Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Encyclopedia
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
.
and piano
and sings; the mother, Tina Piña, who runs the slide projector
and is a backup singer; and the daughter, Rachel
, who plays the drums
and sings. Born on December 10, 1993, Rachel was only six years old when she began performing publicly.
Their trademark is the slideshow itself: slides collected from "estate sale
s, garage sale
s, thrift stores, etc." are constantly shown in order to "turn the lives of annonymous [sic] strangers into pop-rock musical expos[é]s based on the contents of these slide collections". The band sings about things that occurred in the places shown in the slides, such as public execution (Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959) and McDonald's
' competitors' "using network television to take advantage of efficiency" (Wendy's, Sambo's and Long John Silver's).
Tina designs the clothing worn by the group and created the famous Rachel dolls, which are based on her daughter. All three Trachtenburgs are vegetarians and members of the 4th Street Food Co-op
. As of 2006, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are part of the USA Network
's "Characters Welcome" campaign. Tina is writing a book about a day in the life of Rachel.
Jason Trachtenburg is also a solo artist. In 2000, he released his debut album, Revolutions per Minute, on Orange Recordings
. His second album, Together, was released in 2006.
They have recorded on Bar None Records, Cass Records, Sarathan Records
, and Tired and Lonesome Records. They also performed at the first Gel conference
in 2003. A video for one song has appeared on Jack's Big Music Show
on Noggin.
The Trachtenburgs made a brief appearance in Moby
's music video
for "New York New York". The video was directed by Reverend Jen, a friend of both Moby and the Trachtenburgs. The family were seen seated next to Reverend Jen and her dog, Reverend Jen, Jr, in an open-air restaurant
, playing Rock, Paper, Scissors
.
As of December 2006, a group of New York University
film students are shooting a feature-length documentary following the Trachtenburgs on their most recent tour.
Rachel Trachtenburg formed her own band in 2009 called Supercute!
(formerly called The Oh My God! Girls).
open-mic in New York City
around 1989. They soon moved to Seattle, Washington
, where their daughter, Rachel, was born in 1993. The family ran a dog-walking business called The Dog Squad by day while Jason was an open-mic performer by night. However, his music act was failing to find audiences.
While dog-walking with Rachel, Tina found an old slide projector and a box of slides at an estate sale
from a family trip in Japan during the year of 1959. When Tina suggested to Jason that he use the slides in his music, Jason then wrote a song to accompany the slides. The song was titled "Mountain Trip To Japan, 1959" (The song was later released on the debut album Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol 1). Eventually, the Trachtenburgs formed together; Jason playing keyboards and guitar and providing vocals, Tina operating the slide projector and Rachel playing harmonica (later playing drums). The trio performed their act at a local talent show and won first place along with $500 as their prize. They continued their act and later moved to New York City.
Jason Trachtenburg
Kate Nash- Kiss That Grrrl CD single (UK) (2741841)
1/ Middle America Live Music Video
2/ Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959 Music Video
3/ Look at Me Live On the Conan O'Brien show 3 January 2003
4/ Sundance Channel Documentary
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Originally from Seattle, Washington, they are now based in New York
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...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Overview
The band's members are the Trachtenburg family father, Jason Trachtenburg, who plays guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and sings; the mother, Tina Piña, who runs the slide projector
Slide projector
A slide projector is an opto-mechanical device to view photographic slides. Slide projectors were common in the 1950s to the 1970s as a form of entertainment; family members and friends would gather to view slide shows...
and is a backup singer; and the daughter, Rachel
Rachel Trachtenburg
Rachel 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...
, who plays the drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and sings. Born on December 10, 1993, Rachel was only six years old when she began performing publicly.
Their trademark is the slideshow itself: slides collected from "estate sale
Estate sale
An estate sale or estate liquidation is a sale or auction to dispose of a substantial portion of the materials owned by a person who is recently deceased or who must dispose of his personal property to facilitate a move.-Reasons for an estate sale:...
s, garage sale
Garage sale
A garage sale, also known as a yard sale, rummage sale, tag sale, lawn sale, attic sale, moving sale, or junk sale, is an informal, irregularly scheduled event for the sale of used goods by private individuals, in which "block sales" are allowed, so that sellers are not required to obtain business...
s, thrift stores, etc." are constantly shown in order to "turn the lives of annonymous [sic] strangers into pop-rock musical expos[é]s based on the contents of these slide collections". The band sings about things that occurred in the places shown in the slides, such as public execution (Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959) and McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
' competitors' "using network television to take advantage of efficiency" (Wendy's, Sambo's and Long John Silver's).
Tina designs the clothing worn by the group and created the famous Rachel dolls, which are based on her daughter. All three Trachtenburgs are vegetarians and members of the 4th Street Food Co-op
4th Street Food Co-op
The 4th Street Food Co-op is a food cooperative located in New York City. The 4th Street Food Co-op runs a retail store at 58 East 4th Street, selling natural foods and household products...
. As of 2006, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are part of the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's "Characters Welcome" campaign. Tina is writing a book about a day in the life of Rachel.
Jason Trachtenburg is also a solo artist. In 2000, he released his debut album, Revolutions per Minute, on Orange Recordings
Orange Recordings
Orange Recordings is a record label that started in Chicago in 1997. In 2000 the label moved to San Diego and then relocated again to Los Angeles in the early 2002...
. His second album, Together, was released in 2006.
They have recorded on Bar None Records, Cass Records, Sarathan Records
Sarathan Records
Sarathan 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...
, and Tired and Lonesome Records. They also performed at the first Gel conference
Gel conference
Gel is a conference focused on experience in all its forms -- business, art, society, technology, and life.The conference has been held annually in New York City since 2003, and the first European counterpart, euroGel 2006, took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 1 September 2006...
in 2003. A video for one song has appeared on Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show
Jack's Big Music Show is a children's television program currently airing on the Nick Jr. television network. The show premiered on the same network on September 12, 2005...
on Noggin.
The Trachtenburgs made a brief appearance in Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "New York New York". The video was directed by Reverend Jen, a friend of both Moby and the Trachtenburgs. The family were seen seated next to Reverend Jen and her dog, Reverend Jen, Jr, in an open-air restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, playing Rock, Paper, Scissors
Rock, Paper, Scissors
Rock-paper-scissors is a hand game played by two people. The game is also known as roshambo, or another ordering of the three items ....
.
As of December 2006, a group of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
film students are shooting a feature-length documentary following the Trachtenburgs on their most recent tour.
Rachel Trachtenburg formed her own band in 2009 called Supercute!
Supercute!
SUPERCUTE! is an American indie pop band from Brooklyn, New York composed of members Rachel Trachtenburg, Julia Cumming, Olivia Ferrer and Delilah Brierley . The band has toured twice with English singer-songwriter Kate Nash in 2010, released a self-titled EP and two non-album songs...
(formerly called The Oh My God! Girls).
Beginning
Jason first met Tina at a Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
open-mic 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...
around 1989. They soon moved to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, where their daughter, Rachel, was born in 1993. The family ran a dog-walking business called The Dog Squad by day while Jason was an open-mic performer by night. However, his music act was failing to find audiences.
While dog-walking with Rachel, Tina found an old slide projector and a box of slides at an estate sale
Estate sale
An estate sale or estate liquidation is a sale or auction to dispose of a substantial portion of the materials owned by a person who is recently deceased or who must dispose of his personal property to facilitate a move.-Reasons for an estate sale:...
from a family trip in Japan during the year of 1959. When Tina suggested to Jason that he use the slides in his music, Jason then wrote a song to accompany the slides. The song was titled "Mountain Trip To Japan, 1959" (The song was later released on the debut album Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol 1). Eventually, the Trachtenburgs formed together; Jason playing keyboards and guitar and providing vocals, Tina operating the slide projector and Rachel playing harmonica (later playing drums). The trio performed their act at a local talent show and won first place along with $500 as their prize. They continued their act and later moved to New York City.
Discography
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players- Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol 1Vintage Slide Collections from Seattle, Vol 1Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol 1 is the debut album from the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. It was released in 2001. The album is enhanced with two slideshow videos of "Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959" and "Eggs" that can only be played on a computer...
(2001) - Adventures In Middle America, Vol 2Adventures in Middle America, Vol 2Adventures In Middle America, Vol 2 is the follow-up album recorded by the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. The album was originally recorded and released in 2004, but a re-release debuted in 2006 on Sarathan Records.-Track listing:...
(2004)/ (2006) - Lost and Found (Volume III)Lost and Found (Volume III)Lost & Found Volume III is the third album by the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players and was released in the USA by Tummy Touch Records on July 12, 2011...
(2011)
Jason Trachtenburg
- Revolutions Per Minute (2000)
- TogetherTogether (Jason Trachtenburg album)Together is the second solo album from Jason Trachtenburg. It was recorded in 2006 at Grampa Studios in Manhattan, New York City, by Mick Cantarella. Jason's daughter Rachel Trachtenburg played drums on "Anybody Can Tell It " and "Read Between The Lines"; Michael J. Bowman played drums on the rest...
(2006) - Jason Trachtenburg: File Under Pop Male Vocal (2009)(as yet unreleased)
- Contributed a recording of "Doctor Worm" to Hello Radio, a They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
tribute album
Kate Nash- Kiss That Grrrl CD single (UK) (2741841)
- 1. "Kiss That Grrrl" Kate Nash 3:44
- 2. "Kiss That Grrrl" (Performed by The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players) 4:42
DVD releases
Self released untitled 4 track DVD1/ Middle America Live Music Video
2/ Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959 Music Video
3/ Look at Me Live On the Conan O'Brien show 3 January 2003
4/ Sundance Channel Documentary
- The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On BroadwayThe Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On BroadwayThe 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...
(2006)
Unreleased songs
- "World's Best Friend; Performed at Lamb's TheatreLamb's TheatreLamb's Theatre was an Off-Broadway theater located at 130 West 44th Street, New York City inside the Manhattan Church of the Nazarene, near Times Square in New York City. It seated approximately 350 and specialized in musical productions...
in 2006 on The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On Broadway with The WoWz. - "You're The One Who's Made For Me and I Was Made For You" (released on the band's MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.) - "Charcoal Gray" a song commissioned for a private party
- "Let's Go On Tour With Kate" (released on the band's website; music video featuring Kate NashKate NashKate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....
)
External links and references
- Official site
- Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Official record label website
- UK based Trachtenburg family website
- Filter Magazine article Filter Magazine (2006)
- Steve Stav, The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow: Players Emerge From the Underground; The Tablet (Seattle), Vol. 1, Issue 6, April 2001.
- Jason Trachtenburg Interview for Revolt Music Magazine