Phil's first two solo albums were released before the break, while Westerlund began tinkering with his own tunes. They helped staff Mount Moriah and The Rosebuds, and sat in with Rhys Chatham's guitar orchestra. It debuted at Duke in 2010, and they've since reprised the performance at music festivals in Ohio and Australia. Sounds of the South, a reinvigoration of Alan Lomax's iconic folk-music field recordings, featured the Virginia brass band Fight the Big Bull and old bandmate Justin Vernon. "We were always getting through the door by the hair on our heads for a lot of cool opportunities, but because we never looked back and said no to stuff, we were one-dimensional in terms of where our outlets were."Įven before the break, the band fought against that mindset, taking on roles as sidemen and fostering major collaborative projects. "The problem with a band like Megafaun is we never really took time to reflect on anything," Brad says. In various configurations, Megafaun's members have made the past year their most productive ever. They might drive less these days, but the members of Megafaun haven't actually slowed down during the break: The so-called hiatus has proven to be more of a psychic placebo, effective in reinvigorating the band's creative spirit. "Instead of burning ourselves out like we've seen plenty of bands do," Brad says, "we decided to just switch gears and re-prioritize, like, 'How can we keep playing music together? And how can we do it in a way that's really creative and involves less driving?'" This was a chance to build a family, pursue other interests and, most of all, slow down. Westerlund, who had moved to California with his wife, was trying to establish his life out west. Multi-instrumentalist Brad Cook saw it as a necessary respite: He'd gotten married just months before, while Phil had a 2-year-old son at home. "Write some music, hang with family and plan the next record." "We are gonna take some time off to re-tool the shed, so to speak," it read. "It just stopped being fun for a second."Īnd so with little fanfare, Megafaun published an update to its website on Oct. "Toward the end, right before the break, we just weren't in a good place, individually and as a group," remembers Nick Sanborn, who joined the band to play bass on the road supporting that last album. As 2012's summer faded, Megafaun decided the time for their first extended pause had come. and Europe 10 times each and added a new member, with most every lull spent collaborating with their peers and idols. They released four albums, toured the U.S. They earned quick critical praise and a steady international fanbase. When that band split, brothers Phil and Brad Cook and their longtime friend Joe Westerlund reconvened as Megafaun. They'd moved to North Carolina from their native Wisconsin years before with their previous act. Over a measured bass groove and half-psychedelic guitars, Megafaun's members harmonized, "Take your time/Everyone knows/If it starts real fast/It's gonna end real slow."Īnd so it came to pass: A year after the album's release, the stress of six years of constant activity had understandably worn on the band. Flamin’ Groovies co-founder Roy Loney 1946-2019 R.I.P.However inadvertently, Megafaunthe third album by the Durham trio of the same name, released in 2011began with a warning.Track Premiere: The Bobby Lees “I’m A Man”.Track Premiere: Datura4 “Mother Medusa”.Hiss Golden Messenger Drops Live Album for Durham Public Schools Kids.Most recently: #12, five late ’18 and early ’19 releases, including Jeff Goldblum, Tony Bennett/Diana Krall, & more. GO HEREfor full details, along with direct links to this exclusive content. Join Bill “Musoscribe” Kopp for a look at the jazz world – past, present, and yet-to-come, via interviews, essays, and reviews of new releases and archival titles.
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