Off and On Broadway (2006)

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"We're an indie-vaudeville-conceptual-art-rock-slideshow band," says singer/songwriter Jason Trachtenberg. "We've got the market cornered. There's no band that can hold a candle to us. In that department."

He's got a point there -- the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players 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 (think They Might Be Giants meets the Partridge Family) with one major catch: All the songs' carefully rhyming lyrics come from the vintage slide collections they've found at estate or garage sales that accompany their performances. What's more, from their retro fashion sense to their disavowal of modern conveniences, the Trachtenburg Family, themselves, are a charming relic -- a vintage throwback to simpler, more self-sufficient, family-oriented times -- just like their music.

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 it's important not to eat too much before shows." They've played Bonnaroo (where they battled the slide projector's mortal enemy: daylight), the Edinburgh festival, the alt-comedy circuit, "every city in the continuous 48 states" -- all the while winning over famous fans like Meg White, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, comedians David Cross and Eugene Mirman, and John Waters, who says the family's show is "like The Lawrence Welk Show gone insane."

The group's latest effort is The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off & On Broadway, to be released by Seattle indie, Sarathan Records on August 1, 2006. It is a DVD of performances and day-in-the-life footage that demonstrates exactly how this one-of-a-kind band works. It's also another step towards fulfilling their goal of fixing what's wrong with the entertainment industry: "We are totally tuned in to what audiences need to experience," says Jason, "in terms of bands not communicating with audiences, not breaking down the fourth wall -- we need to make up for that in the hour and 15 minutes we get onstage."

Oh, and one more thing: the entire family is listed in Wikipedia as being amongst the world's most famous vegetarians. They're listed next to Tolstoy, alphabetically, which is just the kind of vintage company they're accustomed to.

Product Description
There's no other band in the world like this flea-market chic indie rock performance art slideshow family! The first live Trachtenburg Family Slide Show Players DVD, filmed Off Broadway at Lambs' Theater in the band's hometown (NYC). Off and On Broadway features live performances of TFSP classics including "Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959" & "Look at Me"; footage of this delightful musical family in their daily lives; interviews with comedians David Cross, Eugene Mirman & many other pop-culture celebrities, & bonus features including rare acoustic performances & TFSP Music Videos.

TRACK LISTING

LIVE PERFOMANCES:
1. MOUNTAIN TRIP TO JAPAN, 1959
2. LOOK AT ME
3. BEAUTIFUL DANDELION
4. WENDY'S, SAMBO's & LONG JOHN SILVER'S
5. DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
6. WORLD'S BEST FRIEND
7. TOGETHER AS A SYSTEM WE ARE UNBEATABLE
8. MIDDLE AMERICA
9. (END CREDITS) SINGING A SONG

BONUS FEATURES:
1. MOUNTAIN TRIP TO JAPAN, 1959 - MUSIC VIDEO
2. EGGS - MUSIC VIDEO
3. SLIDESHOWERS IN PARADISE
4. UNTITLED (WHEN YOU SEE A SLIDE, SING IT)
5. EAST VILLAGE ROCKER WITH A MISSED CONNECTION
6. OPNAD CONTRIBUTION STUDY REPORT JUNE, 1977
7. WHAT WILL THE CORPORATION DO?
8. LET'S NOT HAVE THE SAME WEIGHT IN 1978
9. WHY DID WE DECIDE TO TAKE THIS DECISION TO YOU?
10. SUPER D
11. DVD BOOTLEG TIMES SQUARE

• DVD > Music Video & Concerts > Pop
• DVD > Music Video & Concerts > Rock & Roll
• DVD > Studio Specials > Universal Studios Home Entertainment > Comedy
• Music > Alternative Rock > General
• Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Indie Rock
• Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > Comedic Music
• Music > Pop > Adult Alternative
• Music > Rock > General