hitting the trail

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead is an art rock band. According to the band's website, their name is taken from an ancient Mayan ritual chant which shows a striking similarity to an ancient Egyptian chant. However, this explanation is said to be merely an ongoing joke. The chief creative elements of the band are Jason Reece and Conrad Keely. The two switch between drumming and lead vocals and guitar, both on their records and during their shows. (On some songs, former bass player Neil Busch sang lead vocals).

Band history

Formation

Keely and Reece have been friends since their youth, meeting originally in Hawaii. They each formed their first band in 1993, soon after moving to Olympia, Washington, where Keely studied at The Evergreen State College. Keely started a band called Benedict Gehlen that only lasted a year. Nancyville was Keely's next project, though it also was short-lived. Reece played drums with Honeybucket and then queercore band Mukilteo Fairies while living in Olympia. The two moved to Austin, Texas and started playing as a duo under the moniker, You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. The band expanded to include guitarist Kevin Allen and bassist Neil Busch. They then officially lengthened their name to ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. Conrad's girlfriend from Olympia, Deanne Rowley (now Deanne McAdams), of Plain Jane, Pro-Ex Marauders, and currently Leopards (and occasionally Dead Air Fresheners), briefly played with them as a back-up guitarist, but never appeared on any recordings. The band is frequently known by abbreviated versions of its name, such as 'Trail of Dead'.

Rise and success (1995-2002)

By 1995, they had issued their first release (one song on cassette-only compilation called Austin Live Houses Golden Hour Records), followed by another self-titled four song cassette on Golden Hour, and in January 1998 a self-titled full-length on Trance Syndicate.

Trail of Dead soon moved on to Merge after the Trance label went defunct. The band released Madonna on Merge in late 1999, and toured the U.S. opening for labelmates Superchunk to promote it. They signed to Interscope Records and released the Relative Ways EP in 2001.

In early 2002, the Trail of Dead released Source Tags & Codes which received universal acclaim, including a 10/10 rating from Pitchfork Media, later saying it is "one of indie rock's truly epic albums".

Post-Source Tags era (2002-present)

A follow-up EP to Source Tags & Codes was released in April 2003, titled The Secret of Elena's Tomb. The EP featured contained the electronic track "Intelligence" which featured, and was co-written by, Tyler Jacobson from A Roman Scandal, Reece's other band.

In July 2004 it was announced that Neil Busch was ejected from the band and Danny Wood had taken his place on bass. Second drummer/percussionist Doni Schroader also joined the band around this time. Trail of Dead released Worlds Apart on January 25, 2005. The next album, So Divided, was released on November 14, 2006.

In late summer of 2007, the Trail of Dead once again toured Europe, this time with drummer Aaron Ford replacing Doni Schroader. The band provided the soundtrack to the 2007 film Hell on Wheels, a documentary about the formation of Roller Derby in Austin, Texas. After their overseas tour ended on March 15, 2007, the Trail of Dead returned to the studio to begin recording their sixth record. The band is currently independent, having recently left Interscope Records.

In early 2008, Trail of Dead went back into the studio, without a record contract. Using their own capital, they filmed their recording experiences via YouTube videos. They have reportedly finished the album, and are due to release the as-yet-untitled work in 2009. On October 21, they will release an EP, resembling more an "album teaser", titled Festival Thyme.

Discography

Albums

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (20 January 1998)
Madonna (October 19, 1999)
Source Tags & Codes (February 26, 2002)
Worlds Apart (January 24, 2005)
So Divided (November 14, 2006)
TBA (January, 2009)

Singles

2000 "Mistakes & Regrets" UK #69
2002 "Another Morning Stoner" UK #54
2002 "Relative Ways" UK #84
2004 "Worlds Apart"
2005 "And the Rest Will Follow" UK #77
2006 "A Classic Art Showcase" UK Download Chart #49
2006 "Wasted State of Mind"

EPs

Self-titled CD-R (Oct. 1998, self-released) (Limited edition of 60; all three songs would later appear on Madonna)
Relative Ways (November 6, 2001)
The Secret of Elena's Tomb (April 1, 2003)
Festival Thyme (October 21, 2008)