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, to be released by Vapor Records on May 6, 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.

The band Everest (from left, Davey Latter, Jason Soda, Russell Pollard, Rob Douglas and Joel Graves) is putting the finishing touches on its debut, “Ghost Notes,” produced by Mike Terry and recorded in Elliott Smith’s former New Monkey Studio in L.A. It is scheduled for an April 8 release.

Everest - Rebels In The Roses

When discussing the formation of the band with the members, one word seems to come up time and time again – natural. “I’ve never been in a band that felt this natural right away,” says Russell Pollard. Guitarist Joel Graves echoes this: “It was a natural fit. I love them as people, and I love making music with them.” They may have already been friends, but it took future Ghost Notes producer Mike Terry to be the catalyst. As Graves explains, “We had a long conversation and he said, ‘You guys need to stop all these different projects and support each other.’ It took an outside person to tell us the obvious.” “It came at a really good time,” Russell concurs. “We had all been doing our own thing, but not up to the potential it could be.”

Chapter 2: Play shows for yourself, not for the crowd.

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.”