Get three songwriters in a room together and the result is unpredictable, but every so often you get a collaboration that works in the best possible way. Such is the case with Easton Stagger Phillips, a project featuring acclaimed Nashville singer-songwriter Tim Easton, Alaskan producer and musician Evan Phillips, and Canadian singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger. At least geographically, this seems like an unlikely pairing, but each of these three are highly talented and, as a trio, their individual artistic voices mesh flawlessly. Much like supergroup the Traveling Wilburys – who they cite as an influence – Easton, Stagger, and Phillips each bring their own voice and style to the table to create music that comes across as a truly special meeting of the minds.
Whereas on their first album, 2009’s One For The Ditch, the trio opted for a more stripped-down, rustic sound that was a musical reflection of the Alaskan cabin they recorded it in, Easton Stagger Phillips went for a larger, more electrified sound on their recently released Resolution Road. The album’s refined production, array of instruments, and catchy tunes is reminiscent of power pop groups like Big Star and Matthew Sweet while incorporating hints of groups like the Jayhawks and, of course, those Traveling Wilburys. Most importantly, Resolution Road sees each songwriter’s talents on full display, making the album one of the finest releases to come out this year. It is the kind of collaborative work that doesn’t come often, and warrants repeat listening and sing-a-longs. The only thing you’re left wanting after hearing Resolution Road is for Easton Stagger Phillips to be a full-time band. Despite being scattered across North America, I managed to catch up with these three songwriters to find out the backstory of Easton Stagger Phillips.
Neil Ferguson: How did you all connect initially – both personally and musically?
Tim Easton: Evan first heard me on the radio on a World Cafe show that was syndicated up in Alaska. Leeroy and I met backstage at a Steve Earle show in Austin. Both Leeroy and I were opening for [Evan’s band] the Whipsaws in Anchorage when we decided to start writing songs and form a band.
Leeroy Stagger: Evan had reached out over email before I had met Tim. He explained his band was from Alaska and asked if he could send me some music. I couldn’t believe such great rock and roll was coming out of Alaska, so we kind of stayed in touch.
Evan Phillips: I had been a huge fan of Easton’s songwriting since I first heard him on the radio in 2001. By chance, he came up to Alaska for a tour later that year and has subsequently been up every year since. Alaskans consider Easton to be one of their own, and we’ve become really close friends over the years.
I met Leeroy when I toured the West Coast with him and Matt Hopper in 2007. Later that year, both Tim and Leeroy came to Alaska to play with the Whipsaws when we released our second album, 60 Watt Avenue (2008). It was only then that we decided to get together in a cabin in Girdwood and record an album. Becoming a band was actually an afterthought.
Why did it take you all so long to get together for the new album?
TE: Geographical reasons, mostly. We do live very, very far apart from each other.
LS: Evan’s [mountain climbing] injury plus life in general, having kids and what have you. We’ve all put out a few solo records since then as well. We’ve been busy. I can’t remember who decided we should make another record but I’m glad we did. It’s killer.
Can you shed some light on how Resolution Road is a departure from One For The Ditch?
TE: The most obvious answer is that, sonically, it’s a huge change-up. The first one was recorded in a cabin and has more of a front porch sing-a-long feel. The new one is more produced; there were more overdubs and backing vocals stacked on, there is some electric guitar and electric bass, plus some monkeys that I recorded at the Nashville Zoo!
EP: When we recorded One For The Ditch in 2008 there was no plan. We weren’t even a band then and really had no intention of being a band. At the time our thinking was, “hey, all three of us are together in Alaska in the dead of winter. Let’s do some recording and just see what happens.” One For The Ditch is super stripped down and totally acoustic based.
In 2012 we started talking about making another album. From the get go, we all agreed that we would exchange demos and come to a consensus on the 10 best songs we had. We had a very clear goal to try and make the best record any of us had ever made. We wanted the songs to have bigger hooks and bigger harmonies. Tim’s exact words were, “Let’s make an album with 10 hits.” We also wanted to have more of a full band sound. In that sense, we feel like Resolution Road makes a pretty big artistic statement (compared to One For The Ditch).
Is there anything particular about Alaska that informs the tone of the album this time around?
TE: Not really. I mean, Evan is there all year round and we will tour there later this summer, but this is a band record with lots of great songs that pertain to people, not necessarily places, even though Alaska is big in all of our hearts.
EP: I spent 10 years of my life essentially living out of the back of my truck and climbing mountains. In that sense, Alaska and it’s landscape have always influenced my writing.
Were there certain bands that you listened to that influenced the sound of the album?
TE: No, although I do remember asking for a Traveling Wilburys tone on the slide guitar for the song “Traveler,” but that just means stack it up and compress it like Jeff Lynne might have had George Harrison do.
LS: Not really, when you have 3 creative people the original ideas seem to flow without the aid of references. We all listen to a lot of music so all of those influences are naturally in the ol’ brain.
EP: The last few years I’ve really tried to open my music world up a bit. In my years touring with the Whipsaws we were heavily influenced by bands like Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Drive By Truckers, etc. The last few years I’ve been digging on artists like Kurt Vile, Broken Social Scene, Deer Tick, etc. Those influences have certainly made my songs better (and bigger sounding).
All of you are songwriters – did you each bring songs to the table and were there some songs you actually sat and wrote together?
TE: We brought the majority of them in and then tweaked them together — arrangements, editing, lyrical suggestions.
LS: Tim and I arranged a few together for this session and a couple that didn’t make the record as well. Nothing was written together for this session.
EP: We exchanged demos via email before we recorded Resolution Road. We all came to the table with our own songs, but the goal was to polish and produce them together as a band.
Can you talk about how you all push each other musically?
TE: We attempt to cut the fat out of each other’s songs; try to push each other to get to the meat and bones of the song and the emotion.
LS: Tim and Evan are really hard workers and don’t let you get away with anything, so they pushed me big time to get harmonies and parts done properly. No corners cut.
EP: We are pretty honest with each other when it comes to giving each other feedback about our songs. I’m really grateful that Tim and Leeroy pushed me as hard as they did when we recorded Resolution Road. For instance, “Lucillia” came together at the last moment; I had a good melody but the chorus lyrics were seriously lacking. Tim and Leeroy told me in very plain English that it wasn’t good enough. So I buckled down over night, came up with the character of Lucillia, and in doing so wrote one of the biggest hooks of my life.
For more on Easton Stagger Phillips check out eastonstaggerphillips.com!
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