For The Wildwoods, making music is a family affair. Hailing from Lincoln, Neb., the three-piece folk group started with then middle-schoolers Chloe Pinkman and Noah Gose in 2012. Now married, violinist Chloe — now Chloe Gose — and guitarist Noah have been creating music together for over 13 years, and in 2022 their longtime friend bassist Andy Vaggalis officially joined the band.
“Obviously, Noah and I are married, but even our friend Andy, we've been best friends for forever,” Chloe said. “It really feels like we're a little family.”
The rest is history, as documented in their EPs and four original albums. The close-knit trio will be showcasing their chemistry on their newest successful tour — which will be making a stop in Charlottesville Friday.
The special relationships between the three pay off when it comes to The Wildwoods’ onstage chemistry. Feeling comfortable with each other allows them room for experimentation and live improvisation, according to Chloe. When coupled with their signature three-part harmonies and limited production, their performances feel even more intimate.
“I feel like the three of us feel very comfortable playing music together just because we've been doing it for so long,” Chloe said. “Even working on music together, I feel like all three of us are very understanding people, and we take each other's ideas into account. It really makes it easy for us to work together in a professional setting, as well as being friends too.”
The easygoing nature of The Wildwoods shines through in their sense of humor onstage. In between songs the trio likes to playfully interact with the crowd, combining ethereal melodies with lighthearted jokes and stories. This can be seen in action on their recorded live album, where they tell a story about the time that the strip club next to the bar they were playing closed early and then all of a sudden a crowd of strippers appeared in front of them, dancing to their slow folk songs.
“We like to keep it light hearted, because a lot of our music doesn't necessarily sound that way… We don't like to take ourselves too seriously,” Chloe said. “We're able to see that people are laughing and having a good time, as well as being touched by the music.”
The three each have a performer’s natural talent for reading the energy of the audience. The Wildwoods know when to play a slow ballad but also when it is time to kick it up and get people dancing instead. Their knack for connecting with their crowd makes every show feel personal — like being in on an inside joke.
By now The Wildwoods have established their distinct sound — a charmingly unique blend of folk and Americana inspired by legends like Gillian Walsh, The Beatles, David Rawlings and Joni Mitchell that fits right at home in Virginia.
“I think a lot of people think that we're from Appalachia, because a lot of our music sounds like it and we have a lot of lyrical hints to it,” Chloe said.
The second track on their latest album is a song titled “West Virginia Rain”, and they also released a beautiful cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” also famously about Appalachia, in 2020 in their typical string-heavy and melancholic style.
While the band’s home will always be in Nebraska, their many long days on the road have led them to feel at ease in the Southeast as well. Chloe explained that the Southeast holds particular weight for the group.
“When Noah and I graduated college, the first long tour we set out on was to this area,” Chloe said. “I feel like because it was one of the first places that we went to right after we graduated college, and we were still trying to figure out if this is what we wanted to do for a living, it was an inspiration for us.”
The dichotomy between home and life on tour is something The Wildwoods have explored in depth in their music. Their last album, “Foxfield Saint John” — unfortunately about a different Foxfield than the one University students may be familiar with — was about leaving home, new opportunities and the excitement of traveling that comes with it. Their new album, “Dear Meadowlark,” is set to release on all streaming platforms April 11. According to Chloe, this project is a foil to their last album about life on the road due to its themes of home, physical or not.
“Traveling all the time and being gone has just given each of us, I feel like a new appreciation, or more of an appreciation for home and the people that we have to leave every time we go on tour,” Chloe said.
Five out of 11 tracks on “Dear Meadowlark” have already been released, and the sonic and lyrical evolution from the rest of their discography is already evident. “Hideaway” and “I Will Follow You to Willow” stand out already, featuring their signature beautiful harmonies and gentle storytelling. The love that the trio shares for each other and the music they make is truly evident on “Dear Meadowlark,”and their talent and passion are showcased wonderfully in each song.
“We've been growing, and so of course our music has too,” Chloe said.
The Wildwoods will be supporting Montana bluegrass-rock band TopHouse Friday at 8 p.m. There, they will bring their Midwestern folk charm to Charlottesville, intertwining storytelling, love and music at The Jefferson Theater.
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