MOUNT EERIE

By Evan The Bug

Photo courtesy of Mount Eerie

Although determining the exact time and birthplace of what the world now calls Mount Eerie is difficult, it was during the night in the back of a record store in a small town in Washington that Phil Elverum’s artistic manifestations began to hatch. In the 13 years since Elverum began capturing beautifully experimental and heartfelt pop songs on tape, he has accomplished more than most will in multiple lives, using the rich natural resources of his local music community to a national — and even international — effect.

Initially making his mark under the moniker The Microphones, Elverum released his first album, Tests, in 1998 on Elsinor Records, a then Bellingham-based record label that was releasing early Death Cab for Cutie. It was about three years later when The Glow Pt. 2 really began to disturb the worldwide music scene, establishing Elverum as a pioneer of what was being called “freak folk.” It demolished expectations of what an album “should sound like,” with an abrasive approach that demanded tolerance, multiple listens and a willing attitude to forgo expectations.

This spring’s Black Wooden Ceiling Opening is approximately Elverum’s fifteenth official album. These albums are usually themed and distinguished from each other in terms of feel, collaborating musicians and genre. BWCO, which Elverum references as “a metal album,” sounds feral; it’s rooted in distortion and punk and laced with a lyrical delivery unfamiliar to the general style of its backing sounds. In collaboration with Jason Anderson (of K Records’ Wolf Colonel) and Kjetil Jenssen (of The Spectacle), Elverum coordinated the project with a definite feel of spontaneity.

“It was actually the day before we went on tour that we recorded [BWCO] at the Department of Safety.” Elverum is referring to the renovated police/fire station turned artist residence/gallery/zine library/theatre/live music venue, established in his hometown of Anacortes, Wash. in 2002.

Though Elverum has performed on stages across the States, Europe, Australia, Taiwan and Japan, he is just as connected to his local roots as ever, coordinating the annual What the Heck Fest in Anacortes, scheduled for July 18-20 this year. Seven years running, the fest has developed a growing reputation for roping together artists of varying styles and origins into every performance venue in the small northwestern town located 80 miles north of Seattle on Fidalgo Island (such venues include but are not limited to the middle of the woods.) The very nature of the event creates a highly supportive atmosphere and cross-pollination of fanbases. Further, since booking is generally unbiased by quote-heavy press packets and MySpace views, artists who might be suffering from the randomness of media exposure are given good visibility. Of particular mention is Karl Blau of Anacortes, a longtime friend and influence of Elverum’s, scheduled to perform at this year’s event along with artists like Kimya Dawson, Calvin Johnson and Khaela Maricich of The Blow. “The lack of attention given to Karl Blau has been haunting me as sort of the curse of my existence,” says Elverum.

Another curse of Elverum’s existence, which happens to benefit the rest of the world, is his unstoppable, prolific mindset. Following the release of BWCO will be seven new Mount Eerie releases, as well as a 150-page book published by Buena Vista Press. The audio releases will feature new material, collected rarities and singles, while the book chronicles an extended stay in Norway and includes a CD of the music made during that time. “I don’t have a master scheme or anything, I just have tons of projects,” Elverum says. “It was sort of an accident to get so overwhelmed. But I like being overwhelmed.”

Though he still plans to occasionally release music on Olympia’s K Records — in fact, K just re-released The Glow Pt.2 — Elverum has been releasing his albums himself, along with music from Thanksgiving, Woelv and The Spectacle, through his own label, P.W. Elverum & Sun, since 2004. As Elverum simultaneously engages in a phone interview while packaging his most recent internet orders, maintaining an earnest dedication to distributing his creations by hand, it becomes apparent just how essential multi-tasking is to his survival. “Sometimes it would be really nice to have some hired help around here,” he admits, and in the background also working, his little brother Izak audibly clears his throat.

www.pwelverumandsun.com