You likely know Chris Funk as the guitarist for The Decemberists and, also lately, Blue Giant, among other side projects and affiliations (look for the debut release from Black Prairie in the coming months). In addition, he's also become an increasingly busy presence on the other side of the glass, producing the latest records from The Builders & the Butchers and Langhorne Slim, with more due in 2010 from Y La Bamba and Red Fang.
But that's not all. Apparently not content with a merely full plate, Funk and his partner Seann McKeel have recently taken it upon themselves to organize You Who, a monthly series of kids' variety rock shows featuring puppets, giant dancing owls, magic, comedy and, yes, ROCK. Geared toward both the parental set and their resulting broods (it's a 1pm start time), You Who will take place monthly at the Kennedy School in Portland, beginning tomorrow with that Decemberists band Funk plays in, along with help from the likes of Rev. Shines, The Phantom HIllbilly, Hooliganship and Vagabond Opera's Eric Stern, who's hosting the event. It's just the first in a series of shows that will take place through the dark months, until a good weather hiatus in the spring-- Quasi, Explode Into Colors and Blue Giant are among those expected to play future editions.
Because he clearly had a lot of time on his hands, we asked Chris Funk to help blow the dust off of our long lost Five Song Serenade feature, and he obliged, offering up a batch of all new material, much of it local and unreleased.
1- Ages: "No Nostalgia" (unreleased)
2- Laura Veirs: "Sun is King" (July Flame, due in January)
3- Yim Yames: "Behind That Locked Door" (Tribute To EP)
4- Y La Bamba: "Soy Capitan" (unreleased, from the upcoming 2010 release)
5- The Love Language: "Lalita" (The Love Language)
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