EverestCatch Everest as they scale new heights in the musical world, and in the build-up to opening for Neil Young later in June and again in July! Everest is a group of Los Angeles music community alumni and friends who decided to create music together. The result is the album Ghost Notes, released by Neil Young's label Vapor Records on May 6 of 2008. Everest was formed by Russell Pollard (vocals, guitar, drums), J. Soda (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Rob Douglas (bass, vocals), and Joel Graves (guitar, keyboards, vocals), with the help of friend and drummer Davey Latter. Kevin Bronson of the Los Angeles Times observed that the band members “sport resumes longer than the intro to ‘Cortez The Killer’” and it’s true – these guys have spent time in bands such as Sebadoh, the Folk Implosion, Earlimart, Mike Stinson, Slydell, John Vanderslice, and the Watson Twins.

Shortly after the band began playing live in 2007, local press in Los Angeles began to pick up a vibration from the stage uncommon in the “scene.” The band’s collective touring experience, chemistry, and unabashed passion for playing was infectious. According to Russ, “Playing the songs live, I feel like I’m on a racehorse. It’s a total rush and it goes by so quick.” For the crowd, each show is also it’s own unique “snowflake,” as bassist Rob Douglas points out, “We always try to play a different show each time, by changing songs, arrangements, and order.” Guitarist J. Soda adds, “There’s a certain amount of trust that’s happening on stage that makes the shows really fun.”

When the band signed with Vapor Records, the label presented them with a cake that said “Welcome Home Everest.” To Pollard, it was another step down a road he’d always hoped to be on. “I’d wanted to be on Vapor before I knew they might be interested. It’s Neil Young’s label, so obviously it was somewhere I wanted to be.”

In May, the band piled into a van to do what they do best: play their music live and continue writing songs together. Douglas points out, “We have a definite pedigree in terms of things we’ve done in the past, but we’re lucky that we’re all coming into our own now in this band. It feels like we found each other at the right time.” Good timing is just another natural part of it. Pollard sums it up well when he says, “I feel very free about it, watching it go in whatever direction it wants to.”

Opening for Everest are The Pines. Composed of Iowa natives David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, The Pines combine roots, blues and indie-rock to create a raw, haunting sound that is inventive and compelling. The son of Greg Brown's producer and sideman Bo Ramsey, Benson was reared on folk and blues music and continues to let those influences shine, even on louder electric songs. Like Benson, David also has a deep love for traditional music, and together the two of them craft music that evokes the ancient while incorporating newer rock and pop grooves. Both strong writers and musicians, Benson and David have distinct voices that complement each other, causing audiences and critics alike to tout them as a powerful young force in American roots music.

Tickets on sale noon Fri May 16 from Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb

$10.