Everest's Russell Pollard and Neil Young

Everest's Russell Pollard on touring with Neil Young in the Fall of 2008:

"This tour is a new experience for all of us," Pollard said. "This band has done club tours, so it's a pretty big deal for us. He's a legend, and it's a huge honor to be invited and share a tour with him. We watch every show.

"He's performing for all the nosebleed seats, and his energy and his devotion is 110 percent every night. A lot of people don't get that, and don't do that."

From Orange County Music - Everest See the Mountaintop:

It’s got to be weird when you’re on a first-name basis with Neil Young.

But it’s been a reality—and a dream realized—for Los Angeles-based band Everest, who find a personal hero and inspiration in the rock legend.

After word and demos made their way to Young, he caught Everest’s live show during a stint in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival, where Young was promoting his concert film, CSNY Déjà Vu.

“[Young] popped over to see us in a little, 100-seat, tiny venue,” recalls Russ Pollard, Everest front man. He pauses. “Which kind of freaked everyone out.”

And then it all happened fast: a personal invitation to join Young on his European tour, getting handpicked to join his label (Vapor Records) and taking part in his famed annual Bridge School Benefit.

“That was like getting the ‘Golden Ticket’ to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory,” Pollard explains gleefully.

“We’re lucky. All in all, we’ve learned a lot this year being out with these bands. But, you know,” says Pollard, with a familiar happiness in his voice, “the cherry on top is Neil Young.”

More on the influence of Neil Young.