Everest Thrive on 'Uncomfortable' Americana

After three years, two albums, and countless months on the road, Everest frontman Russell Pollard still hasn't put his finger on what it is his band does. "It's experiential. It's a journey. It takes you somewhere else," Pollard tells Spinner.

Everest's music, he explains, just developed when Pollard and his bandmates, all indie rock veterans who have graced various bands from Sebadoh to Alaska!, convened in a Los Angeles living room, somewhat at a loss as to where they were each heading musically. With album number two, 'On Approach,' released this past spring, the band has developed an ethereal Americana sound, something that Pollard never foresaw when he was playing indie-pop-electonica with Alaska! "I've put myself into the position of being musically uncomfortable and doing something I've never done before," he declares. "The result has been great."

Indeed, it has. The nascent Everest were soon on stage supporting Neil Young, who not only chose them to open up on his 2009 tour but also signed the band to his label, Vapor Records. Now Everest proudly sit on Young's concise eclectic roster alongside the likes of Tegan and Sara and Jonathan Richman. "We get to go on tour with Neil Young and have him put our record out," says Pollard, still in disbelief. Following the release of their debut, 2008's 'Ghost Notes,' the band also notched up tours with My Morning Jacket, Wilco and Death Cab for Cutie. "To play shows with Wilco and My Morning Jacket in the first year of being a band is, for me, well, you follow the signs," Pollard says.

As the band continues touring with singer-songwriter Matt Costa, Pollard reminisces about one of his all-time best gig memories -- playing Bonnaroo for the second time this year.

"That was a great experience. It's just a relaxed welcoming environment to play in, walking around to see security that's so disarming. You never see anyone getting harassed or pushed around," he says. "The crowd is mellow. They just want to see bands. The two times we played there have been two of my favorite gigs ever. There's something about the energy, it's so freeing."