BiB/OA: Don’t you think it s paradoxical that DIY festivals and events such Ladyfest are developing and multiplying, but the independent label cannot make it. Where all this passion and energy going? Do you think there is hope, actually?
Crystal: Yes, there is hope, just do it (laughs)
Alison: Well, yeah, you’re right, it’s hard. It almost seems harder these days, I mean you have a million bands and they are running around doing whatever, but there seems to be a real mainstreaming of alternative culture and alternative music and style. It gets more and more like you have to at least behave like a professional to get anywhere. We just set a US tour, that I booked myself, trying to deal with all that and it was fine but there were some low points. Basically if you don’t have a booking agent, it sucks, you’re gonna seriously get ripped off by clubs and stuff like that.
Angela: It’s like they don’t respect it or something if you are doing it yourself. Sometimes, you’re dealing with a club person and they don’t understand that anymore...or let’s say lesser than before. It’s the trickledown theory ever since the alternative phenomenon; it’s kind of maintained that at a certain level. It’s like if you have to play the game a little bit, except maybe like Fugazi and a handful of bands. But I mean it depends on what you wanna do, cause there’s different levels of success or ideas of success, sometimes you find playing a great house show, that a 16 years old promoter put on, and who’s just excited to have a band coming to their town, it’s just as profitable both financially and it’s fun at the same time, so it works out for everybody and I think people just sometimes don’t realize that or people have different goals in music and things…
Alison: I think a lot of indie labels have had to scale back. Scale back on staff, scale back on spending and marketing. I know KillRockStars had to do that,Ii think LookOut! did scale back and they probably should have. I am not saying that their fault, I am just saying that’s the reality of the times. The economy in general is bad in the US
Crystal: It’s the ebon flow, I think we will see resurgence after that again later it’s just what s happening right now, sadly.
Angela: Yes, it swings back and forth

BiB/OA: So between you and us, how do you feel about Le Tigre signing on universal?
Alison: I don’t think it worked for them. I mean, I don’t know, I don’t know enough about that band, but I think it wasn’t necessary and it didn’t really work for them, I mean in the end. I think it would have been cooler for them to be like Sleater-Kinney, a big band, and you can do everything professionally, but you can be a big band on an alternative label and still have everything done pro, like have a manager, a booking agent, a publicist and all this. I think it’s interesting, its their choice and maybe it was an experiment for them but I think in the end it didn’t work as good as being a big band on an independent.

We had to cut the interview short to catch the rest of the bands downstairs and let the PartyLiners enjoy their friends.

We wanted to talk more about band, projects, politics and all that rioting jazz, but time flies…. But, here are some fresh news from the PartyLine HQ: ”We're recording our debut full-length at the end of May. It'll be flying in your face care of Retard Disco in Fall 2006. It's called Zombie Terrorist FYI. For now, we're playing two shows with the formidable Team Dresch in New York (May 30 and 31st)!! How does that sound!?!?!?!? http://www.partylinedc.com/