Before the Microphones there was "Mostly Clouds and Trees"and "X-Ray Means Woman"(both cassettes are still available). Phil was also a member of the Anacortes supergroup, "Tugboat". In the summer of 1996 he had an epiphany while rounding a corner on Heart Lake Rd. "Now's the time!" he yelled and began feverishly recording every night at KNW-YR-OWN studios as the Microphones. Each song improved on the previous and by the fall of 1997 there were 2 cassette releases, "Microphone" and "Wires and Cords". In September of that year he moved to Olympia and began recording at the same feverish pace at Dub Narcotic Studio. This was a big change. Dub Narcotic is in a giant empty warehouse room and KNW-YR-OWN is tucked between bookshelves. The experiments changed from recording layers and layers of organ to trying to capture the most massive echo explosions. Sound changed to a fluid, sculptable material and more care was taken in microphone placement and creative pre-amplification. Could this be called "more professional"?

In March of 1998 "TESTS" was released, probably the definitiive Microphones cassette; complete with letterpressed covers, tons of collaborators, 2 different studios, and 66 minutes worth of material. Summer and fall of 1998 saw 2 national tours for the microphones (one with Bronwyn, one with Dub Narcotic Sound System). ELSINOR records in Bellingham released a CD called "TESTS" (which is a a collection from all 3 cassettes) in January of 1999. Up Records released a 7", "Bass Drum Dream" in February and Chattanooga's The Bedtime Record released another 7" in March (called "Feedback"). Also in August the full length CD/LP, "Don't Wake Me Up", was released on K followed by another 7" called "Moon Moon". There was also thesort-of remix album of "Don't Wake Me Up" called "Window:" on YoYo Recordings in February 2000. And now of course everybody knows of the 2 newer Microphones full length masterpieces "It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water" and the monumental and critically acclaimed "the Glow, Pt. 2" (which by the way features guest apperances from fellow KNW-YR-OWN'ers Karl and Eddie Blau, Nate Ashley, Jacob Navarro from Voodoo Spoon, and Dave Matthies from the gift machine).

What will Phil do next? What's left? World domination? MTV? Stay tuned for details. For more Microphones info check out records website.