Butterflies cover Erie Choir for Musical Chairs

Butterflies have a song on a new cover compilation curated and organized by Nightsound Studios, a recording workshop in Carrboro, NC. The studio invited over a dozen North Carolina bands to cover songs by each other. The selection process was random, but Butterflies were lucky enough to draw Erie Choir, one of our many favorite bands from NC. Led by Eric Roehrig of Sorry About Dresden, Erie Choir is responsible for some of our favorite acoustic pop songs, including "Seaside Arms", the song Butterflies chose to reinterpret. You can download the song for free here. Butterflies also got the cover treatment, as The Big Picture (led by Jonny Tunnell of The Never) shared their take on Butterflies' "Mind Games". The whole compilation is available for free download here.

Lost in the Trees Interview + Video on The Bottom String

We are still getting over all of the revelry that went down at Hopscotch earlier this month. A personal highlight for us was our day party at The Pour House on Saturday. During the hectic celebration, Lost in the Trees' Ari Picker and Emma Nadeau did an interview and recorded a short video for The Bottom String. Ari and Emma touched on Project Symphony, the North Carolina music community, touring, and much more. Check it out.

Lost in the Trees are currently out on the road in support of their new album, All Alone in an Empty House. Dates below:

09-23 State College, PA - Chronic Town
09-24 Schenectady, NY - Proctor's
09-25 Hamilton, ON James Street North Supercrawl
09-26 Waterloo, ON - Starlight
09-27 Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
09-29 Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo
10-01 Worcester, MA - Clark University*
10-02 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall
10-03 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's*
10-05 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's*
10-06 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
10-07 Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House*
10-09 Charlottesville, VA - Tea Bazaar^
10-10 Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery^
10-12 Washington, DC - Black Cat#
10-13 Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse*
10-14 Greensboro, NC - Artistika*
10-15 Columbia, SC - The House 5 Points*
10-17 Charleston, SC - Culture Center Theater

* with Midtown Dickens
# with The Love Language
^ with Elf Power

Video: Embarrassing Fruits - "Drunkland" @ CD Alley

Yesterday was release day for Frontier Justice, the new album from Chapel Hill's Embarrassing Fruits, and to celebrate we had an in-store performance at one of our favorite record stores, CD Alley. Hammer No More The Fingers opened up with a rare acoustic performance of their near-perfect pop songs. Fruits followed suit with a stripped down, acoustic set. Here's a version of "Drunkland", Fruits new inebriation anthem. If you haven't yet, head on over to the Trekky Records Online Store to order your LP+CD+MP3 package of Frontier Justice for just $12. If you are one of the first 25 orders, you'll receive a free poster. It'll be like Christmas in September.

Embarrassing Fruits album out now!

We are honored today to release Embarrassing Fruits' new album, Frontier Justice! The album is being released in one "everything-you-could-ever-need" package, complete with a vinyl record, a compact disc and an MP3 download code. The whole package is just $12, and as an added bonus, the first 25 copies come with a free Frontier Justice poster!


Order Now!
You can also get the record at some of North Carolina's finest record shops, including CD Alley, All Day Records, Bull City Records and Schoolkids.

We are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the music video for "Vanishing Frontier", one of the tracks from Frontier Justice. We'll release that to the world in a couple weeks, but here's a preview of what sinister insanity you can expect:



And here's a look at the process of recording the album:



Please join us today for a special, acoustic, release day in-store at our favorite local record store, CD Alley in Chapel Hill. Our friends Hammer No More The Fingers will also be playing and its completely free. More Fruits dates below:

09-21 Chapel Hill, NC - CD Alley (Release Day In-Store Acoustic Show!)*
09-23 Greensboro, NC - The Green Bean
10-07 Pittsboro, NC - Shakori Hills Music Festival
10-15 Raleigh, NC - NC State University
10-23 Raleigh, NC - Kings Barcade#
11-18 Raleigh, NC - Tir Na Nog

* with Hammer No More The Fingers
# with The Moaners

MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - Long Distance Breakup Summer [from the Frontier Justice LP]

Lost in the Trees play Tiny Desk Concert for NPR

Lost in the Trees swung by NPR Music guru Bob Boilen's office to perform a Tiny Desk Concert on their last tour. They play three songs, packed tightly between stacks of records and office supplies. See the video and read Bob Boilen's words here.

The folk orchestra is excited to hit the road again in a few days for an East Coast tour, featuring dates with Midtown Dickens, The Love Language and Elf Power. Check the dates below:

09-21 Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Cafe
09-22 Oberlin, OH - The Cat in The Cream
09-23 State College, PA - Chronic Town
09-24 Schenectady, NY - Proctor's
09-25 Hamilton, ON James Street North Supercrawl
09-26 Waterloo, ON - Starlight
09-27 Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
09-29 Montreal, QC Casa del Popolo
10-01 Worcester, MA - Clark University*
10-02 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall
10-03 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's*
10-05 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's*
10-06 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
10-07 Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House*
10-09 Charlottesville, VA - Tea Bazaar^
10-10 Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery^
10-12 Washington, DC - Black Cat#
10-13 Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse*
10-14 Greensboro, NC - Artistika*
10-15 Columbia, SC - The House 5 Points*
10-17 Charleston, SC - Culture Center Theater

* with Midtown Dickens
# with The Love Language
^ with Elf Power

Photos: Butterflies' Album Cover Photo Shoot

We're putting the final, behind-the-scenes touches on Butterflies' brand new album, coming out in November on Trekky Records. Last week we got together to take photos for the album art at Josh Kimbrough's childhood home. Here's a sneak preview of what will become the art for the new album. Photos by Clare Connolly and Will Hackney. More details coming soon!

Embarrassing Fruits Album Release Show Tonight

Tonight we celebrate the release of Frontier Justice, the new album from Embarrassing Fruits. Release shows are amazing events. They represent an inherent turning point for a band (and a label). It is the perfect night to reflect on where you've been, what it took to get there
and where you may go in the future. We hope you'll join us tonight at Duke Coffeehouse in Durham, NC, for this very special release show. Frontier Justice will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, but we'll have the first copies available tonight. The album comes with a vinyl record, compact disc and MP3 download, all for only $12. The first 25 copies will also come with a free Frontier Justice poster, so make sure to get there early tonight!

Another reason to arrive early tonight is to catch the two amazing bands who will be sharing the stage with the Fruits. Durham's Midtown Dickens and Raleigh's Lonnie Walker complete this amazing trinity of Triangle music. After the fantasy that was the Hopscotch Music Festival this past weekend, this bill is proof that the overwhelming amount of music coming from North Carolina never stops. It happens every weekend. Every night, even. The show is free and BYOB, so we're all in for a good time.

Fruits have been all over the papers this week, here's a sample of some interesting reviews and interviews:

The Independent Review
The Daily Tar Heel Review
The Mill Interview
Mann's World Interview

MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - "Vanishing Frontier"

Embarrassing Fruits' new album Frontier Justice comes out in less than a week! We are brimming with excitement over here at the Trekky office. The package looks beautiful, the record sounds great, and we're having a free release party this Friday with some amazing bands. In order to help you get as pumped as we are, we are releasing the second single from Frontier Justice today! The song is called "Vanishing Frontier" and its a brooding jam that showcases one of Fruits' great strengths: being aggressive and laid back at the same time.

Look for the grim music video for "Vanishing Frontier" late next week and we'll see you this Friday as we celebrate our new album! If you missed it, here's a video of Fruits working on Frontier Justice in the studio:



MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - "Vanishing Frontier" (from the upcoming Frontier Justice LP)

Photos: Hopscotch Music Festival 2010

Members of Midtown Dickens at panel on North Carolina music.
Photo by Abby Nardo.


Lost in the Trees at DAY-DREAM, our Hopscotch day party.
Photo by Lalitree Darnielle.


Sharon Van Etten outside of The Pour House during DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Abby Nardo.


TRK Banner at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Agatha Donkar.


Butterflies at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Agatha Donkar.


Martin Anderson and Brad Cook of Megafaun.
Photo by Derek Anderson.


Midtown Dickens in downtown Raleigh.
Photo by Derek Anderson.


Catherine and Jonathan of Midtown Dickens watch Pattern Is Movement.
Photo by Derek Anderson.


Folks in the stairwell at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Graham Tolbert.


Mark Daumen of Lost in the Trees joins Midtown Dickens at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Graham Tolbert.


Catherine Edgerton of Midtown Dickens loads in for DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Lalitree Darnielle.


Kym Register of Midtown Dickens.
Photo by Graham Tolbert.


Martin Anderson and Phil Cook of Megafaun.
Photo by Derek Anderson.

Trekky Records' Guide to Hopscotch 2010

2010 is a very special year for music in North Carolina. The overwhelming amount of quality music being created and played in the area has given way to a teeming network of artists, labels, publications, documentarians and appreciators. For this reason, local newspaper The Independent decided to organize a giant music festival right in the middle of North Carolina, and we are very excited about it. In addition to the 60 or so excellent local bands playing the Hopscotch Music Festival, we have heavy hitters like Public Enemy, Broken Social Scene and Tortoise visiting our fair Piedmont. And whether they intend to or not, they are shedding a national light on some of the great, overlooked music from around here. Hopscotch starts today, and we're not expecting to sleep much until its over. There are hundreds of great things to see, but here are our recommendations for your Hopscotch journey.

THURSDAY

12:30PM-5PM | Knox With An X Day Party (Kings)



The amazing round of free day parties starts off Thursday with 307 Knox Records' Knox With An X. Many great bands are playing short sets, including Midtown Dickens, Phil Cook and North Elementary. Great way to start off the festival.

4PM-6PM | Superchunk Listening Party (Foundation Bar)



One of the bands responsible for our incredible music scene, Superchunk, is releasing a new album this year, and this is an opportunity to hear it before it comes out. Listening parties are underrated and oft forgotten rituals, so take advantage of this opportunity.

10PM | Midtown Dickens (Deep South)



Midtown Dickens are some of our best friends and favorite musicians. Their shows always feel like family gatherings. Their songs are the backporch tunes you never sung. But now you get the chance. Midtown Dickens are also playing the Trekky Records day party on Saturday, but they'll play more songs at this show, so plan to catch both!

11:30PM | Pattern Is Movement (Busy Bee)



Pattern Is Movement are dear old friends of ours from Philadelphia, PA. Over the years, we've seen them develop from an angular, experimental 5-piece guitar rock band, to a virtuosic, math-soul duo. These fellas make some very challenging and beautiful music. Highly recommended.

12:30AM | Akron/Family (Pour House)



If you have never seen Akron/Family before, you are in for the party of your life. You've been warned.

FRIDAY

11AM-6PM | Friend Island Day Party (Pour House)



One perk of Hopscotch is that so many friends from out of town have a reason to come visit! Hometapes is one of our favorite record labels outside of NC, and we're very happy that they will be in town and also have their very own day party. Come show these Portland folks some NC love, and enjoy music from Megafaun and Pattern Is Movement. Free!

7PM | Broken Social Scene (Raleigh City Plaza)



Broken Social Scene are unbelievably awesome, both on record and live. Good job, Hopscotch for getting these Canadian geniuses. Maybe a guest appearance from John McEntire, who produced BSS' latest album and is in town with Tortoise? Hope so.

10:30PM | Veelee (Busy Bee)



Veelee is from Carrboro, but any chance to see them play should be taken. Matt Park and Ginger Wagg cover a lot of ground for two people, accumulating guitars, drums, keyboards, samples and loops to make dense, textural pop songs. Can't wait to hear their new record, out soon on Grip Tapes. This show is at the same time as Sharon Van Etten, who we also recommend, but she's also playing at our free day party on Saturday, so you could see both!

11:30PM | Bowerbirds (Pour House)



More hometown heroes! There's many great bands from out of town, but objectively, we still feel like many of the local bands are the must-see shows at Hopscotch. Bowerbirds make beautiful woodland folk music. For this show, their usual guitar/accordion setup will be augmented by a small string section, marimba and mandolin.

SATURDAY

2PM-5:30PM | DAY-DREAM Day Party (Pour House)



Our very own day party! We're thrilled to host this free day party, with a bill that is a true dream come true for us. Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Sharon Van Etten, Embarrassing Fruits and Butterflies will all play in the same place. We'll keep things moving swiftly and there'll be free popsicles, so we hope that you'll party with us all afternoon!

12AM (Midnight) | Tortoise (Lincoln Theatre)



Another brilliant choice for Hopscotch to bring to NC. Tortoise is probably the best instrumental band of all time. These Chicago post-rock legends possess that magic combination of technical ability and restraint that creates music that is endlessly rewarding. Great way to close out the festival.

See you in Raleigh!

Video: Lost in the Trees on Austin City Limits' Sattelite Sets

During South By Southwest earlier this year, Lost in the Trees played on the Austin City Limits stage for their Satellite Sets series. See the band play "Tall Trees", "Icy River" and "Fireplace" on the historic stage here.

Arrival: Embarrassing Fruits' Frontier Justice

One of the most exciting and inspirational moments in the life of a musician is the moment that a new release arrives in the mail. Its the culmination of hours of writing, rehearsing and recording songs, drafting and finalizing art, and thinking about how it will all come together. We make music to share with people, but the simple pleasure of finally holding a copy of your new album in your hands is something that really makes all of the work worth it.

Embarrassing Fruits' new album, Frontier Justice, arrived last night while we were finishing the last few shots for the music video for "Vanishing Frontier". It was like Christmas morning. The album is a full, three-part package, with a vinyl record, compact disc and MP3 download. The album cover, featuring a colony of penguins on a desert, was created by Joe Norkus and John Neville of Embarrassing Fruits. We'll be releasing this wonderful album on September 21, but you can get your copy first at the album release party on Friday, September 17 at Duke Coffeehouse, with Lonnie Walker and Midtown Dickens. The show is absolutely free (and BYOB), but make sure to bring some cash to pick up a copy of Frontier Justice!