When it all started out, Matthew, Noah, Tad and Michael weren’t really a ‘band’ exactly but the fruits this “not band” ended up being the much loved Fort Music EP earlier this year. Last spring, The Dead Trees self released Fort Music EP was widely supported through the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and landed these friends from Boston to supporting Albert Hammond, Jr. on a national tour. They just about burned down the Metro in Chicago, abandoned a broken down van somewhere in Iowa (which is heavily chronicled in Daytrotter.com) along the way playing shows that LA’s The House Of Blues in LA and Webster Hall in NYC.
Check out Day trotter: Find out about The Dead Trees AND the Van!
Listen to Shelter from King of Rosa!
The Dead Trees found a home with Milan Records and King Of Rosa will be released November 11th!
Portland Mercury: “The Dead Trees are recent Portland transplants who play charming, groovy rock 'n' roll with folksy twists, wordless falsetto backing vocals, and durable melodies. It's a sound that's either lost in time or perfectly of the now....”
Matthew, Noah, Tad and Michael began work on what would become the Fort Music EP. They were longtime friends and had played around Boston in various configurations for years. Michael and Noah has recently played with local friends Drug Rug. When the boys gathered in Dec ’06 to record some new songs of Michael’s there were no grand plans to see through or deadlines to meet. They had an engineer friend and a couple hundred bucks and some notions about maybe making some back to basics rock and roll. Luckily for everyone, that approach seemed to work just fine, and after two weeks in an Allston, MA basement they had Fort Music all wrapped up and, more importantly, were most definitely a band. Fort Music EP was widely supported through the Coalition Of Independent Music Stores in spring, 2008.
These modest beginnings play out in the The Dead Trees’ music in the best way – there’s no artifice here, not much “production” to speak of, just a bunch of good musicians doing what comes naturally on a batch of deceptively elegant songs. Two guitars, background vocals here and there, a manic drum fill when necessary. It all feels easy and right. Says Michael: “We don’t deprive any of our songs. They’re like our children, all different and each as important as the next. We're just borrowing from our heroes and trying to raise a family.”
Since those basement sessions things have happened pretty fast – the band sent some CDs around, and next thing you know The Dead Trees were supporting Albert Hammond, Jr. on a national tour, did The House Of Blues in LA, Webster Hall in NYC, just about burned down the Metro in Chicago, and abandoned a broken down van somewhere in Iowa. There were showcases at Spaceland and Mercury Lounge and interest at labels was piqued. Now being represented by the management duo of Bryna Gootkind (Melissa Ferrick, Port O’Brien) and Ryan Gentles (The Strokes, Albert Hammond, Jr.), they’ve relocated to Portland, Oregon where they set to work on their debut LP, King Of Rosa. After signing a Japan-only deal with Japan’s leading indie label Five Many Army, the band was invited to perform at the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo and Osaka in the summer of 2008 in support of the upcoming release.
Upcoming Show:
Sept 24th Portland, Oregon @ Someday w/The Donkeys, Inside Voices
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