Black Prairie: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

The charming rootsfolk band Black Prairie got its start as an outlet for The Decemberists Chris Funk and Nate Query, who wanted an outlet for some of their rootsy, mostly instrumental stringband wanderings. As the new group expanded to incorporate more members including another wayward Decemberist, Jenny Conlee, on accordion its sound has grown as well, with Annalisa Tornfelt s sweetly countrified vocals and violin lending Black Prairie s songs an added dimension. As if to flesh out The Decemberists more strippeddown Tiny Desk appearance from 2011 only guitarist Chris Funk performed at both shows Black Prairie played richly layered versions of three cuts from last year s A Tear in the Eye Is a Wound in the Heart. Like so much great folk music, there s a marvelous blend of darkness and light at work here, as the band lends a snappy, lilting quality to songs of alienation and darkness. STEPHEN THOMPSON Set List Dirty River Stomp Nowhere Massachusetts Richard Manuel Credits Producer: Bob