Howelsen Headliner: An Interview with Fruition
07/24/2024 07:00AM ● By Elainna Hemming
(Photo: The Portland, Oregon-based band Fruition will be performing in Steamboat Springs on July 27 as part of the Steamboat Free Summer Concert series. Photo by Kaja Sigvalda.)
Steamboat Springs, CO - Jay Cobb Anderson, one fifth of the folk and Americana band Fruition, loves visiting Colorado and especially Steamboat. Luckily for him, the Oregon band is set to return on Saturday, July 27 for their performance as part of the Steamboat Free Summer Concert series. Jay (vocals, lead guitar and harmonica) spoke to Steamboat Magazine about staying weird with their hometown Portland, recording harmonica jams and playing in Colorado. Fruition’s new album, “How To Make Mistakes,” is set to come out on Friday, Aug. 23.
Steamboat Magazine: Have you played at Howelsen Hill before? What are you looking forward to about the venue?
Jay Cobb Anderson: I’m not sure if we’ve ever played that venue before. I lose track sometimes. But I love Steamboat and what I’m looking forward to most is that the people there are fantastic and such great music fans. Steamboat in particular is where we do WinterWonderGrass and we’ve had lots of great times there so I’m excited to return.
SM: Are you excited for anything particular during your time in Colorado?
JCA: Oh, Colorado, like I said, to me first of all, it’s gorgeous. Just being in the state is a refreshing, regenerative sort of feeling. Just breathing that air, that thin air, haha. The people are so lovely and it’s so great to go to a place where people are ready to hear not just what we’ve done in the past but new stuff as well. I love the people in Colorado just as much as the scenery.
SM: What was the inspiration/creative process behind the band’s new album “How To Make Mistakes?”
JCA: It kind of comes from all over the place, you know? We hadn’t recorded anything in like four years. So we were kind of itching to get into a studio and work through a bunch of songs we already had all ready to go. Some were new songs, some old songs that hadn’t fit into our other projects. To record, we just played it all live. So I think that's why we called it “How To Make Mistakes.” It's just raw, no overdubs, and it is what it is. You get to hear the band in its true essence.
SM: What is your favorite song off the new album and why?
JCA: It’s hard to pick a favorite. It’s always hard to say which song. I really enjoyed Mimi’s song “Get Lost.” That’s a really great song. When it came to recording, my favorite song was “One By One.” On the track, people can really notice that we are just having a good time. I played pedal steel in the middle of the song and took a harmonica solo and then switched back to the pedal. It was fun to challenge myself like that.
SM: How does your hometown of Portland influence the band’s music?
JCA: Oh, man, in so many ways. I guess the whole culture here is very open to art and people expressing themselves in any way they want. It’s always felt like this place encourages people to explore their creativeness in their identities. It's always felt like you can do anything you want here and be acceptable. I’d say a lot of the inspiration of this place comes from that idea. Keep Portland weird, as they say.
SM: What do you like most about playing the harmonica?
JCA: It’s an instrument that people always seem to respond well to when you pull a harmonic out...especially if you can play it well. It feels like the human voice and you can kind of talk with it. I love the expressive nature of playing. You can bend notes and change the tone and timbre. And it’s portable!
For more information on Fruition and their upcoming album, visit https://www.fruitionband.com/
Steamboat Springs, CO - Jay Cobb Anderson, one fifth of the folk and Americana band Fruition, loves visiting Colorado and especially Steamboat. Luckily for him, the Oregon band is set to return on Saturday, July 27 for their performance as part of the Steamboat Free Summer Concert series. Jay (vocals, lead guitar and harmonica) spoke to Steamboat Magazine about staying weird with their hometown Portland, recording harmonica jams and playing in Colorado. Fruition’s new album, “How To Make Mistakes,” is set to come out on Friday, Aug. 23.
Steamboat Magazine: Have you played at Howelsen Hill before? What are you looking forward to about the venue?
Jay Cobb Anderson: I’m not sure if we’ve ever played that venue before. I lose track sometimes. But I love Steamboat and what I’m looking forward to most is that the people there are fantastic and such great music fans. Steamboat in particular is where we do WinterWonderGrass and we’ve had lots of great times there so I’m excited to return.
SM: Are you excited for anything particular during your time in Colorado?
JCA: Oh, Colorado, like I said, to me first of all, it’s gorgeous. Just being in the state is a refreshing, regenerative sort of feeling. Just breathing that air, that thin air, haha. The people are so lovely and it’s so great to go to a place where people are ready to hear not just what we’ve done in the past but new stuff as well. I love the people in Colorado just as much as the scenery.
SM: What was the inspiration/creative process behind the band’s new album “How To Make Mistakes?”
JCA: It kind of comes from all over the place, you know? We hadn’t recorded anything in like four years. So we were kind of itching to get into a studio and work through a bunch of songs we already had all ready to go. Some were new songs, some old songs that hadn’t fit into our other projects. To record, we just played it all live. So I think that's why we called it “How To Make Mistakes.” It's just raw, no overdubs, and it is what it is. You get to hear the band in its true essence.
SM: What is your favorite song off the new album and why?
JCA: It’s hard to pick a favorite. It’s always hard to say which song. I really enjoyed Mimi’s song “Get Lost.” That’s a really great song. When it came to recording, my favorite song was “One By One.” On the track, people can really notice that we are just having a good time. I played pedal steel in the middle of the song and took a harmonica solo and then switched back to the pedal. It was fun to challenge myself like that.
SM: How does your hometown of Portland influence the band’s music?
JCA: Oh, man, in so many ways. I guess the whole culture here is very open to art and people expressing themselves in any way they want. It’s always felt like this place encourages people to explore their creativeness in their identities. It's always felt like you can do anything you want here and be acceptable. I’d say a lot of the inspiration of this place comes from that idea. Keep Portland weird, as they say.
SM: What do you like most about playing the harmonica?
JCA: It’s an instrument that people always seem to respond well to when you pull a harmonic out...especially if you can play it well. It feels like the human voice and you can kind of talk with it. I love the expressive nature of playing. You can bend notes and change the tone and timbre. And it’s portable!
For more information on Fruition and their upcoming album, visit https://www.fruitionband.com/