The Pacific Northwest has produced many folk bands.
But not many that feature a
cello.
A year and a half ago, three Portland musicians combined the sounds of classical cello, traditional acoustic guitar and modern electric guitar to form Annavox.
Annavox will make its first excursion outside of Portland on Friday to appear at Eugene’s Cozmic Pizza. They will perform from 8 to 10:30 p.m. with local indie rock band Abandon Ship and funk band Champagne Syndicate opening. Tickets are $3 at the door.
Annavox is a trio comprised of cellist/vocalist Anna Fritz, acoustic guitarist/vocalist David Gerritsen and electric guitarist/vocalist David Waingarten.
“I’ve dreamed since I was a kid of fronting a band with a cello,” said Fritz, who began her classical training on the cello when she was 6 years old.
“The cello is a gorgeous, rich, versatile instrument,” she said.
The trio met two years ago through their involvement in the Portland poetry scene. Gerritsen said he was looking for something new and different, and Fritz said she was interested in bridging the gap between the between the constraints of classical music with more fluid rules of folk music.
“They helped me break out of my classical chains,” Fritz said.
The group started playing together in coffee houses, pubs and medium-sized clubs around Portland, such as the Medicine Hat Gallery and Ash Street Saloon.
The trio tries to create a very “intimate feeling” with vocal harmonies, Fritz said.
Although their music is heavily influenced by folk, Gerritsen said the trio’s wide spectrum of tastes has often brought other more subtle influences to their music. He said he enjoys listening to pop and hip-hop, and on some level that must influence his songwriting.
“When it finally comes out the funnel, it sounds like folk-classical with a candy pop coating,” he said.
Nathan Lester, who produced their album, “All Day Breathing,” admitted it took him a while to warm up to the new sound.
“Anna is doing something that fills the place of the bass line,” he said. “She’s doing something her own.”
Lester said he was amazed when the trio went into the studio to make the album. He said they only had to record one or two takes to lay down a track, instead of the usual three to four.
Lester said Annavox is unlike any other folk band he has heard.
“It’s not the typical bass, drums, guitar,” he said. “It’s got complexity and subtlety.”