At age nine, Rachel Trachtenburg is the drummer for New York City's own Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. The band formed in 2000 in Seattle Washington when mom Tina and dad Jason took daughter Rachel to estate sales where they found various personal slide collections. They came up with the idea to write lyrics and music to accompany the slides. Dad plays guitar, piano, and sings. Mom takes care of the slide projections and Rachel plays the drums and sings. Their lyrics are about trips to Japan, fondue with friends, eggs, and McDonalds corporate strategies. Hilarious, political, and simply entertaining, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players have found a shtick that has quickly taken them from the local bars and clubs of Seattle and NYC to having national recognition.

The band has toured as openers for They Might Be Giants. They have appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and have been featured in countless local and national magazines. Rachel's picture appeared along side White Stripes' Meg White in an issue of SPIN magazine where the two were compared. (Both drummergirls sport the brunette dual ponytail look as well as their love for playing the drums.) Mind you, none of this has gone to Rachel's head. She neither seems phased by all of the attention nor made nervous when appearing in front of large crowds of people. Tina confessed to me that when they were on Conan, she and Jason both were sweaty, shaking and fighting dry mouth as Rachel calmly played her drums and sang.

One might envision Rachel as a freakish prodigy or an exploited child of over zealous parents. Neither case applies. She is the product of a warm, alternative household void of fast food, TV, and public school. Aside from going to bed between two and three in the morning and living the life of a regularly gigging musician, Rachel is pretty much a normal nine-year old kid. She likes to hang out with her friends and play with squishy eyeball toys, go swimming, and eat pizza. (She prefers, however, authentic Italian pizza to the regular kind.) A bit more shy and quiet when she is one-on-one, it was not always a cinch to get her to expound on certain topics. None-the-less, I had a brief and charming chat with the youngest rock star of today.

Christy: Is this your first interview for the Internet?
(Rachel looks over to her father)
Rachel: Daddy, is this my first interview for the Internet?
(Jason interjects with: No, your first one was earlier today with Williamsburg.com)

Christy: Ok, so it's your second Internet interview. Tell me what makes The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players different from most bands.
Rachel: Well, we show slides and we're a family band.

Christy: Well, I'd say it's pretty unique that you play drums for the band and you're only 9 years old!
(Rachel smiles and shrugs)

Christy: How long have you been playing the drums?
Rachel: Three years

Christy: So you started when you lived in Seattle.
Rachel: Yeah.

Christy: What do you like about living in New York?
Rachel: I think it's very interesting and fun.

Christy: What do you miss about living in Seattle?
Rachel: I miss the weather and I miss my friends from my old school.

Christy: I know you're home schooled here in New York. Do you like being home schooled?
Rachel: It's ok.

Christy: Is there anything you miss about public school?
Rachel: I liked hanging out with all my friends.

Christy: Do you spend much time practicing the drums?
Rachel: Well, some of our shows are kind of like practice for me.

Christy: The performance itself is like practicing for you?
Rachel: Sometimes, yeah.

Christy: So, when you're not doing a show, do you practice with your dad?
Rachel: Well, sometimes we'll get a rehearsal studio, but we don't really practice a lot.

Christy: Do you use a practice pad or anything like that?
Rachel: When we're at the studio I'll use a drum kit, but if I practice at home, I'll sometimes use a drum pad.

Christy: I noticed that you play the high hat left-handed. Are you left-handed?
Rachel: No, I'm right- handed.

Christy: It's just more comfortable for you?
Rachel: Yeah, and I just like to play that way, but on {our song} "Look at Me", I play right- handed.

Christy: Is it because that song is more like a Waltz?
Rachel: Yeah, I'm doing a different beat.

Christy: Have you ever taken lessons?
Rachel: Yes. I took lessons in Seattle and I take lessons now too.

Christy: Do you know what kind of drum set you have?
Rachel: Do you mean what kind of pieces or what brand I use?

Christy: What brand.
Rachel: My daddy told me what brand of cymbals I use, but I forgot. They start with a "Z".

Christy: Zildjian?
Rachel: Yeah, that's what kind of cymbals I use. The snare we got from a friend and I don't know what brand it is. I don't know what the toms or anything else is.
Christy: That's all right. I don't think knowing what brand of drums you play is really all that important.

Christy: Do you read music?
Rachel: I do.

Christy: Do you get bored when you play live?
Rachel: Not usually, no.

Christy: I saw you yawn once during a show, so I thought maybe you got bored.
Rachel: Sometimes I get a little tired if I don't take a nap before.
I'm sometimes tired during a show, but I'm never tired after a show. I'm always hungry and wide- awake after a show.

Christy: So, I know you've played the bass with King Missile and Schwervon! What do you like about playing the bass opposed to playing the drums?
Rachel: I like being able to stand up and walk around when I'm playing. I think the bass is easy if you learn how to play the drums first. Or you could play the bass first and then the drums. They're very similar.

Christy: I noticed that you keep really good time on the bass as well as the drums.
Now, you've played bass with other bands. Do you think you'll have the opportunity to play bass with your own band?
Rachel: Maybe someday.
Christy: I guess it would be tough, 'cause then you'll have to find someone else to man the drums.
(Rachels smiles.)

Christy: Do you have any favorite drummers?
Rachel: I like the drummer from Quasi. I like the drummer from Bicycle and Schwervon! I like the drummer from They Might Be Giants. The Beatles. Led Zeppelin.

Christy: Aside from those bands, are there any others that you like?
Rachel: Let's see….I like Yellow, The Baby Skins, Regina Spector, Nellie Mckaye, Langhorne Slim, and Andrew Katz.

Christy: You like a lot of folks from the Sidewalk Café.
(The Sidewalk Café is where the "Anti-folk" movement began with acts such as The Moldy Peaches.)
Rachel: Yeah, I do.

Christy: Do your parents have any influence on what music you listen to?
Rachel: Some, I guess.

Christy: Do you like singers like Brittney Spears or bands like 'N*SYNC?
(Rachel shakes her head in a big "NO".)
Christy: Somehow I didn't think so, but I thought I'd ask.

Christy: What did you like best about touring with They Might Be Giants?
Rachel: I just think it was a really fun experience.

Christy: So you're now preparing to go on tour again with your band as the headliner.
What are you most excited about for that tour?
Rachel: I like traveling and staying in hotels. I like going swimming.

Christy: Do you picture yourself being a drummer when you're older?
Rachel: Yup.

Christy: Now, if for some bizarre, other- worldly influence you were not able to do this in the future, what do you think you'd like to do?
Rachel: Well, I like cooking.

Christy: What do you like to cook?
Rachel: I like cooking Mexican food.
Christy: Mmmm, I love Mexican food!

Christy: What are your plans for the summer?
Rachel: Tour and then be in Seattle for the summer 'cause my daddy can't stand the heat. He gets rashes between his fingers.

Christy: Yeah, the heat and humidity in New York City is a killer. Is your family in Seattle?
Rachel: Well, my grandma and grandpa did live there at a time, but then they moved back when we moved [to New York]. There was one time where my cousins and aunts and uncles all lived there, but now they all moved back to Texas.

Christy: Were you born in Seattle?
Rachel: Yes.

Christy: I know you like cooking Mexican food. What kind of food do you like to eat the most?
Rachel: I like Italian food. I don't like pizza made with a lot of cheese and big fluffy crust. I like Italian pizza. I like sushi. I like bagels. I like most all foods.

Christy: Do you eat meat?
Rachel: I don't eat red meat. I'll eat chicken if my grandpa makes a chicken mole or chicken and rice, but I usually don't eat it.

Christy: Is your grandpa Mexican?
Rachel: Yes, my grandpa and my grandma on my mommy's side. My dad's Jewish.

Christy: Do you watch much TV?
Rachel: Well, we have a teeny TV, but we'll watch a movie about once a month. We'll rent a video at the store like The Brady Bunch or H.R. Puff and Stuff.

Christy: How was it being on Late Night with Conan O'Brien?
Rachel: It was fun.

Christy: Did you meet Conan?
Rachel: I said, "Hi," to him after the show.

Christy: Who do you look up to?
Rachel: You mean, like a hero?
Christy: Yeah, I guess. Someone you admire a lot.
Rachel: A drummer?
Christy: It can be anyone.
Rachel: My mom.

The Slide Show Players' debut album, VINTAGE SLIDE COLLECTIONS FROM SEATTLE, VOL. 1 is due for national release September 23, 2003. Visit the website to pre-order.

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About the Author:
Christy Davis has been playing drums in New York City since 1989. She is currently drumming with Rebecca Moore and "Prevention of Blindness" as well as "Major Matt Mason" and the "Music for Aardvarks" band. When she is not drumming, Christy is busy taking care of her two- year old daughter, Stella. She and husband Charles own and operate the East Village gift shop, Exit 9.

© September, 2003 Happy Mazza Media, LLC.
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