With the current state of the music business, where it’s anyone’s guess whether things we’ve all grown up with — like music labels — will even exist in 15 years, there are more and more ways for a band to succeed. The Internet and indie/DIY distribution are just a few developments proving record labels with headquarters in L.A. or New York and a crapload of money to spend on promotion might not be necessary for a band to achieve mainstream popularity.

On Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s Day, Seattle post hardcore band On The Last Day officially announced they’d split with Victory Records — calling the decision mutual and friendly on www.myspace.com/onthelastday. Though all indications suggest Victory and On the Last Day are still friends, one still has to wonder if the band and label’s discussion leading to the break-up included any of OTLD’s signature post hardcore, bloodcurdling screams.

In the past, OTLD finding themselves suddenly label-less and expecting to release their second full-length record, Make it Mean Something, later this year might have been a catastrophe for fans, but these days the problem looks minor. Though the band has every intention of finding a new label to for Make it Mean Something, something tells me the music would still find a way to fans even if they didn’t.

On the Last Day will play Hell’s Kitchen Tuesday, Feb. 26. It’s a Weekly Volcano sponsored “Tightwad Tuesday” featuring two dollar beer, well drinks and tacos. All the more reason to go.



[Hell’s Kitchen, On The Last Day, Theme For Murder, The Formal, Girl On Fire, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m., all ages, $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]