Chris Funk of Black Prairie (and The Decemberists) at RCMH

Photo: Jon Klemm
Download: Black Prairie – “Red Rocking Chair”, “Blackest Crow”

It all started when Decemberists guitarist Chris Funk wanteed to spend more time playing the square necked Dobro guitar. While on tour with the Decemberists, he and bassist Nate Query hatched the idea to start a primarily instrumental string band during their time off, but it was a couple more years before the Black Prairie lineup solidified. Fellow Decemberist Jenny Conlee bought along her accordion, and prolific Portland musicians Annalisa Tornfelt (the Wooolwines, Bearfoot) and Jon Neufeld (Jackstraw, Dolorean)— on violin and guitar respectively&mdashalso joined the ranks.

Black Prairie’s heavily acoustic debut was produced by Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie) and embodies a number of different styles while exposing the venerable, forgotten roots of folks and bluegrass. As described by dobroist Chris Funk, the band’s sound “bridges the music of Clarence White and Ennio Morricone” in a way that defies genre characterization. [BlackPrairie.com]

Today’s Presales: Wednesday, July 21