Actual Wolf

Eric Pollard, (born March 21, 1980) known professionally as Actual Wolf, is an American singer-songwriter and instrumentalist best known for his instrumental work in Retribution Gospel Choir, Sun Kil Moon, Low[1] and as the leader and songwriter for his eponymous band Actual Wolf.[2]

Actual Wolf
Actual Wolf on drums as a member of Sun Kil Moon in Paris in 2014
Actual Wolf on drums as a member of Sun Kil Moon in Paris in 2014
Background information
Birth nameEric Pollard
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer/songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • drums
  • piano
  • percussion
  • harmonica
  • bass
Labels

Early life and education

Eric Michael Pollard was born on March 21, 1980, and raised in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in the Iron Range region of the state. His father worked for Itasca County, Minnesota, and his mother was a nurse and flight attendant. He has one sister. All three of his immediate family members are musical, though he is the only one who has pursued music as a profession.[3] Pollard went to high school and participated in early bands with future Trampled By Turtles bass player Tim Saxhaug.[4] After high school he attended the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, where he met Justin Vernon.

Career

Pre Actual Wolf years

Pollard was the drummer and a vocalist for Retribution Gospel Choir. RGC, which had begun as a collaboration between Low guitarist and songwriter Alan Sparhawk and Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon founder Mark Kozelek (who left early in the band's history) was signed to Sub Pop.[5] He also toured as a keyboardist with Low.[6] Shortly thereafter he became a touring member of Sun Kil Moon.[7] He also contributed vocals to the Sun Kil Moon album April.

Actual Wolf

In 2012, under his new pseudonym, Actual Wolf self released the EP Lightning and the Wolf, which featured vocals by Haley Bonar. This led to a residency at the Turf Club and a show on the main stage at First Avenue in Minneapolis. He placed sixth on the annual "Picked to Click" list by the Twin Cities alternative weekly City Pages.[6]

In 2013 Actual Wolf released an eponymous full-length debut on the Chaperone record label.[8] Once his probationary restrictions were lifted he moved to Nashville to continue his music career.[9] While in Nashville Pollard returned to his roots as an instrumental sideman, touring and recording with the likes of Nikki Lane[10] and JP Harris.[11]

2015 saw the release of the cassette-only collection of Actual Wolf songs Itasca, the title of which refers to Itasca County.[1] Shortly afterward, Actual Wolf relocated to Oakland, California, to pursue work in the burgeoning legal medical marijuana industry while still continuing his songwriting/musical career.

In 2016 Actual Wolf began work on his second full-length, self-produced LP, Faded Days, with Minnesota-based musicians Jeremy Hanson of Tapes 'n Tapes, Jacob Hanson, Steve Garrington (bass player of low), vocalist Al Church and Nashville pedal steel player Ditch Kurtz. The album was released in 2017 on the Red House Records label.[2][3] During this period Pollard was still living in Oakland. It was there that he began to assemble a regular full-time touring band, eventually recruiting Bay Area lead guitarist Misisipi Mike Wolf, pedal steel player Ian Taylor Sutton,[12] keyboardist Kirby Hammel (formerly a touring member of Sun Kil Moon), drummer Andrew Griffin (Cake, Camper Van Beethoven)[13][14] and bassist Ted O'Connell.

References
  1. "Actual Wolf channels Dylan, AM country radio". Argus Leader. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  2. Fagerberg, Jerard. "Actual Wolf perfects a rootless roots rock with 'Faded Days'". City Pages. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  3. Aug 17th 2017 – 5am, Christa Lawler. "Those 'Faded Days': Actual Wolf's latest album chronicles post-probation period". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  4. LeCompte, Gale. "Dukes of Hubbard move onward and upward". Grand Rapids Herald-Review. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  5. "Retribution Gospel Choir | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  6. Collins, Cyn. "Actual Wolf is thankful for the Minnesota music scene and that he's not in jail". City Pages. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. "Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozelek does charity, album, tour". pastemagazine.com. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  8. "Actual Wolf – Actual Wolf".
  9. Alstyne, Rob Van. "Actual Wolf's Eric Pollard captures his creative spark". City Pages. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  10. "SKSW Guest Blog: Actual Wolf". Radio K. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  11. "Album Review – JP Harris's "Sometimes Dogs Bark At Nothing"". Saving Country Music. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  12. Jelinek, Russell (17 April 2017). "Actual Wolf prepares new album, shows". The Bay Bridged – San Francisco Bay Area Indie Music. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  13. "Paul Manousos' Andrew Griffin". Modern Drummer Magazine. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. Vigil, Delfin (1 May 2008). "Andrew Griffin". SFGate. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
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