Po' Girl melds tradition, modernity

By JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 10:42 AM PDT ∞

Given that the two lead singers of Po' Girl are Canadian, it may cause them some problems back home to describe their music as an amalgamation of American styles.

But even Awna Teixeira, one of the two lead singers of the trio (appearing Thursday night at Normal Heights United Methodist Church in San Diego), said the band's music is "heavily influenced by old songwriters and old jazz, old blues, country, a lot of folk.

"It really carries the folk tradition of songwriting. But we like to rock out sometimes, too. It's pretty eclectic ---- it's pretty hard to describe in one word."

Teixeira was speaking by phone from the road, where the band's members live these days. She said she and bandmates Allison Russell (vocals) and Benny Sidelinger (guitars) rented a storage unit to hold their belongings as they headed out on tour for the foreseeable future.

The band formed about five years ago when Teixeira and Russell met onstage in Vancouver, British Columbia, singing backup for a mutual friend.

Teixeira said the band's unique sound ---- almost vintage 1920s jazz but with modern influences throughout, in which clarinet, violin or accordion are as likely to be the lead instrument as guitar or banjo ---- was present from the beginning.

"It just happened that way," she said of their new-old sound. "We both have a lot of different influences as well as similar ones. In our own writing, there's a lot of different stuff that comes out. Together, it really just found its way, basically. We started writing together right away and singing together instantly.

"There was no real effort involved, which is nice, because you can work with people for years, and it's always really hard work, and Allie and I is easy, which makes it fun."

Po' Girl recently added Sidelinger to flesh out the band's sound, and occasionally employs local drummers, depending on the size of the venue. (Teixeira said the band will be using a drummer at the San Diego show.)

Po' Girl has issued three CDs, most recently "Home to You" last year on Nettwerk Records. Teixeira said it's busy at work on the fourth one.

Whether they'll seek label support or not is still up in the air, Teixeira said.

"This record we're recording in June, it's kind of undecided if we're going to have a label. We're looking for a new label, and we're not sure if that's going to be the case or if we're going to release it independently. It's kind of in our favor that we have control over that. There's so much change in the industry, it's hard to tell where it will be in five or 10 years."

While a label can help market a CD, Teixeira said the ubiquity of the Internet is giving bands new abilities to reach fans on their own. And she said that having your own Web site isn't always the right approach ---- or at least not the entire approach a band should take.

"Definitely with MySpace, people feel more connected than they do with just your Web site. It's more interactive. ... It's not my favorite place to hang out, but it does help people connect to what's going on and to connect with what's not mainstream. It is giving people more access to smaller things that are happening, and newer things are happening."

Besides, while most bands readily admit to hoping for that big record deal to put them over the top, Teixeira said Po' Girl's long-term goals are more modest.

"The ultimate goal is just to be able to do this consistently and live comfortably. I don't think any of us are really striving to hit the big time."

Po' Girl

When: 7:30 p.m. May 1

Where: Acoustic Music San Diego, 4650 Mansfield St. (Normal Heights United Methodist Church), San Diego

Admission: $15-$20

Info: (619) 303-8176 or acousticmusicsandiego.com

Web: pogirl.net

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