Faun Fables
Encyclopedia
Faun Fables is a band from Oakland
, California
. Faun Fables is a concept and vehicle for Dawn McCarthy, who was inspired to write the original material while traveling after leaving the New York City music scene in 1997. Faun Fables also covers both 20th century compositions by other song writers and traditional folk songs. The music on the first album is entirely by McCarthy, as are all lyrics and most of the music on Mother Twilight. The last three albums are collaborations with Nils Frykdahl
, inspired by McCarthy's previous work and "Dawn the Faun" stage
persona.
and Idiot Flesh
. Dan Rathbun, a long time collaborator of Frykdahl's, produced the two most recent albums and mastered Mother Twilight. The albums and shows also feature collaborations with:
, Scandinavia
n, Appalachian and Eastern Europe
an music. Her shows often contain elements of theater—dance and puppet shows are common elements. Her music has been compared to Ewa Demarczyk
and to neo-psych-folk artists such as Devendra Banhart
and Current 93
.
entitled "The Transit Rider
".
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Faun Fables is a concept and vehicle for Dawn McCarthy, who was inspired to write the original material while traveling after leaving the New York City music scene in 1997. Faun Fables also covers both 20th century compositions by other song writers and traditional folk songs. The music on the first album is entirely by McCarthy, as are all lyrics and most of the music on Mother Twilight. The last three albums are collaborations with Nils Frykdahl
Nils Frykdahl
Nils Frykdahl is an American musician most known for his work with the bands Sleepytime Gorilla Museum and the now-defunct band Idiot Flesh. He has a bachelor's degree in music from UC Berkeley, which he received in 1989. He also is a member of the bands Faun Fables and Darling Freakhead, and used...
, inspired by McCarthy's previous work and "Dawn the Faun" stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
persona.
Collaborations
Frykdahl is known for his work with Sleepytime Gorilla MuseumSleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music...
and Idiot Flesh
Idiot Flesh
Idiot Flesh was a band formed in Barrington Hall, a student co-op at the University of California at Berkeley. They formed in 1985 under the name Acid Rain, and their demo album "We Were All Very Worried" was released as a cassette-only edition in 1987...
. Dan Rathbun, a long time collaborator of Frykdahl's, produced the two most recent albums and mastered Mother Twilight. The albums and shows also feature collaborations with:
- family members Sheila McCarthy (AutobodyAutobodyAutobody was a Brooklyn, New York based indie rock band. They released three albums on the Silly Bird label, as well as various other tapes and 7" records.-Discography:* Black Angus * Vanilla Impressions...
; Drumhead; Flaming FireFlaming FireFlaming Fire is an American arts collective and experimental rock band from Brooklyn, New York, USA, which formed in 2000.Other projects include live performance, film, comics and the Flaming Fire Illustrated Bible .The band is on avant rock label Silly Bird Records, home to bands like Autobody and...
; zBug), Brian McCarthy and mother Michelina Tyrie; - Matt Waldron of Irr App Ext;
- Robin Coomer of Loop!Station:
- Kirana Peyton of Blackbird Stitches;
- Isabel Douglass of Rupa & the April Fishes;
- Noe VenableNoe VenableNoe Venable is an experimental folk/pop singer-songwriter. She has earned a loyal fan base in her native San Francisco, in part through frequently performing in small, intimate venues...
; - Will OldhamWill OldhamWill Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
; - Dan Rathbun of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum (Bass Guitar)
Performance
McCarthy's performances draw on many influences, from BritishGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n, Appalachian and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an music. Her shows often contain elements of theater—dance and puppet shows are common elements. Her music has been compared to Ewa Demarczyk
Ewa Demarczyk
Ewa Demarczyk is a Polish singer. She is generally associated with the Piwnica pod Baranami cabaret.Demarczyk is recognized as one of the most talented and charismatic singers in the history of Polish music. She is praised for her unique interpretations, expression and unusual stage personality...
and to neo-psych-folk artists such as Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
and Current 93
Current 93
Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
.
The Transit Rider
This is an ambitious performance and multimedia documentation of a song cycleSong cycle
A song cycle is a group of songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a single entity. As a rule, all of the songs are by the same composer and often use words from the same poet or lyricist. Unification can be achieved by a narrative or a persona common to the songs, or even, as in Schumann's...
entitled "The Transit Rider
The Transit Rider
The Transit Rider is the title of the fourth album by Faun Fables and the theatrical production on which it was based.-Album Track Listing:# "Birth" – 2:10# "Transit Theme" – 4:46# "The House Carpenter" – 5:05# "In Speed" – 3:51# "Taki Pejzaz" – 8:12...
".
Discography
| Year | Cover | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 |  |
Early Song Early Song Early Song is the 1999 studio album by Faun Fables. It was released through the label Drag City.-Track listing:#"Muse" - 3:48#"The Crumb" - 3:04#"Old Village Churchyard" - 4:19#"Apple Trees" - 4:42#"Only A Miner" - 2:39#"Sometimes I Pray" - 5:01...
|
| 2001 |  |
Mother Twilight Mother Twilight Mother Twilight is the 2001 studio album by Faun Fables. It was released through the label Drag City.-Track listing:#"Begin" - 2:44#"Sleepwalker" - 3:37#"Shadowsound" - 5:02#"Hela" - 4:33#"Traveller Returning" - 6:22#"Train" - 3:20... |
| 2004 |  |
Family Album Family Album (Faun Fables album) Family Album is the 2004 studio album by Faun Fables. It was released through the label Drag City.-Track listing:#"Eyes of a Bird" - 7:30#"Poem 2" - 2:40#"A Mother and a Piano" - 4:52#"Lucy Belle" - 3:58#"Joshua" - 4:03#"Nop of Time" - 2:09... |
| 2006 |  |
The Transit Rider The Transit Rider The Transit Rider is the title of the fourth album by Faun Fables and the theatrical production on which it was based.-Album Track Listing:# "Birth" – 2:10# "Transit Theme" – 4:46# "The House Carpenter" – 5:05# "In Speed" – 3:51# "Taki Pejzaz" – 8:12... |
| 2010 | Light of a Vaster Dark
|
|
Current
- Dawn McCarthy: composer, vocals, guitars, percussion, stomping, autoharp, gamelan
- Nils Frykdahl: composer, guitars, flutes, vocals, percussion, autoharp, broom
- Kirana Peyton: bass, vocals, percussion, harmonium
- Meredith Yayanos: violin, theremin, vocals, percussion
Former
The Transit Rider North America Tour 2006:- Jenya Chernoff: drums, bass guitar, vocals
- Matt LebofskyMatt LebofskyMatt Lebofsky is an Oakland, California based multi-instrumentalist and composer. Growing up in New York he studied piano/composition with Arthur Cunningham from 1978-1988. As a performer/composer he is currently active in several bands such as , MoeTar, Secret Chiefs 3, , , , and . He is also a...
: guitar, bass guitar, warr guitar, vocals