The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On Broadway
Encyclopedia
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On Broadway is a documentary
featuring the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
, a self-described indie rock
-vaudeville
conceptual art-rock pop music
collective band. The documentary was directed and produced in 2005 by Richard Drutman, the same person who directed the family’s music video for the song “Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959”. It was released on August 1, 2006. The concert performances at Lamb's Theater as well as the performances in the bonus features introducing the family was shot on July 29, 2005 at Lamb’s Theatre in New York City
.
The DVD is a collage of live musical performances of the Trachtenburgs at Lamb’s Theatre in NYC, old performances/interviews of the family as well as interviews of other such celebrities such as Nellie McKay
and Regina Spektor
.
Music Videos
Jason Trachtenburg Performances
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players Performances at Lamb’s
Other
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
featuring the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players describe themselves as an "indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band", from the United States. Originally from Seattle, Washington, they are now based in New York, New York.-Overview:...
, a self-described indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
-vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
conceptual art-rock pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
collective band. The documentary was directed and produced in 2005 by Richard Drutman, the same person who directed the family’s music video for the song “Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959”. It was released on August 1, 2006. The concert performances at Lamb's Theater as well as the performances in the bonus features introducing the family was shot on July 29, 2005 at Lamb’s Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The DVD is a collage of live musical performances of the Trachtenburgs at Lamb’s Theatre in NYC, old performances/interviews of the family as well as interviews of other such celebrities such as Nellie McKay
Nellie McKay
Nellie McKay , is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and former stand-up comedienne, noted for her critically acclaimed albums, and for her Broadway debut in The Threepenny Opera , for which she won a Theatre World Award...
and Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor
Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
.
Key Events
- In the beginning of the documentary, Jason, Tina and Rachel are seen leaving one venue in a taxi on December 22, 2005 at night to the Bowery BallroomBowery BallroomThe Bowery Ballroom is a music venue in the Bowery section of New York City. The structure, at 6 Delancey Street, was built just before the Stock Market Crash of 1929. It stood vacant until the end of WWII, when it became a high-end retail store. The neighborhood subsequently went into decline...
to perform for John WatersJohn Waters (filmmaker)John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
, a filmmaker. The name of the venue is called “A John Waters Christmas”. Alongside the Trachtenburgs, is Kimya DawsonKimya DawsonKimya Dawson is an American singer-songwriter, best known as a solo performer and as one half of The Moldy Peaches. In Swahili, "Kimya" means "silence" or "silent".-Career:...
, member of the Moldy Peaches. (Dawson is not shown on the DVD). Waters is seen after the show talking to Jason and Rachel outside before he walks away. - Jason Trachtenburg’s performance of “Beautiful Dandelion” with Corn MoCorn MoCorn Mo is the stage name of Jon Cunningham, a Brooklyn-based musician. Corn Mo sings, plays the accordion, keyboards, and sometimes performs as a one man band. His music style is a mixture of circus music, glam rock, and humorous novelty songs. He is currently recording his third solo album, and...
(This performance is not shown at Lamb’s). - Rachel and Tina participating in an anti-President BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Dick CheneyDick CheneyRichard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
parade. Rachel is leading the march on a drum. - Jason, Tina, Rachel and Rachel’s friend Micha Carlson-Schmitt Jolly (a close friend of Rachel’s from Seattle joining the family on their European tour) walking through NYC, ducking into a coffee shop, shopping at a flea market and then visiting Reverend Jen and her dog, Reverend Jen, Jr. at her Troll Museum.
- Jason traveling to an organic supermarketSupermarketA supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
at night to buy apples the night before the family’s European tour. - The Trachtenburgs and Micha at Burrito Loca, a Mexican restaurant in Seattle, eating nachosNachosNachos are a popular food based on nixtamalized corn, of Mexican origin associated with Tex-Mex cuisine that can be either made quickly to serve as a snack or prepared with more ingredients to make a full meal. In their simplest form, nachos are tortilla chips or totopos covered in melted cheese...
. - The family performing “World’s Best Friend” (an unreleased song) with New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
rock band, The WoWz. - Reverend Jen’s tour of her Troll Museum, showing off her Rachel Trachtenburg troll.
- Jason attempting to lift an abandoned sewing machine for Tina, but failing.
- Jason’s manic list of things to do the day before the European tour (packing clothes, making Tina’s Good Morning Bread, doing laundry, buying ingredients for Tina and Rachel’s dinner and buying apples, which he succeeds in).
- The Trachtenburg family and Micha at Avenue A Flea Market in East VillageEast Village, ManhattanThe East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, lying east of Greenwich Village, south of Gramercy and Stuyvesant Town, and north of the Lower East Side...
(Jason buys 8-track tapes, Tina picks out a vintage shirt for Rachel, Rachel and Micha browsing items, the family buying snow cones, Tina buys a pair go-go bootsGo-go bootsGo-go boots are a low-heeled style of women's fashion boot worn since the mid-sixties when fashion silhouettes focused on accentuating the leg...
and Jason buys a belt (to his amazement, the belt costs only a dollar). - Micha’s interview with Steve Smith, Rachel’s former drum teacher and Beth Jacuelwicz, the band’s former manager. Both are talking about their stories of working with Rachel.
- Jason’s message to fans about the dangers of cell phone use at the end of the documentary.
- In the DVD bootleg skit featured in the bonus material, the Trachtenburgs are shown walking in Times SquareTimes SquareTimes Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
when they suddenly stop to buy a bootleg DVD of the documentary from a peddler for only $5. When the family takes the DVD home to watch, the DVD is nothing more than a poorly-made clip of one the family’s performances. However, the movie cuts off before the performance actually starts.
Appearances
- Jay Ruttenberg, music writer for Time Out New York Magazine
- David CrossDavid CrossDavid Cross is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian perhaps best known for his work on HBO's sketch comedy series Mr...
, comedian - Andrew Katz, lead singer of band The New York Howl; recording artist
- Heather Mansfield, member of band The BrunettesThe BrunettesThe Brunettes are an indie pop or twee pop group from New Zealand formed in 1998. The band consists of core members Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield with additional contributions from part-time band members including James Milne , Ryan McPhun , Harry Cundy, and most recently,...
; recording artist - Nellie McKayNellie McKayNellie McKay , is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and former stand-up comedienne, noted for her critically acclaimed albums, and for her Broadway debut in The Threepenny Opera , for which she won a Theatre World Award...
, recording artist - Regina SpektorRegina SpektorRegina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
, recording artist - Eugene MirmanEugene MirmanEugene Boris Mirman is a Russian-born American comedian, writer, and filmmaker. Mirman currently plays Yvgeny Mirminsky on Delocated, and voices Gene Belcher for the animated comedy Bob's Burgers.-Early life:Mirman was born in Russia to Jewish parents...
, comedian - Corn MoCorn MoCorn Mo is the stage name of Jon Cunningham, a Brooklyn-based musician. Corn Mo sings, plays the accordion, keyboards, and sometimes performs as a one man band. His music style is a mixture of circus music, glam rock, and humorous novelty songs. He is currently recording his third solo album, and...
, recording artist - Rachel Piña, mother of Tina Piña Trachtenburg
- Steve Smith, Rachel Trachtenburg’s former drum teacher
- Beth Jaculewicz, former manager of the TFSP
- Reverend Jen, actress, painter, poet, director
- Langhorne SlimLanghorne SlimLanghorne Slim is an American singer-songwriter, . Scolnick attended high school at Solebury School in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, part of the SUNY system.He began to gain public notice through several years of touring with the...
, recording artist - Micha Carlson-Schmitt Jolly, friend of Rachel TrachtenburgRachel TrachtenburgRachel Sage Piña-Trachtenburg is an American musician, radio personality, model, singer, political and animal activist and actress from New York City. Trachtenburg is most notable for her key role as drummer and backup vocalist of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, a family band consisting...
and interviewer - John WatersJohn Waters (filmmaker)John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
, filmmaker - Simon Beins, Sam Grossman, and Johnny Dydo, members of The WoWz; recording artists
- Chris BallewChris BallewChristopher "Chris" Ballew is a member of the alternative rock group The Presidents of the United States of America and performs as a children's artist under the pseudonym Caspar Babypants....
, member of band The Presidents of the United States of AmericaThe Presidents of the United States of America (band)The Presidents of the United States of America, commonly referred to as Pot USA or "PUSA" or The Presidents, are a twice Grammy-nominated American alternative rock band. The band formed in Seattle, USA, in 1993. The three-piece group currently comprises vocalist and "basitarist" Chris Ballew,...
; recording artists - Checker Phil of Checkerboard Kids (featured only in bonus features)
Songs Performed In Documentary
- "Theme from Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players"
- "Mountain Trip To Japan, 1959"
- "Look At Me"
- "Beautiful Dandelion" (Jason Trachtenburg on guitar and Corn MoCorn MoCorn Mo is the stage name of Jon Cunningham, a Brooklyn-based musician. Corn Mo sings, plays the accordion, keyboards, and sometimes performs as a one man band. His music style is a mixture of circus music, glam rock, and humorous novelty songs. He is currently recording his third solo album, and...
on accordion; not performed at Lamb’s) - "Wendy’s, Sambo’s and Long John Silver’s"
- "Don’t You Know What I Mean?"
- "World’s Best Friend" (with The WoWz)
- "Rachel Trachtenburg" by Touching You (also known as Christopher X. BrodeurChristopher X. BrodeurChristopher X. Brodeur is an artist, writer, and musician. Brodeur has been acquitted and found not guilty after being arrested and spending time in jail for harassing members of New York City's mayor's press office staff...
; song also known as "May I Have Your Hand Rachel Trachtenburg" by Liquid Tapedeck, Brodeur’s band) - "Together As a System We Are Unbeatable"
- "Middle America"
- "I’m Singing a Song" (End credits; Jason on guitar and vocals, Rachel on tambourine and Tina on vocals)
Bonus Features
The bonus features include two music videos, Jason Trachtenburg’s live solo performances on interviews with Checker Phil of Checkerboard Kids, more live performances of the family at Lamb’s Theatre and a skit of the Trachtenburgs buying and watching a bootleg video of On & Off Broadway.Music Videos
- "Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959"
- "Eggs"
Jason Trachtenburg Performances
- "Slideshowers in Paradise" (Original TFSP song)
- "Untitled (When You See the Slides, Sing It)" (Original TFSP song)
- "East Village Rocker with a Missed Connection"
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players Performances at Lamb’s
- "OPNAD Contribution Study Committee Report, June 1977"
- "What Will The Corporation Do?"
- "Let’s Not Have the Same Weight In 1978 – Let’s Have More"
- "Why Did We Decide To Take This Decision To You?"
- "Super D" – Skit and slide presentation featuring Jason Trachtenburg
Other
- DVD Bootleg Times Square skit
Main Personnel
- Jason Trachtenburg: performer, interviewee
- Tina Piña Trachtenburg: performer, interviewee, costume designer, opening montage artist
- Rachel TrachtenburgRachel TrachtenburgRachel Sage Piña-Trachtenburg is an American musician, radio personality, model, singer, political and animal activist and actress from New York City. Trachtenburg is most notable for her key role as drummer and backup vocalist of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, a family band consisting...
: performer, interviewee - Richard Drutman: director, producer, live soundtrack producer
- Jonathan Kochmer: Executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
- Bev Chin: A&R/Associate Producer
- Suki Hawley: Editor
- Jeffery Hartshorne: Director of Photography
- Mike King: DVD artwork artist
- Released by: Sarathan RecordsSarathan RecordsSarathan Records is an indie rock record label based in Seattle, Washington.Formed in 2005, the label formed under Jonathan Kochmer, a member of indie band, Two Loons For Tea...
, Trirode Pictures and Rumur Inc.