Americana trio The Wildwoods brings warm, folk harmonies to Cedar Rapids

After a spin of the Wildwoods' latest album "Dear Meadowlark," it's evident how significant harmonies are to the Americana act. The lovely three-part harmonies buoy the compelling folk songs crafted by Noah Gose.

The appeal of rich harmonies struck Gose as pre-pubescent. "I was only in the sixth grade, and I heard the song 'Our House,' Gose recalled. "I loved that song."

However, the vocalist-guitarist intended to purchase Madness' "Our House" but instead ended up with Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Our House."

"Those are two very different songs," Gose said. "But after I listened to Crosby, Stills & Nash’s ‘Our House,’ I just loved the harmonies. I loved that song so much I begged my mother to let me purchase the Crosby, Stills & Nash album ‘Deja Vu’ on iTunes. That was just before streaming happened so I had to buy it. I had to have that album."

Gose, 27, was thrilled that his mother acquiesced. The songs from "Deja Vu" have had quite an impact on Gose as a musician. "I love harmonies but they're not easy to do," Gose said while calling from his Lincoln, Nebraska home. "I think that's why you don't hear harmonies so often today. We work quite a bit on our harmonies."

Gose, wife and violinist Chloe Gose, and bassist Andrew Vaggalis put their time in with harmonies, lyrics and arrangements.

"Fortunately this is our passion," Gose said. "I start by writing the lyrics, and I take the song from there."

The Americana trio, which will perform Thursday at CSPS Hall, will draw from such albums as "Sweet Nostalgia" and "Birdie & Goose," both released in 2017; 2019's "Across A Midwest Sky“; 2023's "Foxfield Saint John" and the aforementioned "Dear Meadowlark."

The latter was inspired by Lincoln, where Gose and his wife were born, raised and remain. "I love coming back to Lincoln," Gose said. "When we're out on the road it's great, but I look forward to returning. Much of this album connects with Lincoln. It's always been home."

Gose and his wife have known each other since they were children. They started dating in the eighth grade. "We were just 14 years old," Chloe Gose said. "And we've stayed together."

The couple have no problem spending so much time with each other. "It might not be great for every husband and wife, but it works for us," Chloe Gose said. "I couldn't imagine doing it any other way. We've been together for half of our lives, and it's good."

Noah and Chloe Gose have been making music since they became a couple. They both graduated from the University of Nebraska. Noah Gose was a music composition major, and Chloe Gose majored in violin performance and psychology.

Vaggalis, 28, joined the act in 2017 but became a full-time member in 2022.

"Andy has made a big difference," Chloe Gose said. "We now have those three-part harmonies."

The Wildwoods initially hit the road shortly after Noah Gose and Chloe Gose graduated from college in 2017. One of the act's most memorable shows was a gig at the late and lamented Dick's Tap & Shake Room.

"We were fresh out of high school," Chloe Gose said. "We were so young, but Dick took a chance on us even though we were so young. It was so cool that he let us play there. Playing in that room in Cedar Rapids was a cool, early memory."

But nearly a decade has passed since the Wildwoods’ Cedar Rapids debut, and the group has changed, in part to extensive touring.

"We've learned a lot on the road," Noah Gose said. "We love it and we love making music. It's all we've ever done."

The same goes for relationships since Noah Gose and Chloe Gose have been a couple since middle school.

"That's fine with us," Chloe Gose said. "We couldn't imagine doing anything but what we're doing or being with anyone else. We're happy making music together."