The Pretenders

I saw the Pretenders at First Avenue in Minneapolis last night and Chrissie Hynde was in fine voice and form, especially for someone who's 57. I have to admit, though, I did think about the Tracterz a number of times, especially during Message of Love and Thumbelina. They didn't play Middle of the Road for some reason, which was kind of disappointing.

A great NCNM photo

Just got this great photo from Jeff G. He said he contacted SD Public Broadcasting about putting the Tracterz's No cover No Minimum appearance up on their web site. They told him they didn't have the legal rights to do so but sent him this picture from the show instead. That's pretty cool on their part and on Jeff's for sending it along. Maybe I'll have to do some checking on who holds the rights to the video I see about getting a release. (You can click on the photo to see a bigger version.)

Old posts

Some of the older posts on this blog have gotten pushed off the page, but Tracterz fan Al added some comments about the early days of the band to one of them that I fear people could miss, so I encourage anyone who's interested to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of this page. Or just click here to go directly to that specific post.

Finally! Some Tracterz music for you

I finally figured out a way to make some music available from this page. I think I have mentioned before that I have a recording of the Tracterz doing the "No Cover No Minimum" show (which is still around I recently discovered while back in SD). If you would like to listen to it you can go here and click on the down arrow next to the file to download it. There are two files with Tracterz in the title and they are parts 1 and 2 of the show. I have not tried downloading them myself so if you do grab them post a comment or send me an email to let me know if it worked for you and how the sound is. Now if I only had the video for that show!

Some pictures from '82

Wow, a big thanks to Chad Coppess who sent these pictures. He tells me two shots are in the Dakota Dome during an all-night danceathon sometime in the spring semester of the 1981-82 school year. All the others are from Jan. 29, 1982 at the Old Style basement in Vermillion. This is a year or so before I really started following the band so it's a very different look than I remember.

Finally, some pictures

A big thanks to Jeff who just sent me some old posters. The first of these I have, but the other two I don't even remember. Well, as I look at them the third rings a bell, but only vaguely. I don't recall the bass player's name in the second one but I do remember he left the band not too long after I became a fan. I don't think there was a connection.

Where are they now?

Anyone else notice Dalyce in the latest SDSU Alumni magazine? Brad Roberson had mentioned in an email that her married name was Dalyce Sellers and she was living in Montana, but even without knowing that I think I would have recognized her in the picture, she looks so much like she did 20 years ago.

I mentioned before that Brad is still playing in a band and living out in DC. Last I heard Dave Fee is in North Carolina but I don't know if he is still playing music, tho I remember seeing him in the twin cities band Big and Scary ages ago. I know Lynn was living in Minneapolis back in the late 80s but I have no idea what has become of him. As I wrote below Steve has actually stumbled onto this site but he didn't let me know where he was or what he was up to.

Tracterz set list

I had almost given up but I finally came across my old set list. I'm guessing this was from one of their shows at the Safari in Brookings since that is where I saw them most often. Goo Goo Muck is on the list which was a Dave Fee song so it was from a show sometime after he joined the band. It might actually be from one of their last shows since She Bop is also on there and I don't think they started doing that one until close to the end. I can figure out most of the other songs on here with the exception of Time, 1/2, DU, and Go Home. If anyone knows those four post it in the comments. (You can click on the list for a bigger view.)

Can we talk?

I've had this site up for a couple weeks now and I'm pleased to see a few people have stumbled on to it. Not a ton, but every couple days someone new checks in. I don't have details about individuals but I get weekly traffic reports which show that many of them get directed here from the Tracterz page on the Miniwiki set up by Minnesota Public Radio. Now obviously most of those people have specifically gone looking for info on the Tracterz and must have been fans of the band at some time. If you're one of those people I ask that you please consider leaving a comment. C'mon, it's easy. Just click where it says "comments" right next to the time at the bottom of each individual post. You don't have to leave your name, maybe just mention where you used to see the Tracterz or what you remember about them or how much you miss being able to go out and drink beer and listen to music every night. I'm hoping that as time goes by people might rediscover some old friends or just have fun reminiscing about how much fun we all used to have.

By the way, for those of you new to the blog format, the posts run in reverse chronological order so if you want to read this site "as written" scroll to the bottom and start there.

A line on some pictures

I've been exchanging emails with Brad Roberson, the Tracterz's old drummer, and he thinks he might be able to dig up some old posters for me. Cool. He is living in the Washington DC area and is now in a band called Red Racer who will have a new album out soon. They also have a great web site with audio tracks and a couple videos. Check it out at www.redracerband.com.

[Steve, Brad asked me to pass his email along to you if you come by this site again.]

Steve!

Wow, I have this web site up for all of four days and who stumbles across it but Steve McFarland! He posted some comments at the Miniwiki link over there on the right. But Steve, if you came back to this page drop me an email at the address in the post below or leave a comment here. I am trying to find some old posters or photos I could use for a Tracterz web site and figure you might have something buried somewhere. I've made the same request to Brad who posted some stuff over on the Miniwiki site as well. I'm now hoping that between the two of you there might be something I could use for a little more polished looking web site. I suppose it goes without saying since I am making this web site 20 years on, but boy a lot of us sure had fun with you guys back in the day. I'd love to find out what became of you guys and also what happened to some of the folks who used to hang out at your shows. The wonder of the internet is that eventually a fair number of them might stumble across this page just like you did.

(By the way Steve, the funniest thing I ever heard you say was a comment you made when you found out I was doing your old job at Brookings Hospital. I apparently didn't fit in any better than you had and was happy a few years later to pass it along to a new generation of EMTs.)

Found it!

I managed to find the old tape I had of the band. They were playing on No Cover No Minimum on South Dakota Public Television so it is an hour long show with pretty decent sound, all things considered. I've converted the tape to mp3 so I can burn a disc for anyone who is interested. Drop me an email at jambo99(at)gmail.com and I will send you a copy.

Tracterz Memories

Anyone who comes across this page is invited to share any memories they have of the Tracterz by clicking on "comments" below. Here are a few of mine:

Four set nights at the Safari in Brookings

Dave Fee wearing his bondage pants on stage and talking about his 8 string bass that he had always wanted. It was green if I remember correctly.

Steve's white cowboy boots that a friend of mine always coveted.

Speaking of coveting, was there any guy watching that wasn't in love with Dallas?

Someone (Steve?) baaing in the background while Dave sang Goo-Goo Muck.

Gwain Roberts always going up to the stage and giving them a dime. I never really understood that one.

After most of the Brookings shows going back to Dog Ears, Gwain's book store, for late night parties. Sadly Gwain died a few years ago. Cancer, I think. The last I saw him he was giving me a peace sign from a cab he was driving in MInneapolis. That was early 90s I think.

Dallas seeing my R.E.M. button and asking "Rem? What the hell is Rem?" I've always hoped she was just kidding. It was about 1984 so it's possible she hadn't stumbled on to them yet. But still...

Their great stage presence. I've since seen scores of more successful bands that don't have a tenth the personality.

Songs

Off the top of my head, here are a few songs I remember The Tracterz doing:

I Will Follow - U2

Stop - Flamin' Ohs

No Thugs - XTC

Brand New Cadilac - The Clash

Absolutely Sweet Marie - Jason and the Scorchers

I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow

Message of Love - The Pretenders

I like College - original

Earth 2 - original

If anyone remembers more please post them in the comments.

A Tracterz blog?

Actually this is just a quick and free way to get started on a web site for a band that I spent many many hours listening to in the early 80s. I've done a Google search a couple times to see if there is anything on the web about them and thought it was too bad that there wasn't really much out there. I have an old set list and a couple posters hiding somewhere in my basement and once I find them I will get them posted. In the meantime, if any other fans or members of the band come across this page and want to add something please post a comment or send me an email. When I think I have enough content to make it worthwhile I will look into web hosting and puttting up a site with text, pictures, and maybe even some sound files (I have a tape of a live show somewhere.) I had some of the best nights of my college life watching The Tracterz and I know there are others who felt the same way. For those of us coming of age back then and trying desperately to find a way to be cool in eastern South Dakota these guys were a godsend. I'm hoping some of the folks who shared the experience manage to find this site and add their 2 cents worth.

test

The Tracterz