homies Todd and Roy from Grand Theft Autumn. The Dischord and Southern kids have all been great too.

T: Are other independent labels you have dealt with supportive or is there competition?
E: Some people are elitist boneheads, there's no way around that. I think there may be a bit of competition, for some, but most people just want to succeed. And the people that I mentioned above have all wanted to see others succeed as well. I really like working with other labels, personally.

T: How do you decide on the bands that fill out your roster? How involved are they in the process of getting an album from the tapes to a finished record that is ready for sale?
E: My involvement and relationship varies with each band. I handle each band, and each record for that matter, individually. Some bands I'm really close with, and some I'm not so close with. I love and respect all the bands I've worked with. I set up the first show Steve ever played as DMS, and I've been with him since then. I was reluctant to work with Volta Do Mar when I first met them, because I already had 4 bands lined up, but they've turned out to be the flagship for the label and really good friends.

We work on each album individually, and the degree of involvement in each aspect varies with each band. If I'm paying for the studio and recording time, I have a say in that aspect, but if the band is taking care of that aspect themselves I pretty much stay out of it. I essentially handle everything that the band wants me to, and I stay out of everything else. The bands obviously have full creative control and I only step in when asked to, such as with the artwork or legal aspects of the recording.

T: Who is on your roster and how did you hook up with them? Have you been on the road with any of these bands? Are there any funny stories to tell about being on the road with them?
E: I met Mt St Helens on a recommendation from someone who had seen them play with Cursive. I met Steve through friends in Champaign and the fact that he'd been involved with some very respectable bands. DMS was beginning to take shape around the same time that I began to develop the label. I met Utah! through... I'm not sure, but they sent me a demo and I was pretty impressed with what I heard. I met Red Shirt Brigade through DMS and Utah!. Steve Lamos just kept saying that I had to see them live. There's a little dude who plays keyboards and dances around everywhere. The chicks love him. Volta Do Mar sent me a demo after playing a show with DMS in Chicago.

Yes, I've been on tour with a lot of bands in my day. This past summer I was scrunched in the foul Red Shirt Brigade van with 5 foul individuals for two weeks. I've also done some time as the DMS roadie.

T: What percentage of Arborvitae is business and what percentage is pleasure?
E: At the bottom line, it's all business, unfortunately. A lot of people don't get that. They don't understand that I have to think about every dollar, because if I lose money, I can't keep helping bands. I feel like an asshole harping about tours and record sales sometimes, but I feel like an even bigger asshole when a band comes to me with an amazing record and I have to say "Sorry, I can't help you. I'm broke."

It's almost all pleasure though, at the same time. I love doing this, and it is what I want to do with my life. There's nothing more satisfying than helping these guys realize their aspirations. I remember sitting off to the side of the stage one night when Volta Do Mar was playing and, almost out loud, I thought to myself that I would go to the end of the earth for these guys. They truly love what they do, and on top of that they're phenomenal musicians and probably the best band I've ever seen.

T: Have you ever been in a band?
E: I tried, thought about it, fucked around with a few people. It was just a kind of a post-noise whatever thing, which is what I'm personally into. I have too many other things going on in my life to try and put together a band, especially in a town this small.

T: What are you listening to now? If you were to make a wishlist of bands that you'd like to add to Arborvitae, what bands would they be?
E: Right now, while I'm writing this, I'm listening to the live feed from Dublab.com. I listen to so much different stuff, and so randomly, that there's rarely anything constant. I really love older country music, that was around when I grew up. Johnny Cash is probably my favorite performer; his ethics and his music are pretty inspiring.

As far as a wish list, it would be hard to pin specific bands down. I really respect people who believe in their music enough to back it with their entire lives. I've met and gotten to know so many people over the years that it would be hard to compile a list without leaving anyone off. I'm more moved by great bands who are also great human beings than I am simply by great music. Arlie Carstens is someone that I'm very proud to have met and had the chance to know, and I think Juno is an amazing band. Same with the guys from Haymarket Riot and Q and Not U. Ian Mackaye and Fugazi, Bob Weston and Shellac, Jay Ryan and Dianogah, Shelby Cinca and Frodus. Then I could start thinking about bands like Mogwai, Radiohead, Mudhoney, Bjork, Sonic Youth, the Melvins, Outkast and the list could go on for miles and miles...

T: What are your professional and personal plans for the next six months? Where do you see Arborvitae in a year?
E: I've never been good at planning things out, especially when it comes to my life. My partner, Laura, and I will most likely be moving sometime in the next year, but we're not sure where as of yet. As far as the label, who knows. I've only been doing this for about two years thus far, and I think we've accomplished a hell of a lot in that time. If you'd have told me two years ago that by now Arborvitae would have become one of the Southern exclusive labels, that we'd have had a CMJ showcase in our first year, that we'd have put out records by such awesome bands that were recorded by Bob Weston, Chris Walla, Mike Lust, Brendan Gamble, etc, and that I'd have five active bands and be repressing records before they even hit stores, I'd have laughed. I keep the doors open for the future, because I don't know who I'm going to meet and what is going to fall in my lap. Half of the beauty in this is discovering new people and ideas.

T: Are making any New Year's resolutions? What are they?
E: Hmm, another thing that I've never really done. I suppose I probably should, though. I think I'm going to try and get myself into some sort of top athletic form and be more involved with the outdoors, like I was in college and high school. Sitting in front of the computer gets old, you know? That and to stop being so frustrated when the U of I men's basketball team plays like shit. That'll grey your hair in no time!

Eric J Herboth
TEAM AV [ARBORVITAE RECORDS]
POB 857 Champaign IL 61824
www.team-av.com

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