Cafe DuNord
July 20, 2003
Review by Janet Flemer
I was standing in line for the afternoon Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Player's show; an all ages show, with lots of hipster kids and their parents. I'd just finished telling my friend about a boy I knew in college who was also named Trachtenberg, and who was a triplet. For some reason I turned around in line, and there he was. I of course said HEY, so are you any relation? Turns out it was spelled differently, but he brought his whole family, mom, dad, both siblings, and all their kids, to see the show. I was very happy for him that there was an afternoon show so he could do that.
He'd never heard their music, and neither had I, but I'd read about how they are a married couple who buy other people's family slides and make up songs about the pictures, and their daughter Rachel, who's about 9, plays the drums. I love other people's slides, especially really old ones, and most of all if the people in them are drunk or have really ugly furniture.
It was a long time before the show started, and my Trachtenburg friend and I got all caught up, and I met his whole family. Between them all there were about 5 kids. I ended up sitting near them, as they'd found space on the little platform area. Everyone else was sitting on the floor, and I don't do that, so I had found seemingly the only other chair in the room, which was right by the stage. Sadly, I did not have a clear view of Rachel. She looks a lot like my niece, who's about the same age.
The TFSP invited some of the kids from the audience to come up and jam, and my friend's little girl went up with her cousin, and they completely froze. They were able to stammer their names, but when the performing dad had no reaction at all to the fact that their last name is Trachtenberg too, they didn't know what to do. Their dads were really nice to them about it. Around this time I heard my friend tell his brother, "Well, Dad's asleep."
Finally they began their songs. I was happy with the slide selection, and the songs went with them perfectly. Probably the best were a series of slides of two retired nurses who had a *lot* of parties. One of the songs featured the rhyme, "drunken uncle" and "Simon and Garfunkel". It really doesn't get much better.
Rachel chided her dad a couple of times. Apparently the night before, when they'd played two shows, she'd been extra feisty and he'd said, "Oh someone needs a nap." She shot back "I've played TWO shows already, and I'm NOT tired." They had, however, not showed up for a Saturday morning local news show.
Afterwards I checked in with the other Trachtenburgs. My friend's son, about 12, I think, grumbled that it was "a rip-off", and "that guy was geeky", but I still think it was a great idea for a family outing.
I told Rachel she's the luckiest girl in the world, and she gave me a thin-lipped smile. I still think she is.
Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players
){kind=link}
)
)
)
)
©2003 playinginfog.com