The first time I met the guys from Everest was at Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit in 2007. My husband's band was playing, too, and one night we ended up sitting next to them at dinner. Young's benefit shows for the school his wife Pegi started are an amazing event, and I totally encourage you to go if you ever get the chance. The kids are truly special. Anyway, that night the guys struck up a conversation and friendship that endures to this day (as if two and a half years is a million or something).

I'm purty excited that the band is headed to SXSW this year and doubly excited that singer/songwriter Russ Pollard took time out to do these here blog features.

I asked My Morning Jacket keyboardist Bo Koster about Russ as he's spent some time in the last year touring with him and he told me, "Russ has a special way with cats. He tamed a feral cat named Marty over the course of a few months. That cat was a bat shit crazy sex addict. She had litter after litter after litter... meow she's as sweet as pumpkin pie."

Cat whisperer Pollard shared these interesting bits o' info with us:

He likes to text his friend Rob about great American inventions like Nascar, canned ham, elective surgery, The Ford F-150, Slim Jims, Scrapple and Whippits.

He was in Big Sur not too long ago and realized that he loves the smell of forests.

He's currently reading, The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon and is really enjoying it.

He appreciates a nice pair of jeans, attended the U of L and thinks Louisville is a great city.

I think you'll have a good time reading his...

The LP Questionnaire
Name: Russ Pollard
Pro Wrestling Name: Evil Bear

1. Pretend you’re 15. Name three songs you'd put on a mix tape for your girlfriend. I turned 15 in 1990, and I would most likely have picked these three songs.

"With Or Without You" - U2. Came out in '87, My girlfriend at the time, was a depressed punk rocker and she hated this song.

"Need You Tonight" - INXS. I slid across the floor on my knees to this song at a party to impress some girls. I think it worked. Thanks, INXS.

"Something About You"- Level 42. In the summer of '87 on a school bus to Pismo Beach, I sat next to Pam, Last name??? Anyway, we passed my walkman back and forth the whole four hour drive listening to this song holding hands the entire time. Later on that day, once we got to the beach, my best friend at the time stole her from me. They took off into the dunes and made out while I continued to listen to my Level 42 cassette. I've always found it helpful, listening to music on headphones in times of heartache.

2. Which evil villain would make the best President? Moby Dick. "The White Whale" would make a good president. Why not a whale?

3. What was your favorite cartoon as a child? I really liked Looney Tunes, Elmer Fudd & Bugs Bunny.

4. What superpower do you wish you had? Reactive adaptation/evolution (ability to develop a resistance or immunity to whatever i'm injured by or exposed to). Or, cross-dimensional awareness (ability to detect actions and events in other dimensions).

5. What would the title of your autobiography be? Get Me Off Of This Plane! My Life and Times as a Musician Flying Coach

Pick Three
Dustin O'Halloran: Dustin makes beautiful music and hearing him play in a church will bring me peace.

Califone: This band has always surprised me with their arrangements. Combinations of freak out experimentation with crafted songs played on acoustics.

Jets Overhead: These guys are label mates of ours and I'm really curious about their live show.

I hope you all remembered to change your clocks for stupid daylight savings time. Thanks for coming by on this sunny Sunday. If you are desirous of more of these little questionnaires, there's plenty more where that (this?) came from here.

Hearts are a-twitter @sxsw and @mspark. You can email us but I know you won't... if you change your mind, please send disco ducks to musicblog@sxsw.com.

I think my brain disappeared in the lost hour last night... no, seriously, lp

Photo by Zoran Orlic