Phil Cook’s been through some hard times and a great deal of change in the past five years.
The Durham-based piano player and songwriter’s been involved in bands since he was in high school, and his musical connections and his own talents have taken him to great heights.
But like it was for many, the pandemic years proved to be a turning point, a catalyst that altered his relationships — including a divorce — and thrust him into a period of deep reflection.
The night of April 3 at The Hamilton Live in Washington DC, Cook opened himself up to an intimate audience with his words at the microphone and by way of a front-to-back performance of his latest instrumental recording, Appalachia Borealis, released just a few weeks ago on Psychic Hotline.
Listen to Phil Cook’s latest release, Appalachia Borealis, via Spotify:
Addressing the audience after opening with a pair of his earlier compositions, Cook explained that the separation was not only hard on him, but his children as well. To heal his own pain, Cook put himself in natural, thought-provoking settings — in the woods, by a river, listening to the birds. In fact, some of the natural calls he heard helped him compose his latest album and are even sampled on some tracks.
Time and time again, he’d find himself returning to the piano, where he felt welcomed.
“I had to return to my childhood instrument. It became my sanctuary,” said Cook, who grew up in Wisconsin as a high school classmate and bandmate of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame.
Along with his brother, Brad, on bass and Joe Westerlund on drums, Cook was part of a foursome that rolled together as Mount Vernon, then later as DeYarmond Edison before Vernon branched off to launch his now world-renowned solo project.
They’d settled in Durham, North Carolina, where Phil, his brother and Westerlund would form Megafaun, another successful outfit. But after busy years recording and touring with Hiss Golden Messenger and following the awakening he experienced to start this decade, Cook reconnected with and restored himself through the keys.
“This is who I was before all of that,” he told the audience last week in DC. He wore no shoes, just socks. “This isn’t a performance; this is me letting you in … .”
Below are photos of Phil Cook at The Hamilton Live in Washington DC on April 3, 2025. All images copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.
