TRK 2012 Year-End Lists

Martin Anderson (Trekky Records)

1. Hiss Golden Messenger- Poor Moon
2. Lambchop- Mr. M
3. Bowerbirds- The Clearing
4. Matthew E. White- Big Inner
5. Tift Merritt- Traveling Alone
6. Patterson Hood- Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance
7. Sharon Van Etten- Tramp
8. The Human Eyes- Guiding Eyes for the Blind
9. Frank Ocean- Channel Orange
10. Menomena- Moms
11. The Tallest Man on Earth- There's No Leaving Now
12. The Bad Plus- Made Possible
13. Damien Jurado- Maraqopa
14. Horseback- Half Blood
15. David Byrne & St Vincent- Love This Giant

Thomas Costello (The Human Eyes, Embarrassing Fruits)

Wymond Miles- Under The Pale Moon
Mac Demarco- Rock N Roll Nightclub
Thee Oh Sees- Putrifiers II
Lotus Plaza- Spooky Action At A Distance
Gunn-Truscinski Duo- Ocean Parkway
Spider Bags- Shake My Head
The Men- Open Your Heart
Jessica Bailiff - At the Down-turned Jagged Rim of the Sky
Andy Stott- Luxury Problems
Grimes- Visions

Will Hackney (Trekky Records, Midtown Dickens)

1. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
2. The Weather Station - All Of It Was Mine
3. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
4. Beach House - Bloom
5. Bowerbirds - The Clearing
6. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
7. Mount Eerie - Clear Moon
8. Bill Fay - Life Is People
9. Hammer No More The Fingers - Pink Worm
10. Lambchop - Mr. M
11. Grizzly Bear - Shields

Josh Kimbrough (Butterflies)

1. Joe Norkus "Park Ave." and Bowerbirds "The Clearing"

2. Twin Shadow "Confess"

3. The Human Eyes "Guiding Eyes For The Blind"

4. Jenny Besetzt "Only"

5. Lost in the Trees "A Church That Fits Our Needs"

6. Squarepusher "Ufabulum"

7. Wood Ear "Steeple Vultures"

8. Dinosaur Jr. "I Bet On Sky"

9. The Sea and Cake "Runner"

10. Hi Ho Silver Oh "Big Rocks"

Comedy albums:

Tim Heidecker "Titanic And Other Songs"

Kreayshawn "Somethin' 'Bout Kreay"

Lovable creations:

Travis Diehl's "Prism of Reality"

Katie Zickefoose's "New Work"

Catherine Edgerton's "fall tour hoodie" (no link available)

Joey Shanks' "Sci-Fly project"

TJ Maiani

New Releases

Tame Impala- Lonerism

Useless Eaters- C'est Bon!

White Fence- Family Perfume 2

OFF!- OFF!

Sic Alps- Sic Alps

Action Bronson- Blue Chips

Frank Ocean- Channel Orange

Thee Oh Sees- Putrifiers II

Ty Segall & White Fence- Hair

DIIV- Oshin

Ariel Pink- Mature Themes

Reissues

GZA- Liquid Swords

Sleep- Dopesmoker

Blue Note 1960's series

Joe Norkus (Joe Norkus, Embarrassing Fruits)

New Music 
Ty Segall &White Fence -  Hair
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes
Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance 
Hiss Golden Messenger - Poor Moon
Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet on Sky
Guided By Voices - Let's Go Eat the Factory
Mac Demarco - Rock n Roll Nightclub EP
Wild Nothing - Nocturne
Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

Reissues:
Archers of Loaf  - Vee Vee (best album to ever come out of Chapel Hill?)
My Bloody Valentine -  Isn't Anything/Loveless/EPs 1988-1991

Best Discoveries/Rediscoveries: 
The Wipers (how had I not heard these dudes yet?)
Early Faces (right when Rod joined...basically the best drinking music a man could ask for) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xHBjeiqzkQ
Larry & The Blue Notes (sweet early 60s Texas garage band) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83kYS1bEmjk
Pentagram (FUUUCK Yeah. Better than Sabbath?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7JTD_73kpI


Best movies I saw this year:
The Comedy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSrh7o-Ia_U
Last Days Here (insane doc about the singer for pentagram and his struggles with drugs and subsequent triumphant return) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aUf_F5Lc_k&feature=fvwrel
Teen A Go Go (documentary about the Fort Worth/Dallas 60s garage band scene) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJRw7icZa-M 


Notables:
The Best Show on WFMU was playing in my earbuds almost every day.
The First song on the new Neil Young and Crazy Horse album is literally 30 min long (I got through about 20)
Tim Heidecker's "Titanic" BOB DYLAN song is 15 min long (I got through all 15).

Ari Picker (Lost in the Trees)

Midtown Dickens: Home

Lambchop: Mr M 

Grizzly Bear: Shields 

Dirty Projectors: Swing Lo Magellan

Bowerbirds: The Clearing

Sean Rowe: The Salesman and the Shark

Kym Register (Midtown Dickens)

1. Downton Abbey

2. Lost in the Trees - A Church That Fits Our Needs

3. Hope For Agoldensummer - Life Inside the Body 

4. Bowerbirds - The Clearing

5. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

6. Menomena - Moms 

7. Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound 

8. Your Heart Breaks - Harsh Tokes & Bong Jokes 

9. Spider Bags - Shake My Head 

10. Matthew E. White - Big Inner 

11.  Tame Impala - Lonerism 

12. The Weather Station - All of it Was Mine 

Rusty Sutton (Lost in the Trees live sound engineer)

1. Hiss Golden Messenger - Poor Moon

2. Lambchop - Mr. M

3. Lost in the Trees - A Church That Fits Our Needs

4. Matthew E. White - Big Inner

5. Joe Pug - The Great Despiser

6. Bowerbirds - The Clearing

7. Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory

8. Sarah Jaffe - The Body Wins

9. American Aquarium - Burn. Flicker. Die.

10. The Mountain Goats - Transcendental Youth

Honorable Mention:

The Human Eyes - Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Cody Chesnutt - Landing on a Hundred

Stephen Tunnell (Vibrant Green)

PJ Harvey- Let England shake

Sharon Van Etten- Tramp
Neil Young- Psychedelic Pill ("I used too walk like a giant across this land")
Santigold- Master of My Make-believe

What I'm listening to now:
Eels- Souljacker
Eels- The Man- Tomorrow Morning
Bob Marley- The Anthalogy
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals- III/IV
The National- "Thirsty" for the next National album... no joke

Lost in the Trees debuts new song on KCRW

Lost in the Trees visited the KCRW studios a few days ago while on tour and spontaneously decided to debut a brand new, unreleased song. The new track, titled "Glass Harp", is a gorgeous, polyrhythmic composition that foretells a very exciting direction for new Lost in the Trees material. Watch the video above, and make sure to catch the band on the rest of their US tour dates with Midtown Dickens:

11-01 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon*
11-02 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks*
11-03 Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
11-05 Washington DC - Black Cat*
11-06 Ithaca, NY - The Haunt*
11-07 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*
11-08 Stony Brook, NY - University Cafe*
11-09 York, PA - Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center*

* with Midtown Dickens

Phil Cook & His Feat Announce November Tour Dates

Never one to sit still for long, Phil Cook & His Feat is hitting the road in November for select dates in the Midwest with The Be Good Tanyas and a special NC show with Hiss Golden Messenger. Check the full dates below, as well as a special performance of "Frazee, Minnesota" and "Scorned" that Phil recently taped for The Independent's Simple Music Video Series.

11-10 Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House*
11-11 Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music* SOLD OUT
11-12 Iowa City, IA - The Englert Theater*
11-13 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center*
11-15 Raleigh, NC - Tir Na Nog
11-16 Durham, NC - The Pinhook#
11-30 Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theater^

* with The Be Good Tanyas
# with Hiss Golden Messenger
^ with Bombadil

IFC debuts new Lost in the Trees music video

IFC debuted the new Lost in the Trees music video: a somber, symbolic clip for "Villain (I'll Stick Around)", one of the most beautiful tracks on the band's latest album, A Church That Fits Our Needs. Watch the video above, or visit IFC for some insight into the process and inspiration of the video. This clip, along with the recent reissue of Lost in the Trees' Time Taunts Me, commemorate the beginning of a full US tour with Midtown Dickens, beginning next week. Dates below:

10-09 Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light*
10-10 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop*
10-11 St. Louis, MO - The Duck Room*
10-12 Madison, WI - Der Rathskeller*
10-13 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall*
10-14 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave. 7th Street Entry*
10-16 Omaha, NE - Slowdown*
10-17 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive*
10-18 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room*
10-19 Boise, ID - Neurolux*
10-20 Seattle, WA - Crocodile (City Arts Festival)*#
10-21 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge*#
10-23 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse*#
10-24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*#
10-26 Los Angeles, CA - First Unitarian Church*#
10-27 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar*
10-28 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress*
10-30 Austin, TX - Mohawk*
11-01 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon*
11-02 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks*
11-03 Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
11-05 Washington DC - Black Cat*
11-06 Ithaca, NY - The Haunt*
11-07 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*
11-08 Stony Brook, NY - University Cafe*
11-09 York, PA - Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center*

* with Midtown Dickens
# with Dana Buoy

Midtown Dickens add more tour dates

Midtown Dickens will hit the road this Fall in support of their new record, Home. For the majority of the dates, they'll be supporting Trekky labelmates Lost in the Trees, but they've also added a few special North Carolina shows, including a stop at UNC-Asheville and a special hometown show at Haw River Ballroom with Matthew E. White, who is receiving enthused praise for his new album Big Inner, and will be returning to NC for the first time since his historic performance at the 2012 Hopscotch Music Festival. Check the full dates below:

10-09 Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light*
10-10 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop*
10-11 St. Louis, MO - The Duck Room*
10-12 Madison, WI - Der Rathskeller*
10-13 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall*
10-14 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave. 7th Street Entry*
10-16 Omaha, NE - Slowdown*
10-17 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive*
10-18 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room*
10-19 Boise, ID - Neurolux*
10-20 Seattle, WA - Crocodile (City Arts Festival)*#~
10-21 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge*#
10-23 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse*#
10-24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*#
10-26 Los Angeles, CA - First Unitarian Church*#
10-27 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar*
10-28 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress*
10-30 Austin, TX - Mohawk*
11-01 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon*
11-02 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks*
11-03 Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
11-05 Washington DC - Black Cat*
11-06 Ithaca, NY - The Haunt*
11-07 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*
11-08 Stony Brook, NY - University Cafe*
11-09 York, PA - Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center*
11-15 Asheville, NC - UNC-Asheville
11-17 Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom^

* with Lost in the Trees
# with Dana Buoy
~ with Horse Feathers
^ with Matthew E. White

TRK Tape Sale! Cassette tapes for cheap.

Its time to dust off the old Walkman, remove the tape adapter from your car, and put new batteries in the boombox. That's right, its time to listen to some tapes. We're having a cassette tape sale over in the Trekky Records Online Store, and you can pick up these analog wonders for mere dollars now. In addition to Trekky Records' Amalgam mixtape compilation, check out the newly available Phil Cook & His Feat split cassette and Midtown Dickens' Home, now available on tape. Happy spinning!

Lost in the Trees & Midtown Dickens announce Fall tour

Labelmates Lost in the Trees and Midtown Dickens have just announced a full US tour for the Fall. Both bands released stunning records this year, and will be bringing those records to life in a town near you. The tour includes a stop at the City Arts Festival in Seattle, and the West Coast shows will also include Dana Buoy, the new solo project from Dana Janssen of Akron/Family. Check the dates below, and mark your calendars!

10-09 Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light
10-10 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
10-11 St. Louis, MO - The Duck Room
10-12 Madison, WI - Der Rathskeller
10-13 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
10-14 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave. 7th Street Entry
10-16 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
10-17 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
10-18 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
10-19 Boise, ID - Neurolux
10-20 Seattle, WA - Crocodile (City Arts Festival)*
10-21 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge*
10-23 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse*
10-24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
10-26 Los Angeles, CA - First Unitarian Church*
10-27 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
10-28 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
10-30 Austin, TX - Mohawk
11-01 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
11-02 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
11-03 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
11-05 Washington DC - Black Cat
11-06 Ithaca, NY - The Haunt
11-07 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
11-08 Stony Brook, NY - University Cafe
11-09 York, PA - Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center

* with Dana Buoy

Video: Midtown Dickens - "Only Brother" (KEXP Session)

Midtown Dickens just played the excellent Pickathon Festival in Portland, OR. They took a break from the hot sun to record this stripped down, acoustic version of "Only Brother" in the Bunny Glade on the grounds of Pendarvis Farm. The good folks at KEXP were good enough to catch the moment, and you can watch it above.

Midtown Dickens & The Mountain Goats record Weeds them song

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats was asked to cover Malvina Reynolds' "Little Boxes" for the opening titles of Showtime's Weeds. In turn, he invited Midtown Dickens to help him interpret the song. The result airs on tonight's episode of Weeds. If you want to just hear the song, you can stream it here.

Praise for Joe Norkus EP from Shuffle Magazine

EP, the new release from Embarrassing Fruits frontman Joe Norkus, is out now.  The excellent new collection of Norkus solo material just received a glowing review from Shuffle Magazine.  We could agree more:

Joe Norkus — EP (Trekky)
Every once in a while, a record comes along that redefines an artist by simply refining and highlighting the things that made them great. The debut solo effort from Embarrassing Fruits guitarist Joe Norkus is such an album. Norkus has always written catchy indie rock songs replete with clever wordplay and ironic detachment. But EP strips back the thick-as-Pavement distortion, allowing Norkus’ words and melodies to shine through. Guitars tangle and unravel with remarkable nuance as Norkus drops his typically mumbling delivery for a warmingly dry croon. “I’m tired of writing songs that no one will hear,” Norkus sings on the Buddy Holly-esque “Last Night.” With the right exposure, EP may well allay his concerns. (JL)

Order your copy of the limited-edition CD here
Or download the album via Joe's bandcamp

Joe Norkus Live:
6/29 - Chapel Hill, NC @ The Cave

Lost in the Trees begin Summer Tour

Lost in the Trees are hitting the Southeast with our old friends Daytona and then the Northeast and Midwest with new friends The Head and the Heart! Come hang in a town near you:

06-14 Jacksonville, FL - Underbelly*
06-15 Orlando, FL - The Social*
06-16 Tampa, FL - Crowbar*
06-18 Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
06-19 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree*
06-20 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe*
06-21 Jackson, MS - Duling Hall*
06-22 Hot Springs, AR - The Art Church*
06-23 Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter*
06-24 Lexington, KY - Cosmic Charlie's*
06-26 Charlottesville, VA - The Southern*
06-27 Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle*
06-28 Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre*
07-27 Brooklyn, NY - Celebrate Brooklyn!#
07-28 Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre#
07-30 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place#
07-31 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues#
08-01 Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre#
08-02 Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer Gardens#
08-03 Greensboro, NC - Center City Park

* with Daytona
# with The Head and the Heart

Joe Norkus EP Out Now!

Embarrassing Fruits' Joe Norkus has been quietly assembling an EP of solo tunes in various bedrooms and home studios over the past few months, and the collection is out now on Trekky Records. Long known for his love of guitar-based "slacker rock", Norkus here lets many more influences shine through, harnessing more atmosphere and space to let his songs breathe. Collaborating with Josh Kimbrough and Peter Lewis of Butterflies, Norkus creates biting, sad and dryly hilarious jangle pop anthems that explore the struggles of balancing artistic ambition with the seemingly inescapable weight of "real life". These are feelings that ring true for anyone who punches the clock but doesn't feel defined by their 9-to-5.

Listen to the first track from the EP, "Call You Up" below:

MP3: Joe Norkus - Call You Up [from the EP EP]

Pick up your copy of the limited edition CD from the Trekky Online Store here.
Or, if you're digitally inclined, stream and download the EP here.

Midtown Dickens announce US tour dates

Midtown Dickens just released their new LP, Home and now they're excited to bring it to your doorstep. The band will hit the road this Summer in support of their stunning new record, hitting every corner of the US that they can drive to. Watch their new music video, order your LP+CD+MP3 copy of Home, and check the dates below for your closest show!

05-31 Charleston, SC - Tin Roof
06-01 Columbia, SC - Columbia Museum of Art
06-19 Richmond, VA - The Camel
06-20 Washington DC - Black Cat
06-21 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
06-22 New York, NY - Cake Shop
06-23 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg*
06-24 Ithaca, NY - Lot 10
06-25 Thomas, WV - Purple Fiddle
06-26 Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
06-29 Madison, WI - The Frequency~
06-30 Minneapolis, MN - 1st Ave 7th St Entry
07-01 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club~
07-02 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
07-03 Lexington, KY - Al's Bar%
07-05 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light
07-06 Asheville, NC - The Get Down
07-18 Durham, NC - Duke Gardens
07-29 Denver, CO - Hi Dive#
08-04 Portland, OR - Pickathon^
08-05 Portland, OR - Pickathon^
08-07 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse+
08-08 Petrolia, CA - Petrolia Community Center
08-09 Davis, CA - Sophia's Thai Kitchen+
08-12 Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theater

* with Bowerbirds, Basia Bulat
~ with The Daredevil Christopher Wright
% with Wooden Wand
# with Southeast Engine
^ with Neko Case, Blitzen Trapper, Bowerbirds, Phosphorescent, etc
+ with Shovels & Rope

TRKfest 2012 date announced!

Trekky Records is proud to announce the return of TRKfest, our annual Summertime blissfest, on Saturday, July 21 at Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, NC. This year's festival will continue its reputation as an essential expression of the North Carolina music scene, as well as include some special, one-time-only performances and collaborations from some of the states finest musicians.

This will be the fifth annual TRKfest. The event began as a one-off fundraiser for the Trekky Records Collective in 2008, but has transformed into an annual event, returning each year by popular demand. As always, the festival will take place at Piedmont Biofuels, a charming industrial biodiesel plant and organic farm nestled into the beautiful Pittsboro countryside. With the help of Piedmont Biofuels and The Abundance Foundation, we will attempt to minimize the ecological impact of the festival, reducing waste and emphasizing local and sustainable foods and drinks.

In addition to the music, the day will be bursting with other activities. Attendees will be able to play games, cool off under the sprinklers, vibe out in the Bliss Tent, purchase local clothing and crafts, tour the biodiesel facility and dance til they collapse, all while listening to some of the finest music North Carolina has to offer.

Admission will be a $10 suggested donation. No person will be turned away. This is a family friendly event! In the event of rain, the festival will be moved indoors to the Haw River Ballroom. Performers to be announced in the coming weeks!

Joe Norkus of Embarrassing Fruits to release solo EP

Embarrassing Fruits' Joe Norkus has been quietly assembling an EP of solo tunes in various bedrooms and home studios over the past few months, and the collection will be released on Trekky Records on May 22, 2012. Long known for his love of guitar-based "slacker rock", Norkus here lets many more influences shine through, harnessing more atmosphere and space to let his songs breathe. Collaborating with Josh Kimbrough and Peter Lewis of Butterflies, Norkus creates biting, sad and dryly hilarious jangle pop anthems that explore the struggles of balancing artistic ambition with the seemingly inescapable weight of "real life". These are feelings that ring true for anyone who punches the clock but doesn't feel defined by their 9-to-5. You can listen to the EP, simply titled EP, now and limited edition CD copies will be available on May 22. Joe Norkus will also appear live, with a full band featuring members of Midtown Dickens, Butterflies and Jenny Besetzt, this Sunday at Nightlight in Chapel Hill. You can ALSO download the first single from the EP, "Call You Up" below:

MP3: Joe Norkus - Call You Up [from the EP EP]

Lost in the Trees announce Summer tour dates

Lost in the Trees has just announced more tour dates in support of their acclaimed new album A Church That Fits Our Needs. The band will first tour the Southeast with Daytona, the new project from Hunter Simpson (member of now defunct Trekky bands The Beauregards and Participation Award). Then they'll hit the Northeast and Midwest with The Head and the Heart. Also included is a very special benefit performance in support of The Jed Foundation, the nation’s leading organization working to reduce emotional distress and prevent suicide among America’s 20 million college students. The show will be on June 7 at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Suicide is an issue that hits very close too home for Ari Picker. Regarding the show, he offered these words on his connection to the cause:

"Mental illness has been a tall hurdle in my life, and I've needed a lot of help to get to a healthy place. Having the support from an organization like the Jed Foundation can make all the difference. I'm so thankful to all who helped me along the way, and I admire all the people who are making the steps towards a healthier place in their own lives."

06-07 New York, NY - Gotham Hall
06-13 Charleston, SC - The Pourhouse*
06-14 Jacksonville, FL - Underbelly*
06-15 Orlando, FL - The Social*
06-16 Tampa, FL - Crowbar*
06-18 Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
06-19 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree*
06-20 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe*
06-21 Jackson, MS - Duling Hall*
06-22 Hot Springs, AR - Low Key Arts*
06-23 Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter*
06-24 Lexington, KY - Cosmic Charlie's*
06-26 Charlottesville, VA - The Southern*
06-27 Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle*
06-28 Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre*
07-28 Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre#
07-30 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place#
07-31 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues#
08-01 Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre#
08-02 Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer Gardens#
08-03 Greensboro, NC - Center City Park

* with Daytona
# with The Head and the Heart

Noisevox premieres new Midtown Dickens music video

Noisevox just premiered the new music video for "Walk, Don't You Run", a song from the band's new album, Home. Created by Hueism Pictures and filmed in Durham, North Carolina, the video features the band and a couple dozen friends jumping into a pristine swimming pool in super slow-motion. Slowed down 11 times, you can see every detail of joy and anticipation as each costumed swimmer descends into the pool. Watch the video above (we suggest full-screen), download the free MP3, and order the album now.

Brooklyn Vegan premieres new Lost in the Trees music video

Brooklyn Vegan just debuted the new Lost in the Trees music video, a completely underwater clip for "Golden Eyelids", a song from the band's new album, A Church That Fits Our Needs. Made by the same team that brought you the music video for "Red", the clip features members of the band suspended in watery darkness in various gorgeous vignettes. Watch the clip above, and you can order the new album now.

More Midtown Dickens tour dates announced

Midtown Dickens has just released their triumph of a new album, Home, and now the band will hit the road to bring Home to your home. Don't miss a show near you, and stay tuned for even more shows to be announced! You can order the new album here and the full tour schedule is below:

04-12 Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
04-13 Greensboro, NC - The Green Bean
04-19 Wilmington, NC - The Satellite
04-21 Pittsboro, NC - Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival
04-26 Washington DC - IOTA
04-27 Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool #
04-28 New York, NY - Barnard College
05-10 Raleigh, NC - Tir Na Nog
05-11 Charlottesville, VA - Tom Tom Festival *
05-12 Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine
05-18 New Bern, NC - Broad St Social Club
06-01 Columbia, SC - Columbia Museum of Art
06-19 Richmond, VA - The Camel
06-21 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
06-24 Ithaca, NY - Lot 10
06-25 Thomas, WV - Purple Fiddle
06-30 Minneapolis, MN - 1st Ave 7th St Entry
07-01 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club ~
07-02 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
07-03 Lexington, KY - Al's Bar %
07-05 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light
08-03 Portland, OR - Pickathon ^

* with The Walkmen, Here We Go Magic, etc
# with Retribution Gospel Choir
~ with The Daredevil Christopher Wright
% with Wooden Wand
^ with Neko Case, Blitzen Trapper, Bowerbirds, Phosphorescent, etc

New Midtown Dickens album out today, new single released

Midtown Dickens' much anticipated new album, Home, is out today on Trekky Records. To celebrate the release, the album's new single "Walk, Don't You Run" is now available from Trekky Records. The song displays an uncanny unity between songwriters Catherine Edgerton and Kym Register, each strumming together and joining their voices as one, ruminating on the virtues of patience and the power of nostalgia.

"Walk, Don't You Run" is the third glimpse into Midtown Dickens' gorgeous meditations on the themes of home (both literal and abstract), family (blood and chosen) and space (within us and about us), following MTV Hive's debut of "Cross My Heart" and NPR Music's debut of "Only Brother".

Home is Midtown Dickens' third album, which is out now in Trekky Records' signature 3-part package, including an LP, CD and digital download. You can order the album now from the Trekky Records Online Store. NPR has already claimed that Home is "the North Carolina band's most nuanced and beautifully produced album yet", and Shuffle Magazine states that "leaps don’t come any bigger or bolder than the one Durham’s Midtown Dickens makes on Home". The band has also announced a US tour in support of Home, including shows with Retribution Gospel Choir, Wooden Wand, and a stop at Portland's celebrated Pickathon Festival. Dates below:

04-07 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
04-12 Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
04-13 Greensboro, NC - The Green Bean
04-19 Wilmington, NC - The Satellite
04-21 Pittsboro, NC - Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival
04-26 Washington DC - IOTA
04-27 Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool #
04-28 New York, NY - Barnard College
05-11 Charlottesville, VA - Tom Tom Festival *
05-12 Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine
05-19 New Bern, NC - Broad St Social Club
06-01 Columbia, SC - Columbia Museum of Art
06-24 Ithaca, NY - Lot 10
06-25 Thomas, WV - Purple Fiddle
06-30 Minneapolis, MN - 1st Ave 7th St Entry
07-01 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club ~
07-02 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
07-03 Lexington, KY - Al's Bar %
07-05 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light
08-03 Portland, OR - Pickathon ^

* with The Walkmen, Here We Go Magic, etc
# with Retribution Gospel Choir
~ with The Daredevil Christopher Wright
% with Wooden Wand
^ with Neko Case, Blitzen Trapper, Bowerbirds, Phosphorescent, etc

MP3: Midtown Dickens - Walk, Don't You Run [from the Home LP]

Lost in the Trees featured on All Things Considered

If you were tuned into NPR this weekend, you might have heard Ari Picker of Lost in the Trees on All Things Considered. Ari talks about his new album A Church That Fits Our Needs, the death of his mother and the risk of getting to personal. You can listen to the piece on NPR's website now. Lost in the Trees' new album is out now and you can order it from the Trekky Records Online Store as well as other places music is sold!

Lost in the Trees' new album out today!

Happy release day to Lost in the Trees, whose beautiful album A Church That Fits Our Needs is out today on Trekky and Anti- Records. The New York Times has called it "a stirring blend of modest rusticity and urbane ambition", while NPR's Bob Boilen described it as "the sound of a band taking tragedy and coming to terms with it, finding beauty in a life too short and weaving bittersweet melody out of melancholy." We agree whole-heartedly, and can't wait to share the experience with you. You can now order the album from the Trekky Records Online Store, in both LP and CD versions.


Order now!

Stream new Lost in the Trees album at NPR First Listen

The wait is over! Today NPR’s First Listen premiered the highly anticipated new Lost in the Trees album A Church That Fits Our Needs. The album will be in stores March 20th via Anti- and Trekky Records.

A Church That Fits Our Needs is an ambitious work inspired by loss and transformation. In the summer of 2009, Ari Picker lost his mother when she took her own life. Picker has reconstructed the event into an evocative and moving musical celebration. Far from being a somber affair, the classically trained composer has utilized rhythm as its own emotional language, creating aggressive and engaging pieces filled with darkness and redemption. To stream this exhilarating new record in its entirety visit NPR First Listen now.

Lost in the Trees kicked off their international touring with a performance at the Jeff Mangum curated All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival on March 11th, followed by a run of appearances at South By Southwest this week in Austin, and then a full North American tour with Fleet Foxes members Christian Wargo’s and Casey Wescott’s new project Poor Moon in tow.

SXSW Schedule:
03-14 KUT Event @ Four Seasons, 7:00AM
03-15 ADA/WMG Day Party @ La Zona Rosa, 2:10PM
03-15 Big Star's Third "LIVE" @ Paramount Theater, 8:30PM
03-16 Under The Radar Party, 12:30PM
03-16 Play Network Day Party @ Speakeasy, 3:30PM
03-16 Billions Corporation Official SXSW showcase @ Antone's, 1 AM (Friday Night)

North American Tour Dates:
03-20 San Diego, CA - The Loft
03-22 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
03-23 Oakland, CA - Bottom of the Hill
03-24 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse
03-25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-27 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
03-28 Boise, ID -Neurolux
03-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
03-30 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
03-31 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
04-02 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
04-03 Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern
04-04 Evanston, IL - Space
04-05 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
04-09 Burlington, VT - Burlington City Arts Center
04-10 Portland, ME - Space Gallery
04-11 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
04-13 Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Arts
04-14 Washington, DC - Black Cat
04-20 Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle

MTV debuts new Midtown Dickens song, US tour announced

MTV Hive debuted a new song from Midtown Dickens' Home today. "Cross My Heart" is one of the darkest passages on Home, beginning with an ominous drone and an anxious finger-picked guitar and building into a tense wave of synths and bowed cymbals before breaking into a hopeful campfire sing-a-long. Home will be out on April 3, 2012 in Trekky Records' signature 3-part package, including an LP, CD and digital download. The band has also announced a US tour in support of home, including shows with Retribution Gospel Choir, Wooden Wand, and a stop at Portland's celebrated Pickathon Festival. Dates below:

04-07 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *
04-12 Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
04-13 Greensboro, NC - The Green Bean
04-19 Wilmington, NC - The Satellite
04-21 Pittsboro, NC - Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival
04-26 Washington DC - IOTA
04-27 Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool #
05-11 Charlottesville, VA - Tom Tom Festival
05-12 Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine
05-19 New Bern, NC - Broad St Social Club
06-01 Columbia, SC - Columbia Museum of Art
06-24 Ithaca, NY - Lot 10
06-25 Thomas, WV - Purple Fiddle
06-30 Minneapolis, MN - 1st Ave 7th St Entry
07-01 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club ~
07-02 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
07-03 Lexington, KY - Al's Bar %
07-05 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light
08-03 Portland, OR - Pickathon ^

* Album release w/ Kairaba
# with Retribution Gospel Choir
~ with The Daredevil Christopher Wright
% with Wooden Wand
^ with Neko Case, Blitzen Trapper, Bowerbirds, Phosphorescent, etc

MP3: Midtown Dickens - Only Brother [from the Home LP]

Video: Vibrant Green - "Hunny Bunny" @ Nightlight

Vibrant Green made a rare appearance at our Amalgam mixtape release show last Friday. Here's footage of them performing the unreleased "Hunny Bunny". Stephen Tunnell's backing band featured Emma Nadeau of Lost in the Trees, Yan Westerlund of Bowerbirds and Joe Norkus of Embarrassing Fruits.

Amalgam mixtape out now!

Introducing: Trekky Records. These are our friends, our sisters and brothers, our collaborators and advisers. This is our future as well as our past. These songs are an amalgamation of everything we've worked on for nearly 10 years, supporting each other as artists and picking up new friends along the way. Like the mixtapes you've received from friends and kindred spirits in the past, we hope Amalgam will introduce you to some new music that may come to shape your life, as it has shaped ours.

With contributions from Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Phil Cook & His Feat, Brice Randall Bickford, Butterflies, Vibrant Green and more, the mixtape features some our favorite songs from our past releases as well as brand new and unreleased gems. Amalgam is limited edition cassette tape that includes a digital download and is now available in the Trekky Records Online Store, as well as NC records stores. You can also download the whole mixtape for the price of your choosing ($0.00 is fine, we all gotta eat!) at Bandcamp. Enjoy!

New music from Vibrant Green on Amalgam mixtape

Vibrant Green, one of Trekky Records' first bands, hasn't released new music for over 6 years. Over that time, songwriter Stephen Tunnell has been slowly but surely building his canon of brilliant songs. Eventually, Ari Picker of Lost in the Trees (a long-tome devotee of Vibrant Green) convinced Stephen to record some of his new songs. The pair recorded a collection of 7 songs together, including "Rather", which now appears on our Amalgam mixtape. You can now stream and download "Rather" for a "pay-whatever-you-like" price. The mixtape itself comes out on March 6 and features songs from Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Phil Cook & His Feat, Brice Randall Bickford and many more. The release show is this Friday in Chapel Hill at Nightlight.

KCRW debuts new Lost in the Trees song

KCRW, one of the finest radio stations in the land, debuted Lost in the Trees' newest song today. "Golden Eyelids" is a dreamy track from the band's upcoming A Church That Fits Our Needs LP. The album will be out on March 20 on Trekky Records and Anti- Records, and the band will be traveling all over, bringing their intense and beautiful live show to the masses. See below for a video about the making of the new album, as well as upcoming tour dates, including a stop at Jeff Mangum's All Tomorrow's Parties Festival:




03-09 Minehead, UK - All Tomorrow's Parties
03-12 London, UK - The Lexington
03-16 Austin, TX - Antone's (SXSW)
03-20 La Jolla, CA - The Loft @ UCSD
03-22 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
03-23 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill
03-24 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse
03-25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-27 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
03-28 Boise, ID - Neurolux
03-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
03-30 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
03-31 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown
04-02 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Centre
04-03 Chicago, IL - Schubas
04-04 Evanston, IL - Space
04-05 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
04-06 Toronto, ON - Drake Hotel
04-07 Montreal, QC - Il Motore
04-09 Burlington, VT - Burlington City Arts Center
04-10 Portland, ME - Space
04-11 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
04-13 Boston, MA - Boston Museum Of Fine Arts
04-14 Washington, DC - The Black Cat
04-20 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

First song from Amalgam released

Our very first mixtape compilation, Amalgam, will be released in just a couple weeks. To give you a taste, we're releasing a selection from the tape, Brice Randall Bickford's "Working Woman/Lazy Demons". You can now stream and download the song for the cost of "name your own price". Feel free to name your price "zero", no big. The tape will contain selections from almost every Trekky Records artist and be released on a beautiful red cassette tape on March 6, 2012. NC folks should also join us for the release show on March 2, featuring performances by Butterflies, Phil Cook & His Feat, Vibrant Green and a special mystery guest band who you will not want to miss!

NPR makes Midtown Dickens' "Only Brother" Song of the Day

The unfailingly awesome folks at NPR Music have made Midtown Dickens' "Only Brother" their song of the day. Click here to stream the song and read NPR's take on it. Midtown Dickens' Home will be out on April 3, 2012 on Trekky Records. Also, keep an eye out for upcoming tour dates, including the band's release show at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC on April 7, 2012.

MP3: Midtown Dickens - Only Brother [from the Home LP]

Lost in the Trees Perform at Housing Works Benefit Show in NYC

This Friday (February 17th) Lost in the Trees will perform at Housing Works in NYC. The show is a benefit for Housing Works, with all of the proceeds from the show going to benefit HW's mission to end the dual crises of AIDS and homelessness in New York City. For more info on Housing Works, please visit their website.

The show will be extremely intimate with very limited tickets. Our friends Daytona (featuring Trekky alum Hunter Simpson) will open the show!

February 17, 2012

Live From Home with Lost in the Trees and Daytona

Housing Works - 126 Crosby St. New York, NY

Doors @ 7:30, Daytona opens

Tickets on sale now

Lost in the Trees Announce Album Release Show at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC

After travels that will take them as far as Jeff Mangum's ATP Festival in Minehead UK, SXSW in Austin Texas, the basement of Portland's Doug Fir, the Drake in Toronto, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and everywhere in between- our very own Lost in the Trees will return home on April 20th to headline a show at the Cat's Cradle- their beloved stomping grounds. The show will be the official album release party for their new record, "A Church That Fits Our Needs". Tickets are on sale now! For more info, visit the Facebook event

If you haven't yet, make sure to check out Lost in the Trees' stunning new video for "Red", the first single from A Church That Fits Our Needs. For more insight into the images and inspiration for the video, head over to NPR's All Songs Considered.

Lost in the Trees are on tour in March and April. Fleet Foxes side-project Poor Moon open most dates.

02-17 New York, NY - Housing Works#

03-09 Minehead, UK - All Tomorrow's Parties^
03-12 London, UK - The Lexington
03-16 Austin, TX - Antone's (SXSW)
03-19 Tucson, AZ - Plush*
03-20 La Jolla, CA - The Loft @ UCSD*
03-22 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo*
03-23 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill*
03-24 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse*
03-25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge*
03-27 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern*
03-28 Boise, ID - Neurolux*
03-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room*
03-30 Denver, CO - Hi Dive*
03-31 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown*
04-02 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center*
04-03 Chicago, IL - Schubas*
04-04 Evanston, IL - Space*
04-05 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center*
04-06 Toronto, ON - Drake Hotel*
04-07 Montreal, QC - Il Motore*
04-09 Burlington, VT - Burlington City Arts Center*
04-10 Portland, ME - Space*
04-11 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge*
04-13 Boston, MA - Boston Museum Of Fine Arts*
04-14 Washington, DC - The Black Cat*

04-20 Carrboro, NC - The Cat's Cradle

#with Daytona

^with Jeff Mangum, The Magnetic Fields, Joanna Newsom, Thurston Moore, Boredoms, Earth, Sun Ra Arkestra, etc

*with Poor Moon

NPR dubuts new Lost in the Trees music video

NPR Music were kind enough to debut the new Lost in the Trees music video for "Red". The video was filmed in North Carolina and features a series of haunting images, some stop-motion animation and of course, Lost in the Trees' thrilling new song. For more insight into the images in the video, visit All Songs Considered.

Lost in the Trees announce US, Canada and UK tour dates

Lost in the Trees will hit the road this Spring in support of their upcoming A Church That Fits Our Needs LP, travelling all over the United States and dipping into Canada and the UK. All dates with new Fleet Foxes side project, Poor Moon, except for UK dates, which include Jeff Mangum's All Tomorrow's Parties festival with The Magnetic Fields, Joanna Newsom and many more! Check the dates below for your nearest show:

03-09 Minehead, UK - All Tomorrow's Parties
03-12 London, UK - The Lexington
03-16 Austin, TX - Antone's (SXSW)
03-20 La Jolla, CA - The Loft @ UCSD
03-22 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
03-23 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill
03-24 Arcata, CA - Arcata Playhouse
03-25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-27 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
03-28 Boise, ID - Neurolux
03-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
03-30 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
03-31 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown
04-02 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Centre
04-03 Chicago, IL - Schubas
04-04 Evanston, IL - Space
04-05 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
04-06 Toronto, ON - Drake Hotel
04-07 Montreal, QC - Il Motore
04-09 Burlington, VT - Burlington City Arts Center
04-10 Portland, ME - Space
04-11 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
04-13 Boston, MA - Boston Museum Of Fine Arts
04-14 Washington, DC - The Black Cat

MP3: Lost in the Trees - Red [from the A Church That Fits Our Needs LP]

Video: LIVE! from Trekky House II: Midtown Dickens

We continue our LIVE! From Trekky House video series today with a performance by Midtown Dickens. The band chose to play on the Blue Bird school bus at Trekky House, wanting to be outside but taking shelter from the rainy day. They play a stripped down version of "Only Brother", the first single from their upcoming Home. The album will be out April 3 on Trekky Records. Special thanks to guest cameraman D. L. Anderson.

MP3: Midtown Dickens - Only Brother [from the Home LP]

Trekky Records presents: Amalgam, a Mixtape Compilation

Introducing: Trekky Records. These are our friends, our sisters and brothers, our collaborators and advisers. This is our future as well as our past. These songs are an amalgamation of everything we've worked on for nearly 10 years, supporting each other as artists and picking up new friends along the way. Like the mixtapes you've received from friends and kindred spirits in the past, we hope Amalgam will introduce you to some new music that may come to shape your life, as it has shaped ours.

With contributions from Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Phil Cook & His Feat, Brice Randall Bickford, Butterflies, Vibrant Green and more, the mixtape features some our favorite songs from our past releases as well as brand new and unreleased gems. The compilation will be issued as a limited edition cassette tape, and also be available for digital download on March 6, 2012.

To celebrate the release of the tape, we'll be hosting a release show at Nightlight in Chapel Hill, NC, on March 2, 2012. Butterflies, Phil Cook & His Feat, Vibrant Green and a very special surprise guest band will perform, and it'll be your first chance to get your hands on Amalgam. Hope to see you there!

Phil Cook contributes new song to hymn compilation

Phil Cook contributes a song to the upcoming Hymns From The Gathering Church compilation, a collection of traditional hymns performed by various North Carolina musicians. Phil's track is a rendition of "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms", a popular hymn composed in 1887 by Elisha Hoffman and Anthony Showalter. You can listen to and buy the track here.

If that's not enough Phil Cook for you, you can still order Phil Cook and His Feat's critically acclaimed 2011 album, Hungry Mother Blues from the Trekky Records Online Store.

Midtown Dickens release first single from Home

Midtown Dickens' have released the first single from their upcoming Home LP, a gorgeous folk song called "Only Brother". The song explores reincarnation, god and place, inspired by the story of an animal psychic traveling back in time to heal a wolf's broken leg. Intertwining acoustic guitars, slide mandolin, and an unlikely clarinet solo fill out the composition, Midtown Dickens' most striking statement to date. Shuffle Magazine is debuting the track today.

Home will be released in Trekky's signature LP+CD+MP3 package on April 3, 2012.

Watch a teaser trailer of Midtown Dickens in the studio:

Lost in the Trees announce new album, NPR debuts first single

It gives us great honor to share with you the details of Lost In The Trees' newest statement, a devastating and beautiful album titled A Church That Fits Our Needs, to be released by ANTI- and Trekky Records on March 20, 2012. It is a work of vaulting ambition, a cathedral built on loss and transformation. Visit NPR's All Songs Considered to hear "Red", the stunning first single.

In the summer of 2009, Ari Picker lost his mother, an artist in her own right, when she took her own life. Picker set about transforming the events into a musical tribute, composing and writing with his mother’s picture above his desk: the same picture that will now grace the album’s cover.
“I wanted to give her a space, in the music, to be, and to become all the things she didn’t get a chance to be when she was alive,” Picker says.

As on 2010's All Alone In An Empty House, Picker has again surrounded himself with musicians who bring his vision to life with verve and sensitivity. A special contribution comes in the vocals of Emma Nadeau, whose soaring, wordless melodies counter Picker’s ecstatic vocals throughout. Recorded and produced by Picker in North Carolina, the album was mixed by the legendary Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck), bringing out the lush tones of the orchestrations in their full grandeur.



Tracklist:

01. Moment One
02. Neither Here Nor There
03. Red
04. Golden Eyelids
05. Icy River
06. Tall Ceilings
07. Moment Two
08. The Dead Bird Is Beautiful
09. Garden
10. Villain
11. An Artist's Song
12. Vines

For a glimpse into the process of making the album, check out this lovely video: