Apollo Sunshine – “Funky Chamberlain (Who Begot Who)” – Live at Paradise 3/18/2010 from Extraneous Noise on Vimeo.

The reactivated Apollo Sunshine has confirmed another four shows. After club gigs in Massachusetts, the band will play a benefit for Play It Forward in bassist Jesse Gallagher’s hometown of Andover, MA. The gig will raise money for college scholarships. In addition, the group will play a special afternoon kids show at New York’s Bowery Ballroom with Real Estate on April 24. The trio is expected to play stripped down and kids-approved versions of its songs.

Without announcement, Apollo Sunshine went on hiatus in December 2008, and the band did not return to the stage until a few recent warm-up shows. All three members of the band continued to play music, however. Gallagher spent much of last year playing with his acoustic band The New Black Magic Rainbow Quartet, as well as Bell & The Bees and Fred The Donkey (a ‘30s era cowboy singing group which includes his father). He also spins records at Middlesex in Cambridge every Thursday and Friday 6-9.

In addition to getting married and lending guitar to several albums, including the latest by Norah Jones, guitarist Sam Cohen started the solo project Yellowbirds. Drummer Jeremy Black has alternated between gigs with musicians like Marco Benevento and recording sessions. He runs Black and Greene records and is currently working on a disc with Deerhoof Guitarist John Dieterich. Apollo Sunshine is also working on a new studio album

Apollo Sunshine’s spring shows

April 22 Northampton, MA—Iron Horse Music Hall
April 23 Somerville, MA—PAs Lounge
April 24 Andover, MA—Collins Center
April 25 New York, NY—Bowery Ballroom