About this project
We are a somewhat nomadic band currently based out of Los Angeles, via Portland, New York and Boston. Over the past four years we have been lucky enough to have had some great opportunities, tour with some amazing bands, and meet some insane people.
We have made one EP and one LP and have gained the respect and ears of our peers. But, like many bands these days we have been victims of the ever-failing music industry. We've been under funded, overlooked, and underappreciated for years. So we decided to do something about it. We are currently making our greatest work to date here in LA in a studio in the Hollywood Hills called New King Sound. We have teamed up with producer Noah Georgeson (Little Joy, Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom) who has agreed to pretty much work on spec due to his faith in the project. So far we have had the help in the studio of friends in The Strokes, The Whigs, Adam Green, and Little Joy, and there is something magical going on.
The thing is we don't have any funding as we are in between labels and are currently unsigned. Before making the record we were unsure about signing to a label at all, except for the fact that a label can offer us something that working in a coffee shop can't; money. Lucky for us, we have a great friend named Jenny Eliscu ( Rolling Stone Magazine) who knew our situation and told us about this amazing site. We flipped out. So here we are 1/2 way through a great record, in debt 10,000 and totally excited about the prospect of being able to propose a trade with our fans.
Here is how everything breaks down:
$10,600 - Recording Expenses
$1750 - a week mixing at Hanger Studio
$2500 - Mixing Engineer
$150 - misc. Expenses (gear/strings/sandwiches)
$2000 - mastering
$17000 - TOTAL
Remember, this doesn't even include CD/Vinyl pressing and manufacturing!
With all our friends chipping in to help, we can reach out to the blogging community, music magazines, and OUR FANS! We have total faith in our fans (YOU!) that they will buy our record, so why not pre-order?
We already feel like this record is a real communal effort and wouldn’t have come this far without the help of our friends. So why stop now? Let’s give this project the follow through it deserves! Help The Dead Trees create the record that you deserve to hear and we deserve to make. And at the same time lets get the word out about kickstarter.com so others can do the same!
~ The Dead Trees
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
139
Backers
$17,371
pledged of $17,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on June 16, 2010.
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
Dead Trees T Shirt Signed! Plus a Digital Download of the Record.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A drawing by Michael Ian Cummings just for you plus your choice of a CD or Vinyl, plus a Digital Download.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
A CD with customized, one-of-a-kind, original album artwork, and insert.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
A home recording of a cover of your choice!!! Plus a CD or Vinyl. Plus a Thank You in the Liner notes of the record artwork!
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
A Skype Lesson with any member of The Dead Trees! Noah for drums, Matt for Guitar, Todd for Bass, and Michael for songwriting!
Pledge $400 or more Pledge $400 or more
Be on the list for any Dead Trees Show for LIFE! Plus a CD or Vinyl
Pledge $3,500 or more Pledge $3,500 or more
We will come and play your party anywhere in the lower 48 States!!!
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
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. Now being represented by the management duo of Bryna Gootkind (Port O'Brien, Kaki King, Melissa Ferrick) and Ryan Gentles (The Strokes, Albert Hammond, Jr.), they've relocated to Portland, Oregon where they completed their debut LP, King Of Rosa, out now on Milan Records. After signing a Japan-only deal with Japan's leading indie label Five Man 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. 2009 saw the band supporting Adam Green, the Cribs and the Whigs from coast to coast.
