Chris Funk


Main image

Portland, Oregon
American musician and multi-instrumentalist best known as a member of the Portland, Oregon, indie rock band The Decemberists. He plays guitar, pedal steel, piano, violin, dobro, hurdy-gurdy, mandolin, saxophone, the theremin and many other instruments.

Funk joined the Decemberists after meeting Colin Meloy at a solo show Meloy was performing. He has been a member of the band since its formation, appearing on every Decemberists record since. Funk most commonly contributes guitar, pedal steel, and mandolin tracks to the band's songs, though he has laid down tracks with several other instruments as well. After an incident in which the band's equipment trailer was stolen in 2005, Funk wrote This Machine Kills Thieves on his banjo, in reference to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.

He is a member of Knock-knock with DJ Rev. Shines (from the hip-hop group Lifesavas on Quannum Projects). He is also a member of the string band Black Prairie who released their first album, Feast of the Hunter's Moon, in 2010. He plays in the country rock group Blue Giant. He has produced records for Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Kyle Craft, The Builders and The Butchers, Langhorne Slim, and Red Fang.

On December 20, 2006, Funk appeared on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report to end a longstanding mock feud with the show's host, Stephen Colbert. A contest ensued in which Funk and Colbert would each play a guitar solo while a panel of judges decided the winner. After Funk's solo, Colbert (who cannot play the guitar) feigned an injured hand, having Peter Frampton fill in for him instead. The contest ended with Colbert/Frampton being decided the winners by show guests Eliot Spitzer and Henry Kissinger, and Colbert was awarded The Crane Wife by The Decemberists as the grand prize. Funk then performed an all-guitar jam alongside Frampton, Robert Schneider (of The Apples in Stereo), and Rick Nielsen.

ALBUMS


Jose Medeles With M. Ward, Marisa Anderson, Chris Funk
Railroad Cadences & Melancholic Anthems
2022, CD, ,
Folk/Experimental/Acoustic
Chris Funk
Songs For Dog Fitness
2020, ,
Experimental/Folk Rock/Drone/Folk
Chris Funk
The Painted Porch
2020, Vinyl, ,
Experimental/Folk Rock/Drone/Folk
Patterson Hood
Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams
2025, Vinyl, ,
Folk/Folk Rock
Y La Bamba
Oh February
2023
Puzzle Teeth
Her Pallor
2022, CD, Not On Label
Red Fang
Arrows
2021
Various
The Metallica Blacklist
2021, 4x CD, ,
Alternative Rock/Classic Rock/Hard Rock/Heavy Metal/Indie Pop/Pop Rock
Stephen J. Malkmus*
Traditional Techniques
2020
Naked Giants
The Shadow
2020
Kyle Craft
Full Circle Nightmare
2018, CD,
Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks*
Sparkle Hard
2018
Various
A Southern Poverty Law Center Benefit
2017, 12", S/Sided, EP, Comp, Etch, Ltd, End Of All Music
Rhett Miller
The Traveler
2015, Vinyl,
Sallie Ford
Slap Back
2014
Latyrx
The Second Album
2013, CD, ,
Electro
Casey Neill And The Norway Rats*
All You Pretty Vandals
2013, Vinyl, CD, ,
Indie Rock
Red Fang
Whales And Leeches
2013
Various
Holidays Rule
2012, CD, ,
Holiday
Y La Bamba
Lupon
2011, ,
Folk
Red Fang
Murder The Mountains
2011
Red Fang
Wires
2011, Vinyl Green Translucent, ,
Stoner Rock/Heavy Metal
Dan Jones (20) / Peter Wilde
My Name Is John Smith
2010, 12", EP, Cle, Daily Records (3)
The Builders And The Butchers
The Builders And The Butchers
2009, CD, EP, Not On Label
The Builders And The Butchers
Salvation Is A Deep Dark Well
2009
Langhorne Slim
Be Set Free
2009, CD, ,
Folk Rock/Pop Rock
Red Fang
Deep Cuts
2025, 2x Vinyl Blue [Royal] And White Galaxy Merge, ,
Stoner Rock/Heavy Metal
The Decemberists
As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
2024, 2x Vinyl, ,
Indie Rock
The Decemberists
Live Home Library Vol. I (August 11, 2009 Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI)
2020, Vinyl, Vinyl, All Media, ,
Indie Rock/Folk Rock
The Decemberists
Traveling On
2018, Vinyl Gold Translucent, ,
Indie Rock
The Decemberists
I'll Be Your Girl
2018
The Decemberists
Once In My Life
2018
Offa Rex
The Queen Of Hearts
2017
The Decemberists
What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
2015, CD, ,
Folk Rock
The Decemberists
Florasongs
2015, CD gatefold cardboard cover, ,
Alternative Rock/Folk Rock
Black Prairie
Fortune
2014, Vinyl, ,
Folk
Black Prairie
Performs Wild Ones: Musical Score For The Things That You Might See In Your Head When You Reflect On Certain Characters And Incidents That You Read About In The Book*
2013
Black Prairie
The Storm In The Barn
2012, CD, Album, Not On Label
The Decemberists
We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11 - 08.11)
2012
The Decemberists
The King Is Dead
2011, Vinyl 180 g, ,
Indie Rock
The Decemberists
Long Live The King
2011, CD, ,
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock
Black Prairie
We Can Sing!
2010, CDr, MiniAlbum, Ltd, Not On Label (Black Prairie Self-released)
Blue Giant
Blue Giant
2010, CD, ,
Alternative Rock/Country Rock
Black Prairie
Feast Of The Hunter's Moon
2010, ,
Country/Bluegrass/Folk/Indie Rock
Blue Giant
Target Heart EP
2009
The Decemberists
The Hazards Of Love
2009
The Decemberists
Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series - Vol. 1: Valerie Plame
2008, ,
Folk Rock/Indie Rock
The Decemberists
Always The Bridesmaid Vol. 2: Days Of Elaine
2008
The Decemberists
Always The Bridesmaid Vol. 3: Record Year For Rainfall
2008, Vinyl Blue Translucent, ,
Folk Rock/Indie Rock
Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble
Plastic Bag In The Tree
2007, CD, Album, Hush Records, ,
Folk Rock/Country Rock/Indie Rock/Abstract/Bluegrass/Experimental
The Decemberists
The Crane Wife
2006, 2x Vinyl, ,
Folk Rock/Indie Rock
The Decemberists
Picaresque
2005
The Decemberists
The Tain / 5 Songs
2004, Vinyl Gray Swirl, ,
Folk Rock/Prog Rock/Indie Rock
The Decemberists
The Tain
2004
The Decemberists
Billy Liar
2004, Vinyl White, ,
Folk Rock/Pop Rock/Indie Rock
The Decemberists
5 Songs
2003
The Decemberists
Her Majesty
2003, ,
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock
The Decemberists
Castaways And Cutouts
2002
The Decemberists
What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
2015, ,
Folk Rock

APPEARANCES +


China Forbes
The Road
2024, Vinyl,
Jose Medeles
Railroad Cadences & Melancholic Anthems
2022
Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy Sings Together
2022, Vinyl Sea Glass,
D. Blinco*
The Universe Is Talking
2021, LP, Not On Label (Drake Blinco Self-released)
The Cribs
Night Network
2020, ,
Indie Rock
Los Lobos Vs. The Shins
The Fear
2018, 12", RSD, S/Edition, Cle, Third Man Records, ,
Indie Rock
The Shins
Painting A Hole
2017, File, FLAC, Single, Aural Apothecary Records, Columbia, ,
Alternative Rock
Paul McCartney, Jimmy Fallon And The Roots, The Decemberists
Wonderful Christmastime / Jesus Christ
2017, Vinyl Green,
The Shins
Heartworms
2017, Vinyl 180g, ,
Indie Rock
Shelley Short & The Sure Shots*
Wake The Dreamers
2014
Loch Lomond
Dresses
2013
Typhoon
White Lighter
2013, CD, ,
Indie Rock
Exray's
Trust A Robot
2012, Cassette Gold Foil, High Bias, ,
Lo-Fi/Indie Rock
The Chieftains
Voice Of Ages
2012, CD, ,
Celtic/Folk
The Decemberists
Tiny Desk Concert
2011, File, MP3, 128, National Public Radio, ,
Indie Rock/Folk Rock
Jami Lunde
Big Black Birds
2011, CD, Album, Awnry Girl Records
John Wesley Harding
The Sound Of His Own Voice
2011
Ritmo Machine (Eric Bobo - Latin Bitman)
Welcome To The Ritmo Machine
2011, CD, ,
Hiplife/Turntablism
Various
Live From Nowhere Near You Vol II
2011, 3x CD Digipak, ,
Blues Rock/Folk Rock/Alternative Rock/Acoustic/Rhythm & Blues
The Baseball Project
Volume 2: High And Inside
2011
Abigail Washburn
City Of Refuge
2011, ,
Bluegrass/Folk
Various
Twistable, Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute To The Songs Of Shel Silverstein
2010, CD, ,
Country/Indie Rock/Folk
Laura Veirs
July Flame
2010, CD,
The Minus 5
Sad Hasselhoff
2009, 12", EP, Yep Roc Records
Various
DECA: A HUSH 10th Anniversary Compilation
2009, 28xFile, FLAC, Comp, Hush Records
Various
Dark Was The Night
2009, 2x CD, ,
Indie Rock/Pop Rock
Mirah
(a)spera
2009, Vinyl, ,
Acoustic/Indie Rock/Ethereal
Boston Spaceships
The Planets Are Blasted
2009, ,
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock
The Minus 5
Killingsworth
2009
The Decemberists
A Practical Handbook
2007, DVD-V, NTSC, Kill Rock Stars
The Shins
Wincing The Night Away
2007, Vinyl, ,
Indie Rock
Lifesavas
Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack.
2007, CD, ,
Soul/Conscious
Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy Sings Trad. Arr. Shirley Collins
2006, CD, EP, Ltd, Not On Label (Colin Meloy Self-released), ,
Folk Rock/Acoustic
The Long Winters
Putting The Days To Bed
2006, CD, ,
Alternative Rock
Various
Mile - A Hush Compilation
2005, CD, Comp, Enh, Hush Records
Norfolk & Western
If You Were Born Overseas
2005, CD, Ltd, Not On Label (Norfolk & Western Self-released)
Various
Burn To Shine Portland, OR 06.15.05
2005, DVD-V, Comp, NTSC, Trixie DVD, ,
Indie Rock
Various
To: Elliott From: Portland
2005
Norfolk & Western
A Gilded Age
2005, ,
Folk Rock/Indie Rock
Tracker
Blankets
2004, CD, Album, FILMguerrero, Top Shelf Productions
Various
Tracks & Fields
2004, 2x CD, ,
Alternative Rock/Folk Rock/Noise/Indie Rock/Post Rock/Experimental/Garage Rock/Punk
Lifesavas
Spirit In Stone
2003, CD Digipak, ,
Conscious
Tracker
Polk
2002, CD, Album, FILMguerrero, ,
Folk Rock/Acoustic/Indie Rock
Theurgic Seed
this is not a (c/s)ell
2002, CD, Album + DVD-V, Enh, NTSC, Imaginify Records
Jeff London
Col. Summers Park
2001, CD, Album, Hush Records, Jealous Butcher Records, ,
Folk Rock/Acoustic/Indie Rock
Caleb Klauder
Sings Out
2000, CD, Album, Ltd, Num, Padre
David Andrews
Get Me Out Of This Place
2000, CD, Album, Not On Label
Mare Wakefield Band
Factory
1999, CD-ROM, Album, Not On Label (Mare Wakefield Band Self-released)
Tom Heinl
I Know You Are But What Am I
1999, CD, Album, Top Bunk Records
Ashleigh Flynn
Ashleigh Flynn
1999, CD, Album, Home Perm Records
Your Neighbors
Roswell
1995, CD, Album, Street Gold Records
Joe Cocker
One Night Of Sin
1989
Ashleigh Flynn
Selkie
CD, Album, Home Perm Records
Jack Ross Orquestra E Chorus*, Billy Vaughn E Sue Orquestra*
Happy José (Ching Ching ) / Margarita / Lover's Guitar / Chapel By The Sea
7", EP, London Records, London American Recordings, London Dot, ,
Vocal
Various
Roll Columbia: Woody Guthrie's 26 Northwest Songs
2017, 2xCD, Album, Dig, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, ,
Folk
Various
Borrowed Songs Volume 1
LP, Comp, Newport Folk Recordings
The Shins
Heartworms
2017, CD, ,
Indie Rock