Phil Cook (musician)

Last updated

Phil Cook is an American guitarist, banjoist, pianist and singer. A member of the freak-folk band Megafaun, he was previously a part of DeYarmond Edison, a band led by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. He also presently plays in the band Gayngs [1] as well as the Vernon-fronted Shouting Matches. Additionally, he is affiliated with MC Taylor and his band, Hiss Golden Messenger.[ citation needed ]

Beyond his musical career, Cook worked at the Center for Inquiry-Based Learning at Duke University, where he "assembled hands-on science kits for elementary schools." [2] Cook draws on diverse influences including Bill Evans, Bruce Hornsby, Keith Jarrett, Jerry Douglas, Ry Cooder, Greg Leisz, John Kamman and Bill Frisell. [3]

Cook was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. [4] He released his first solo album, Hungry Mother Blues, in 2011. [5]

His second solo album, Southland Mission, was released on September 11, 2015, and has been referred to as the greatest known example of "the John Kamman sound." [6] He has said that the track "Great Tide" from the album contains "all my influences since I discovered my Dad's LP record collection when I was 14." [7]

In 2021 Cook released his fifth album, All These Years, [8] featuring entirely instrumental piano music. The release was positively reviewed in publications such as Pitchfork . [9]

In 2025 he released his sixth album, Appalachia Borealis, which was positively reviewed by Uncut . [10]

Cook is brother to Brad Cook, a producer and multi-instrumentalist who has worked alongside Phil on a number of projects. [11]

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Stacey (20 July 2011). "Band to Watch: Psych-Rockers Megafaun Channel Seventies Influences on New Album". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Quit Your Day Job: Megafaun". Stereogum.com. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Griffith, Spencer (4 May 2011). "Megafaun's Phil Cook steps solo". Indyweek.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "UW-EAU Claire e-View, October 2011". www.uwec.edu. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Phil Cook & His Feat: Hungry Mother Blues". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Phil Cook: Southland Mission". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  7. ↑ from an interview on episode 290 of the Americana Music Show, published March 15, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Phil Cook - Discography". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  9. ↑ "Phil Cook: All These Years". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Phil Cook - Appalachia Borealis". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  11. ↑ "Brad Cook". Genius. Retrieved 2024-11-14.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.