Music

20+ years of Fancy Trash music

For over two decades, Fancy Trash has been releasing their unique indie folk / folk rock / indie rock to the world. The band self-produced the first three releases in their own basement studio — the self-titled debut in 2003, the “Weighted Down” EP in 2005, and the full-length “Three Cheers for the Cheated” in 2006. Three Cheers was picked up by Nine Mile Records for release in 2006. In 2009, the band recorded “For the Kids” at Bank Row Studios in Greenfield, MA with engineer and producer Justin Pizzoferato, which was self-released. 2012 saw the recording and release of “AS IS,” a more electric and punk-influenced set of songs. That album was again recorded with Justin Pizzoferato, but this time at Sonelab in Easthampton, MA. In 2020, the band went back to Sonelab to record a few songs, once again with Justin. To date, they have released “Ain’t About Truth” from those recordings.

In 2023, a collection of lost live-in-the-studio recordings of songs from the band’s first five years were unearthed. These songs were captured with a six-piece version of the band at The Pushkin in Greenfield, MA in 2007 but lost in a box for 16 years. The band sent these tracks over to renowned mixing engineer Mark Alan Miller at Sonelab in Easthampton, MA to be mixed. Then, they were passed on to Jonathan Wyner at M-Works Mastering in Boston, MA for the final polish. Three singles have been released from this group of songs: Nestles, Lost in the Evening, and Missing Elvis. This new album of 15 songs rescued from history was released on November 10, 2023 on the band’s own Brave Tiger Records. Learn more about The Pushkin Sessions.

The Pushkin Sessions

Released November 10, 2023 on Brave Tiger Records

15 songs from the first five years of Fancy Trash — recorded in 2007, lost in a storage bin for 16 years, unearthed in 2023.

Learn more about the Pushkin Sessions.

The Pushkin Sessions band:

Dave Houghton: Vocals and acoustic guitar
Joshua Thayer: Upright bass, backing vocals
Ben Laine: Drums, percussion
Jason Smith: Drums, percussion
Katy Schneider: Lap steel, pedal steel, bouzouki, backing vocals
Thane Thomsen: Piano, keyboards

Recorded by Max Adam at The Pushkin, Greenfield, MA, November 2007. Mixed by Mark Alan Miller at Sonelab, Easthampton, MA, May 2023. Mastered by Jonathan Wyner at M-Works Mastering, Boston, MA, June 2023.

Buy on Bandcamp.

Nestles (The Pushkin Sessions) — single

Released October 6, 2023 on Brave Tiger Records

“Nestles” is the third single from the upcoming “The Pushkin Sessions” from Fancy Trash. The full set of songs that comprise “The Pushkin Sessions” — an album of tracks recorded live in the studio in 2007 and unmixed until 16 years later — will be released on November 10, 2023.

Buy on Bandcamp

Lost in the Evening (The Pushkin Sessions) — single

Released September 8, 2023 on Brave Tiger Records

“Lost in the Evening” is the second single from the upcoming “The Pushkin Sessions” from Fancy Trash. The full set of songs that comprise “The Pushkin Sessions” — an album of tracks recorded live in the studio in 2007 and unmixed until 16 years later — will be released on November 10, 2023.

Buy on Bandcamp

Missing Elvis (The Pushkin Sessions) — single

Released August 11, 2023 on Brave Tiger Records

“Missing Elvis” is the first single from the upcoming “The Pushkin Sessions” from Fancy Trash. The full set of songs that comprise “The Pushkin Sessions” — an album of tracks recorded live in the studio in 2007 and unmixed until 16 years later — will be released on November 10, 2023.

Buy on Bandcamp

Ain’t Album Truth — single

Released September 19, 2020

“Ain’t About Truth” written by Dave Houghton and Fancy Trash.

Dave Houghton: Vocals, guitar, tambourine
Jason Smith: Drums
Ray Mason: Bass

Special guests:

Peyton Pinkerton: Additional guitar
Debra DeMuth: Background vocals

Recorded August 21 and 22, 2019 at Sonelab Studios, Easthampton, MA

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Justin Pizzoferrato.
Additional recording at Burgundy Lounge Studio by Dave Houghton.
Produced by Dave and Justin.

Artwork by Max Germer.

Buy on Bandcamp

AS IS

Released September 22, 2012

Dave Houghton: Acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, bouzouki, Harmonium, auto-harp and wurlitzer piano
Paul Kochanski: Upright and electric bass, vocals
JasoN Smith: Drums and percussion

{THE SECRET WEAPON}
Katy Schneider: Pedal Steel and Lap Steel

Recorded by Justin Pizzoferrato at Sonelab, Easthampton, MA, May, 2012, and Slaughterhouse, Westhampton, MA, March, 2011.

Produced and mixed by Justin Pizzoferratto and Fancy Trash.

Mastered by Carl Saff of Saff Mastering, Chicago, IL.

Art and Design by J. Johnson at DesignFarm, Easthampton, MA.

For The Kids

Released November 21, 2009

Jason Smith: Drums, percussion, and glockenspiel
Paul Kochanski: Upright bass
Dave Houghton: Acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica, bouzouki, piano, harmonium, autoharp, and dobro

The Guests:
Matt Cullen: Electric Guitar on tracks 2 and 6
Jazer Giles: Accordian on track 3
Katy Schneider: Pedal Steel on tracks 1, 3, and 4. Lap Steel on tracks 5 and 7. Vocals on tracks 3, 4, 6, and 7
Thane Thomsen: Piano on track 7

Justin Pizzoferrato recorded the drums, bass, guitar, harmonica, and vocals live on March 2 and 3, 2009 at Bank Row studios in Greenfield, MA. Additional acoustic guitars, vocals, and percussion were recorded on tracks 8 and 9 by Justin on April 6, 2009. All other instruments and track 10 were recorded by Dave Houghton in May 2009 except for Thane’s and Katy’s tracks, which they recorded on their own. (Thank you.)

Mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato July 2 and 3, 2009.

Mastered by JJ Golden at Golden Mastering Ventura California
Artwork by David Gloman
Design by Moira Greto

Three Cheers for the Cheated

Released 2006 on Nine Mile Records

Dave Houghton: vocals, guitars, bouzouki, harmonica, slide guitar
Joshua Thayer: upright bass, dobro
Ben Laine: drums, percussion

Recorded by Joshua Thayer at Brave Tiger Studio, Hadley, MA.

Tulips and Lost in the Evening recorded by Dave Stearns at Futura Productions, Roslindale, MA.

Mixed by Dan Richardson up in The Basement, Northampton, MA.

Mastered by JJ, Golden Mastering, Ventura, CA

Front cover photo courtesy of Jeff Riggs. (www.FishermansExpress.com, used by permission).

Weighted Down

Released 2005 on Brave Tiger Records

Dave Houghton: vocals, guitars, bouzouki, harmonica, slide guitar
Joshua Thayer: upright bass, trombone on Let Me Be the Fool
Ben Laine: drums, percussion

Recorded and mixed by Joshua Thayer at Brave Tiger, Hadley, MA

Except Weighted, Impossible, and Days That I Don’t: Mixed by Dan Richardson up in The Basement, Northampton, MA

Mastered by Dan Richardson

Photographs from stock.xchng (www.sxh.hu), by Matt Williams

Fancy Trash

The first self-titled album from Fancy Trash

Released August 23, 2003 on Brave Tiger Records / Shika-La Records

Dave Houghton: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, electric guitar
Joshua Thayer: upright bass, electric piano, synth, dobro on “Windows”
Jason Smith: drums, percussion, backing vocals on “In the Rain”

Additional Musicians:
Bob Hennessy: dobro, mandolin on In The Rain, Something Special, Wants Not to Love
Bruce Tull: pedal steel on Hollywood

Recorded & Mixed by Joshua Thayer
Recorded at Brave Tiger / Hadley, MA
Drums recorded by James Smola at Rumblefish Studio, Hadley, MA
Mastered by Dan Richardson up in The Basement / Northampton, MA

Bob Hennessy appears courtesy Spirithouse Records
Bruce Tull appears cortesy of Subpop Records

Photography / Design: Joshua Thayer