Yesterday I launched into a series of posts about Phil Elverum aka Mt. Eerie aka The Microphones aka my latest obsession. For one thing he does which other artists don't, consider this particular stretch of tour dates, recently posted to his website:

March 22nd- Anacortes, Wash.- Department of Safety, 1011 12th St., (with Human Bell and Photosynthesis), a release party for “Water Activated Alpine-Themed Packing Tape #1” by Phil Elverum, 2008 and also “The Glow pt. 2” (deluxe re-release) by the Microphones

Friday April 5th- Vancouver, BC, Canada- Hoko’s sushi/karaoke bar, 362 Powell street – “EDGEFEST”, sponsored by Michelob Genuine Draft and 105.9X “The Hawk”, Burnaby’s Real Rock Alternative That Really Rocks, The HAWK (with “Electric Warrior Man” and the other performers are International Falls, No Gold (that’s Yukon), Octoberman (they are good and sort of Neil Young-ish), The Centres, Candles, Joel Tong. And maybe more? There will be karaoke afterwards.) Somehow this will all happen between 9pm and midnight. 7 or 8 dollars.

Thursday April 17- Seattle, Wash.- the Vera Project, 7:30 PM, $9 ($8 w/ club card) with Why? & Generifus tickets for sale (a release party for “KLP190”, “the Glow pt. 2” by The Microphones, deluxe 2008 re-release)

Wednesday, May 7th—Bergen, Norway- Strædet (with YACHT), 8pm, 100kr

The Department of Safety is an community arts space in a small town in Washington state. Vera Project is an all-ages venue in Seattle. I'm guessing Hoko's Sushi/Kareoke bar is something ridiculous. Next stop Bergen, Norway, where Elverum was semi-famously reborn as Mt. Eerie after a 2002 encounter that I'm imagining as one part Carlos Castanada, one part Roky Erickson.

Also notice where most people have release parties for records. Elverum is having a release party for, I quote, “Water Activated Alpine-Themed Packing Tape #1.” And actually that's not a joke at all. More about Elverum-brand masking tape in a future post.

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