A team-player in the local and mid-western regional scene for over 7 years, Lunar Funk has built a tour-de-force live show with an even more powerful community of fans, other regional bands, and music festival family. Rock, Funk, Reggae, Blues, and Soul provide the energy for Fret-wanking jam guitar solos, heavy hitting rock break downs, dirty funk synths, groove jazz interludes, psychedelic sound-effects, and hip-hop stylings. Energy permeates each Lunar Funk Theory performance like the moon’s light twisting through the trees in the night sky. LFT’s loving atmosphere and uplifting lyrics bring a great mix of friends, fans, and family together to celebrate the journey of life. No two performances are ever alike, and no two feet are left unmoved in the crowd. Lunar is honored to be able to represent the South Dakota music scene on a regional level, and looks forward to sharing their music and traveling on an international level. Did we mention they have a space ship? (From left: Angie, Flip, Summers, Tanner, Alexander, Dan, Lee)
Lee Walsh — Lead Vocals, Guitar
A founding member and the smiling face of Lunar Funk, Lee has been the essence of LFT for over 7 years. Before LFT, he performed different styles of music including, metal, punk , ska, and hip hop, while playing in an assortment of bands in different genres. Today, he’s listening to with his extensive music collection, at any given moment there is any mix of different styles comin through the speakers. Lee’s vocals and stage charisma provide the driving force behind LFT. Lee’s ability to captivate the audience is a phenomenon, and one of the reasons the band has done so well. Lee is the Dalai Llama of Lunar. Whether it’s walking the paths at festival’s, talking with locals after shows, or getting down at the after party, you’ll be sure to notice his magnetic personality. Lee also has a knack for writing great lyrics that tell stories, give hope, and are just out-right comical. For the last 7 years, every song lyric has been writen by Lee and recently his main inspiration has been from his daughter Araya who brought his lyrics a new depth and calm positivity.
If the members of Lunar Funk were elements of the earth, Summer’s would forcibly commandeer the title “fire”. With an Irish temper quicker than a fuse lit at both ends, Summer’s drive and passion for music has stepped up the level of LFT’s music. He lives, breathes, and sleeps (sometimes at the practice spot) music. Summer’s constantly wears his passion for life and music on his sleeve. His raging guitar solos wank so ridiculously hard that he’ll leave your ears chaffed while the psychedelic feedback wailing from his guitar unsuspectingly permanently damages your brain waves. Summer’s passion, complimented by on-and-off-stage antics, has landed himself a fan section; unfortunately it is usually comprised of the clinically insane or underage women. Besides music, whiskey might be the only thing that can quell Summer’s fire, feed him enough of it and you’ll discover the soft spot in his heart for Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Umphrey’s McGee, and sensual saxophone. All of these influences, combined with his raw passion for music, allow Summer’s to cut loose on the stage while taking every jam to the next level of insanity.
“Flip” provides an extra layer of percussion stylings in the live setting. Behind the scenes his marketing, technology, web development, and promotional talents have helped LFT create it’s identity in the region. Flip’s favorite place on the planet is in the midst of a harmony park festival among his fellow musicians and festival family.
Angela was a regular patron of LFT shows from the beginning. Initially, she began by bringing her djembe with her to shows and sitting in with the band. She quickly became a regular fixture on stage and was asked to join full time as a vocalist and keyboard player. Angie is a classically trained pianist of 13 years and utilizes her skills by to adding organ, synth, and pad sounds to the lunar mix that adds a psychedelic symphonic dimension to LFT’s sound. In addition to her many musical offerings, Angie provides vocals and other sound effects to the mix. Angie plays an integral role in the day to day operations of the band as she helps with graphic design, finances, and marketing.
Dan is one of the hardest working musicians in the midwest dropping his Bass lines in on many different projects in the last few years and now has found his spot in the universe to help the funk train continue to throw its hard hitting vibrations to our freaky furry fuzzie fun luvin fans!
Tanner has recently joined the Lunar Funk Family this year and he couldn’t have come at a better time. We had just lost our drummer of 5 years to becoming a dad to twins and were limited on the options that we had to replace him. We asked around and did some scouting and our good friend Eric “Double E” Ervin brought to our attention Tanner. So we put together a jam session and he fit the role perfectly. Ever since than he has been improving at a extremely fast rate and has brought a lot of dedication and passion to the family.
Alexander is the newest and youngest member of the band whose influences include: Thelonius Monk, Wayne Shorter, Soulive, MMW, John Scofield, Esperanza Spalding, Keith Jarret, Garaj Mahal, Herbie Hancock, and the undisputed grand master of low-down dirty funk: Beethoven. A multi-instrumentalist, Alexander possess a 18 years of classical piano training under the University of Sioux Falls Preparatory School of Music. A guitar and piano theory instructor in Sioux Falls at String Theory Luthiery, Alexander musical resume includes: the Mozart award by the Augustana College music department, performances in the mid-western young musicians classical music competition, leading and composing music for a jazz trios, rock, and funk groups, performances as a guest musician for the South Dakota State University’s Jazz Program, and a stint at the legendary HR57 center for the preservation of jazz & blues in Washington DC as a pick-up and in-house musician. “I have been fortunate to encounter world-class teachers, performers, and characters,” Alexander says, ”the piano is a symphony at your fingertips, you’d better make damn sure everyone is playing.”
