Forget cherubim floating around the puffy clouds of heaven, strumming adorable little harps.
These angels rock.
Lynne Reardon, Midyne Spear and Jill Meniketti are Electric Angel, the world’s first all-female electric harp trio, and will make their Oregon debut at Eugene’s Tsunami Books on Sunday.
The trio plays multi-colored harps custom-made in France, which resemble electric guitars in some ways.
“We love harps as well as electronic gadgetry,” Meniketti said. “We wanted to stretch the instrument itself as well as expand the notion of what the harp can do.”
The Angels got their start a little more than two years ago, when Meniketti’s husband suggested forming an electric harp trio and “trying something new.”
“We wanted to break the stereotype of the angelic harpist with the long, flowing gown,” Meniketti said. “We’re kind of like Jimi Hendrix, who expanded the idea of the electric guitar. We have expanded the idea of the harp.”
The electric harps differ from traditional ones in both their construction and design. They are shaped like traditional Celtic harps but don’t have a hollow soundbox. They also have electric pickups like an electric guitar.
“Because they’re amplified, we have a lot of control over the volume and sound,” Reardon said.
The harps plug into a standard guitar amplifier, which allows them to use sound effect pedals that are made for electric guitars.
Reardon said that although exploring the new, amplified opportunities of the harp is part of the group’s appeal, there is a visual impact to their shows as well.
“Part of the act is the visual effect of different-colored harps,” she said.
The group plays a number of different styles, including contemporary pop, new age, jazz and even a little rock.
“All three of us are classically trained, but it’s hard to put us into one genre. Some of our stuff is new-agey; some of it is poppy stuff,” Meniketti said. “It’s all turned into something really fun.”
The group covers Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” on their CD, “Electric Angel,” and audiences may be surprised to hear the versatility of the instrument.
“My husband discouraged us from doing that, saying the harp ‘wasn’t funky enough for a Stevie Wonder tune,’ but Lynne hooked up a wah-wah pedal [to the harp], and it turned out really good,” Meniketti said.
Scott Landfield, co-owner of Tsunami Books, said that the venue’s sophisticated sound and recording equipment will help emphasize the performance.
“The back of the store turns into a theater that seats 120 people,” he said.
Landfield said Electric Angel’s performance marks the beginning of their event season and that people can look forward to many more eclectic events in the future.
“Musically, we like to focus on jazz, acoustic and a certain amount of new age,” Landfield said.
The concert will begin at 4:30 p.m., and there is a suggested $6 donation.
“We don’t turn away anybody, though,” Landfield said.