Jump to content

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

From Alfawiki
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1994
FounderConrad Keely, Jason Reece
Defunct2023 (inactive)
FateNo immediate plans to tour or record; active but on hiatus
Headquarters
Austin
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Conrad Keely, Jason Reece
ProductsStudio albums, EPs, live recordings, singles
Websitewww.trailofdead.com

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead—commonly referred to as Trail of Dead—is an alternative rock group originating from Austin, Texas, formed in 1994. The initial consistent lineup comprised Conrad Keely, Jason Reece, Kevin Allen, and Neil Busch, with Keely and Reece serving as the principal members throughout most of the band's existence. Renowned for their vigorous live shows, Trail of Dead cultivated a devoted fanbase. Between 1998 and 2023, their discography grew to include eleven studio albums, five EPs, one live record, and twenty-two singles. All album visuals were designed by Keely, who is also a painter, often incorporating recurring mythological and historical motifs.

Their most recent studio release, XI: Bleed Here Now, came out on July 15, 2022. In February 2023, the band posted "Trail closed" on Instagram, triggering speculation about a possible breakup. Although still active, Conrad Keely clarified that there are no immediate plans to tour or create new music in the traditional sense, citing exhaustion from a challenging final tour and the difficulties smaller bands face in today’s music landscape.

Origins

Keely and Reece, longtime acquaintances from Hawaii, began their musical careers in Olympia, Washington, where Keely attended The Evergreen State College. In the early 1990s, Keely formed a band with bassist James Olsen and guitarist Paul Westmoreland that eventually became "Benedict Gehlen," lasting until 1993. Subsequently, Keely joined Nancyville while Reece played drums with Honeybucket and the queercore group Mukilteo Fairies. Both musicians later moved to Austin, Texas and created a duo called "You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead," which expanded to include guitarist Kevin Allen and bassist Neil Busch. At this point, they officially adopted the full name ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. Deanne Rowley (later McAdams), Keely’s girlfriend from Olympia, briefly contributed as a live backup guitarist.

The band's name is inspired by an ancient Mayan ritual chant that bears resemblance to an ancient Egyptian chant; however, the band has also described this origin story as humorous or tongue-in-cheek.

Growth and achievements (1995–2006)

In 1995, Trail of Dead debuted with the track "Novena Without Faith" on the cassette-only compilation Austin Live Houses, followed by a self-released four-song cassette under Golden Hour Records. Their first full-length album appeared in January 1998 via Trance Syndicate.

Following the dissolution of Trance Syndicate, they signed with Merge Records, releasing Madonna in late 1999 and touring across the U.S. as openers for labelmates Superchunk. Subsequently, they joined Interscope Records and put out the Relative Ways EP in 2001.

Their 2002 album Source Tags & Codes received critical acclaim, including a flawless 10/10 rating from Pitchfork Media, later recognized as "one of indie rock's truly epic albums." Their following tour was lauded by Rolling Stone for its intense energy.

April 2003 saw the release of the EP The Secret of Elena's Tomb, which included the electronic track "Intelligence," co-written with Tyler Jacobson from Reece’s side project A Roman Scandal.

In July 2004, bassist Neil Busch was succeeded by Danny Wood, and percussionist Doni Schroader joined the lineup. The band issued Worlds Apart on January 25, 2005, accompanied by music videos for singles "And the Rest Will Follow" and "Caterwaul." Keyboardist David Longoria joined them for tours. Now performing as a six-piece ensemble featuring dual drummers, they embarked on extensive tours known for their explosive stage presence. The early part of this tour featured Longoria’s own band The Black, with Longoria on vocals alongside guitarist Alan Schaefer.

Their fifth studio album, So Divided, was released on November 14, 2006. Clay Morris replaced Longoria as live keyboardist before becoming an official member.

On April 26, 2005, their track "Will You Smile Again For Me" was featured in season four’s episode "Hurt" of The Shield.

Post-Interscope period (2007–2023)

During the late summer of 2007, Trail of Dead embarked on a European tour with Aaron Ford stepping in as drummer, replacing Doni Schroader. Around this time, Danny Wood quietly exited the group and was succeeded by Jay Leo Phillips. The band contributed music to the 2007 documentary Hell on Wheels, which focused on Austin’s roller derby scene. After concluding their tour in March 2007, they returned to the studio to work on their sixth studio album. In October of that year, they joined virtual band Dethklok as supporting act on an Adult Swim college tour. That same month marked their departure from Interscope Records, citing insufficient support, and the band transitioned to operating independently.

Without a label in early 2008, Trail of Dead financed their own studio sessions and shared the recording process via YouTube. October 2008 saw the release of the EP Festival Thyme, serving as a preview for their upcoming full-length album. Their 13-track album, The Century of Self, followed in February 2009. In September 2010, Conrad Keely revealed plans for a new album slated for 2011, produced by Chris "Frenchie" Smith, who was also tasked with remixing their debut record. On November 10, 2010, they officially announced their seventh album, Tao of the Dead, scheduled for North American release on February 8, 2011. The band’s lineup was streamlined to a core quartet after Jay Phillips, Clay Morris, and longtime guitarist Kevin Allen departed under undisclosed circumstances. Aaron Ford handled drum recordings for Tao of the Dead but left the group shortly afterward. New members bassist Autry Fulbright II and drummer/guitarist Jamie Miller were introduced during a live performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in February 2011.

In 2012, Trail of Dead recorded fresh material in Hanover, Germany with producer Frenchie Smith and engineer Mirko Hofmann. On August 22, they announced their eighth studio album, Lost Songs, releasing the track "Up To Infinity," dedicated to Pussy Riot. The album’s artwork was unveiled in September alongside the release of "Catatonic" on Spotify.

May 2013 brought the launch of the EP Tao of the Dead Part III through PledgeMusic pre-orders. In February 2014, the band announced a limited U.S. tour featuring performances of material from Source Tags & Codes and revealed intentions to record a sequel to Tao of the Dead. April 2014 saw the release of Live at Rockpalast 2009. By August, they introduced their ninth studio album, IX, through an innovative online jigsaw puzzle campaign; Pitchfork characterized it as a pivotal moment for the group. Following extensive touring, Conrad Keely relocated to Cambodia and released his solo debut Original Machines in 2016. In November 2017, Trail of Dead announced a European tour commemorating the 20th anniversary of their second album, Madonna, performing it in its entirety.

On November 14, 2019, the band unveiled "Don't Look Down," the lead single from their tenth album, X: The Godless Void and Other Stories, followed by "Into the Godless Void" on December 6.

Their most recent release, XI: Bleed Here Now, arrived in 2022 featuring quadraphonic sound mixing. After posting an enigmatic "Trail closed" message on Instagram, speculation about disbandment circulated. Keely later confirmed that ongoing challenges within the industry affecting smaller acts combined with financial limitations related to touring led him to decide against extensive touring moving forward. Nonetheless, Trail of Dead is set to embark on an Australian tour scheduled for December 2025.

Musical style and influences

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead have acknowledged a diverse range of artists as inspirations, such as Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield, Unwound, Karp, Sonic Youth, Pink Floyd, the Who, and Genesis.

Personnel

Last roster
  • Conrad Keely – lead vocals, guitar (1994–2023); piano and keyboards (2010–2020); drums (1994–2005, 2010–2011); bass guitar (1994–1995)
  • Jason Reece – drums, vocals, guitar (1994–2023); bass guitar (1994–1995)
  • Alec Padron – bass guitar (2019–2023)
  • Ben Redman – guitar, drums (2020–2023)
  • AJ Vincent – keyboards (2020–2023)
  • John Dowey – guitar (2022–2023)
Past members
  • Kevin Allen – guitar (1995–2010)
  • Neil Busch – bass guitar, vocals (1995–2005)
  • Danny Wood – bass guitar (2005–2007)
  • Jay Leo Phillips – bass guitar (2007–2010)
  • Autry Fulbright II – bass guitar, vocals (2010–2019)
  • Doni Schroader – percussion, drums (2005–2007)
  • Aaron Ford – percussion, drums (2007–2010)
  • Jamie Miller – guitar, drums (2011–2020)
  • David Longoria – keyboards (2005–2006)
  • Clay Morris – keyboards (2006–2010)

Discography

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=...And_You_Will_Know_Us_by_the_Trail_of_Dead&oldid=87347"