Faun Fables

Faun Fables
Dawn McCarthy
Background information
Origin	Oakland, California, United States
Genres	Psych folk Art rock Experimental music Theatre Performance art
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Drag City
Members
Dawn McCarthy Nils Frykdahl
Past members
Jenya Chernoff Matt Lebofsky

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.^[1] 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.

Collaborations

Frykdahl is known for his work with Sleepytime Gorilla Museum 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:

• family members Sheila McCarthy (Autobody; Drumhead; Flaming Fire; 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 Venable;
• Will Oldham;
• Dan Rathbun of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum (Bass Guitar)

Performance

McCarthy's performances draw on many influences, from British, Scandinavian, Appalachian and Eastern European 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.

The Transit Rider

This is an ambitious performance and multimedia documentation of a song cycle entitled "The Transit Rider".

Discography

Year	Cover	Title
1999		Early Song Original release 1999 ("unofficial") Reissue: August 24, 2004; Drag City
2001		Mother Twilight Original release: 2001; Earthlight Reissue: August 24, 2004; Drag City
2004		Family Album Released: February 24, 2004; Drag City
2006		The Transit Rider Studio album Stage Performance Released: March 16, 2006; Drag City
2010	90px	Light of a Vaster Dark Studio album Stage Performance Released: October 19, 2010

Members

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 Lebofsky: guitar, bass guitar, warr guitar, vocals

References

1. ^ http://faunfables.net/dawn.html

External links

• Official Faun Fables web site