Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players

Most folks would rather shove their hand into a whirring garbage disposal than check out other people's vacation snapshots. But not singer-songwriter Jason Trachtenburg, who uses photographic slides -- a previous generation's chosen method of preserving memories -- as musical inspiration. (Judged by this standard, Head Like a Kite, which...

By Michael Roberts

September 7, 2006

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Most folks would rather shove their hand into a whirring garbage disposal than check out other people's vacation snapshots. But not singer-songwriter Jason Trachtenburg, who uses photographic slides -- a previous generation's chosen method of preserving memories -- as musical inspiration. (Judged by this standard, Head Like a Kite, which employs home movies in much the same way, is positively high-tech.) The result is material with titles like "Fondue Friends in Switzerland," which Jason renders with the assistance of Rachel Piña Trachtenburg -- who was hardly bigger than her drum kit when she began playing percussion -- and Tina Piña Trachtenburg, the person charged with running the slide projector. Obviously, this concept is aided immeasurably by visuals, which helps explain why the Trachtenburgs' latest release, Off & On Broadway, is a DVD. Yet the ditties sound pretty good on CD, too, as proven by Vintage Slide Collections From Seattle, Vol. I, a charmingly odd little platter that received national distribution in 2003. Appearing alongside Paramore and This Providence, the Trachtenburgs make Family photos fun.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

Follow:

Facebook: 111180895657427

Twitter: @mikerobertscolo