Best known as the multi-instrumentalist in the indie rock band The Decemberists, Chris Funk is a Grammy nominated artist who has also found much success as a music producer, composer, and studio musician. The artist has lent his musical acumen to such bands as The Shins, Laura Veirs, Blue Giant and more. Funk is also a founding member and co-writer in the acclaimed neo-gothic string band Black Prairie on Sugar Hill Records. He has produced records for Red Fang, Langhorne Slim, Sallie Ford, Rhet Miller, Sallie Ford, The Builders and The Butchers, and Y La Bamba
In 2012 he co-curated and produced several tracks for the chart toping seasonal album “Holiday’s Rule” featuring Paul McCartney, fun., The Shins, The Civil Wars and others.
Black Prairie’s album “A Tear In The Eye Is A Wound In The Heart” was on several 2012 year end “best ofs” and in 2013 the band found it’s self on “Leno”, Newport Folk Fest, and a Tiny Desk Concert.
The Decemberists’ last album, “The King Is Dead,” was released January 18th 2011 and was #1 on the Billboard “Top 200” for it’s first week.
Recently The Decemberists were honored to have their likeness in an episode of “The Simpsons”, also having created music for the episode.
Funk was recently appeared in the John Fahey film “In Search of Blind Joe Death” along with Pete Townshend and has been supporting the film by performing at festivals when the film is shown and giving a Q and A.
In 2006, Funk curated with Brendan Canty (Fugazi) the Portland edition of “Burn to Shine,” a DVD series where bands perform in a home that is later burned to the ground that same day.
Funk appeared on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report where he was challenged by host Steven Colbert to a ‘guitar shredding’ contest. After Funk’s solo, Colbert hurt his hand and asked Peter Frampton to fill in. The contest ended with Colbert and Frampton deciding the winner and Colbert was awarded The Decemberists’ album, The Crane Wife, as the grand prize. Funk then performed an all-guitar jam alongside Frampton, Robert Schneider (of The Apples in Stereo), and Rick Nielsen.
When not working on music or enjoying the fine fruits of Portland, OR (which he calls home), Funk enjoys attempting his pug Fang “to sit”, playing pinball with his daughter Scout while attempting to teach her fiddle tunes on her violin. Not at all the same time.
Learn more about The Decemberists
Learn more about Black Prairie
