#chris funk

Joanna Wang 王若琳 -《蘋果花 Apple Blossom》

This kind of thing really transports me to another place, another state of mind. Mysterious & hypnotic!  =D

Album Credits: 

Produced by Chris Funk and Joanna Wang 

Recorded / Mixed by Adam Lee at Halfling Studios, Portland, OR USA

Recorded by Josh Powell at The Maproom, Portland 

Mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice at Peerless Mastering, Boston, MA

Arranged by Ryan Francesconi 

Drums: Dan Hunt. Bass: Nate Query. Guitar / Tambura: Ryan Francesconi.

Keys: Rob Berger. Flute: Liberty Broillet. Clarinet: Alicia Charlton. 

Bass Clarinet: Alicia Charlton. Bassoon: Danielle Goldman. Harp: Mikaela Davis

Violin: Mirabai Peart, Patti King. Viola: Kyleen King Cello: Anna Fritz 

The Decemberists @ The Agora, Cleveland, Ohio 4/24/2018

My fifth time seeing these musical wizards and probably one of the best times. I was randomly selected again to ask them a question during the Q&A and after stating I was shy, nervous and unprepared Colin complimented my Replacements shirt which had me soaring. He did get me in to them all those years ago (and I told him).

For the two song set they did “I Was Meant For The Stage” and “On the Bus Mall”. They’re always so funny, personable and nice. I waited outside the venue for two hours because I didn’t feel like ubering anywhere else. Met two very lovely ladies who were kind and I guess I went to high school with one.

I was one of the first people let back into the venue, and quickly took my spot near the center of the rail. The show started promptly with a killer set by the opener Tennis. aesthetically, they’re awesome, musically just as awesome! Fun, upbeat and those clothes!? Hot damn.

The D’s came on to the booming sounds of “In The Hall of The Mountain King” which is both fitting for the dramatics and energy it brings. They kicked off the set with “Everything is Awful” with Colin poking fun at the current White House administration, how he as a straight white dude shouldn’t be the one complaining, and how the environment is dying but it all ended with a burst of confetti, which got the crowd cheering.

The rest of the set, simply, rocked. Many tracks from “I’ll Be Your Girl” perfectly peppered with older hits. Colin, who I know gets a lot of praise, deservingly, because he is one hell of a frontman. He got into the crowd to rile them up during “O Valencia”, and came down and handed me, of all people, a shiny red cowbell to help with “We All Die Young”. It was an honor and a privilege I will never forget.

I couldn’t be happier with a performance, the band playing for nearly two hours (if not over. I lost track of time because I was having a fucking blast) - but all I can say overall is this band is really something special. I mean actual masters of musicianship! Jenny, John, Nate, Chris: you are all musical deities in my eyes, and shall be forever.

The set ended with two encores, the finale being “Mariners Revenge” including the giant inflatable whale being guided through the audience. It’s always a fun tune, the band falling about the stage, banging on drums and laughing with each other. I recall seeing the Decemberists for the very time back at this very venue in 2006 and what a blast it was. It happened right after the Crane Wife came out and I recall Chris coming out into the crowd with a giant drum. They’re still just as interactive with the crowd, which is surprisingly not tiring at all with them.

I hung around afterwards because I was feeling selfish and really wanted to finally “meet them”. I walked around the block and back into the back lot of the venue by the busses. I was told to leave a few times but then ran into some older people who were very drunk and swore they knew Jenny. The one women kept kissing me on the cheek, which I wasn’t a fan of and they thought i hated them. I didn’t. They were funny but a bit too tipsy for my taste at the time. It was cold and I was nervous. Colin came out with a sheepish grin. Apparently he wasn’t too pleased some asshat threw a beer can on stage at one point (this isn’t a punk show doofus. That wasn’t cool).

The two ladies bombard him and he seems puzzled (and probably upset) on why the cops are there with them (which was a buzzkill). He even asks and I shake my head, keeping a safe distance. They just put on hours of brilliant entertainment, who am I to ask for more? I think Colin notices me, but gets on the bus to get away from the women. I don’t blame him. He was gratuitous and kind, as always and one day I’ll be able to tell him how he’s saved my life, countless times.

Chris then exists sporting his favorite Chicago Cubs beanie. He is just as kind to the women, his eyebrows going wacky with enthusiasm as they tell him who they are. And alas, he does indeed remember the one woman, who used to live in Portland. He goes back on to the bus to retrieve his pipe and tobacco, and he huffs away while the woman brings on more memories. Feeling all too awkward just standing a few feet away with my hands in my pockets, I shrug and approach him.

I shake his hand and just tell him I really wanted to meet them. I make some sloppy attempt and tell him to tell Colin he’s saved my life, not that it matters but I wanted him to know (it’s been a tough year). Chris nods and says “he’ll appreciate that. And he’ll remember you because of the Replacements T-shirt” I thank him and apologize for keeping him, so I go on my merry way and allow the rest of them to continue to talk.

I regret not telling him I think he is the most underrated musician I currently know. That he blows me away with everything he does and he is such a vital human being in this music that brings me such happiness. Of course I think that 20 seconds later. Ah well, maybe next time.

I don’t think I realized this was a full album of remakes when we posted a song from it before, but the feature/interview above (as well as the one over at Taiwan Beats) explain the album concept very well. Super informative!   =D

Co-produced by Joanna 王若琳 and Chris Funk (from the band The Decemberists)

Here is the newest MV, just posted yesterday:

Bonus clip: The original version recorded by 忘記他 Teresa Teng (Written by James Wong and included on Teng’s first Cantonese album):

Album Review: Red Fang – Arrows

Words: Ben Forrester I have found myself recently catching up with everyone else and finally checking out a whole heap of cult bands within the alt rock world. Portland’s own Red Fang have been a band so many people have told me of their undying love for over the years. As the quartet ready the release of their fifth full length, the time had come for me to fall headfirst into their pit of…