The Decemberists

Rachel Blumberg: Battery Chris Funk: Guitar Colin Meloy: Song/Guitare Jenny Conlee: Accordion/Piano Nate Query: Bass
Having worked in a country-type formation, Colin Meloy decided to devote himself fully to writing and singing in the city of Portland. This is the starting point of The Decemberists, of which Meloy is the undisputed instigator and conductor. The latter will enlist Rachel Blumberg on the drum, Nate Query on the bass, Chris Funk as second guitarist, and finally Jenny Conlee on the accordion, as well as on the piano. Pluridisciplinarity, which is reminiscent of their Canadian colleagues from The Arcade Fire, especially when it is known that many of the speakers lend a strong hand to Picaresque: Petra Haden (Violon/Chant), Sean Nelson (Chant), Paul Brainard (Trompette), Tom Hill (Trombone), and many others, not to mention Chris Walla (Electric Guitare), producer of this album, but also a member of Death Cab For Cutie , and producer of Nada Surf. Castaways And Cutouts , the band's first effort, will be released in 2002 on Before Hush Records ( Graves , Norfolk & Western ), before being republished in 2003 by Kill Rock Stars (Xiu Xiu , Anna Oxygen ). That same year, the label will publish their second opus: Her Majesty, The Decemberists. The latter acquire a growing reputation within the independent pop/folk scene, and in this year 2005 will unveil their third part, also published by Rough Trade Records (The Unicorns, Low), and entitled Picaresque.