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When you're in a band as unique as the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, it's okay to be a little confident.
We're an indie-vaudeville-conceptual-art-rock-slideshow band, says singer/songwriter Jason Trachtenburg. Weve got the market cornered. Theres no band that can hold a candle to us. In that department.
Hes got a point. The Trachtenburgs are a domestic trio (dad Jason, mom Tina Piña, 12-year-old daughter Rachel), who play quirky indie pop songs in the key of unironic good, clean fun with one major catch: All the songs carefully rhyming lyrics come from the vintage slide collections theyve found at estate or garage sales that accompany their performances. Whats more, from their retro fashion sense to their disavowal of modern conveniences, the Trachtenburgs are a charming relic: a vintage throwback to simpler, more self-sufficient, family-oriented times just like their music.
Tina Piña and Jason met at a Greenwich Village open-mic in 1989, and the pair later relocated to Seattle. They had a daughter, Rachel, and ran a dog-walking business while Jason worked Seattles open-mic circuit. When his eccentric indie pop was failing to find an audience, Tina suggested he augment his act with slide imagery.
On a subsequent dog-walking trip with Rachel, she found an old slide projector at a garage sale, and a box of slides from a random familys 1959 mountain trip to Japan. One morning in 2000, Tina awoke to find Jason had spent the entire night writing a song to accompany the slide presentation (appropriately titled Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959). Six-year-old Rachel was recruited to play harmonica; (she later moved over to drum duties), Tina was appointed projector operator/backup singer, and the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players were born.
The remarkably favorable reaction to the family act was nearly unfathomable. The local press went wild; their coffee house shows boasted lines out the door.
In July 2002 the family relocated to New Yorks East Village and befriended artists like Regina Spektor and Nellie McKay. After being covered by The New Yorker, Spin, EW, the Village Voice, and others, Bar/None released their full-length debut, which showcased Jason singing about topics as varied as enjoying fondue in Switzerland to training employees to work at Wendys. Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Volume 1 (2003) was recorded in Seattle before the big move and features guest spots from the citys local stars. Six months and a lot of DIY-campaigning later they were the first unsigned band to appear on Late Night with Conan OBrien.
Thanks to a grueling tour schedule that has the act playing approximately 150 shows a year, We became a really tight touring outfit, Jason says. We wear tight touring outfits, as well, which is why we don't eat too much before shows. Theyve played Bonnaroo, the Edinburgh festival, the alt-comedy circuit, every city in the 48 states all the while winning over famous fans like Meg White, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, comedians David Cross, Eugene Mirman, and John Waters.
The groups latest effort is Off & On Broadway, released by Seattle indie, Sarathan Records. It is a DVD of performances and day-in-the-life footage that demonstrates exactly how this one-of-a-kind band works.
CHECK OUT THE TRACHTENBURG'S E-CARD
You can see a video, an MTV spot and a live performance HERE!
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