Bands driven by female harmonies often bear the burden of their Lillith-esque predecessors too heavily. You know the type – bands where the strongest positive adjective you can think of is “pretty.” Arlington-based 5 piece The Hickories don’t fall prey to that malady. Helmed and founded by lead vocalist Michelle Volpe, the band released their 5-song EP, Lost In Pennsylvania, last fall. I was all set to review their show on the 18th at Iota, but a touch of the bird flu limited me to reviewing this impressive debut instead.

The Hickories aren’t reinventing the wheel on this album; there aren’t musical advances that garner words like ‘genius.’ But there is a nuanced sound that shows a clear base of talent over showiness. The band was formed piecemeal over time – old roommates, Craig’s List finds and more. Michelle Volpe is the cornerstone; she’s the central songwriter, and the band’s foreman. A lifelong singer, she only began playing guitar and writing music in recent years; in forming the band, she surrounded herself with a troupe of talented and experienced musicians that expanded the band’s range.

You can’t sit in proximity to this album for too long without remarking on the clear stand out – the vocal harmonies between Volpe and Meghan Sharpe. The frequent comparisons to sixties bands like he Mamas & The Papas are earned on the sheer precision of those harmonies; these two voices were meant to sing together. It’s best portrayed on the track “1965,” but prevalent throughout the album.

The instrumentation is subtle and complimentary to the vocals. I’d like to see them move towards even more prominent instrumentals, in the manner of a Rilo Kiley or local favorites Nethers. But their current formula works. Given time, this band could potentially make major waves. They could perhaps use a drop or two more of pop to bump up the memorability of their hooks, but the country-infused guitars on the title track, and the slow and steady time keeping on “Drown” lay the groundwork for something special.

The Hickories don’t sound like a bar band. The opening notes of the album invite you to stay and listen some more. You can pick up a copy at Olsson’s, CD Cellar or CDBaby.com.

Visit Them At:: http://www.thehickories.com

See Them Next:: April 1 at the Cherry Blossom Festival, or April 7 at the State Theater as part of the Six Points Music Festival

Questions for The Hickories:

How did the EP get its name?

From the third song on the EP with the same title. We liked the rhythm and feeling of “Lost in Pennsylvania,” and thought that the idea of being “lost” could apply to most of the songs on the EP.

Your band’s bio mentions roots from all around the country; how did everyone end up here in the D.C. area?

For jobs and some family connections.

Your name comes from the Gram Parsons song, “Hickory Wind.” Why was that your source of inspiration?

Michelle happened to hear the song while we were trying to come up with a band name. She likes the song, and realized that she just really likes the word “hickory,” and brought the idea to the band. Also, because a lot of the imagery she uses in her lyrics is based in nature, and because you could describe our music as “rootsy,” it just seemed to fit.

How are the more collaborative songwriting efforts coming? Is the sound changing now that Michelle isn’t the sole contributor?

They’re coming along very well. We don’t think the sound is changing that much because Michelle still provide the melodies and a lot of the chords.

You all are starting to have a strong presence at local events (the Cherry Blossom Festival) and music festivals (Six Points). Do these types of events give you a stronger sense of connection to the D.C. area?

Definitely. We continue to meet more and more people from the area and really feel like we’re a part of the landscape and the community. We feel very comfortable here.

What are the positives of the D.C. music scene?

Most people are friendly and helpful.

Negatives?

Some people are snooty and off-putting.

What are your favorite local venues to play in?

Iota, Jammin’ Java.

To see a show in?

Iota, 9:30 Club, Birchmere, Jammin’ Java, Black Cat.

Who are your favorite local artists?

Laura Tsaggaris, Mike Holden, The Reserves, Cynthia Lin (well, she’s in Chicago now) and Rocknocerous.

You all have a very detailed biography on your website – what’s left out? Tell us something we don’t know about The Hickories.

That we practice in a consignment shop that is now being converted to an autobody shop. It’s a pretty strange little spot, with a toilet that doesn’t work, a whimsical mural of outer space and no insulation. It works for us.

Why did you decide on the EP format over a full-length album?

Mainly for practical reasons: money and time. We would love to do a full-length next time. Perhaps we will get label backing, which would help make that happen.

Where did you record it? What was that experience like?

We recorded at Actiondale Studio in Annandale, VA with owner Mike Harvey. It was fun, tiring, sometimes frustrating and sometimes exhilarating.

What’s next for The Hickories?

We are starting to play in other cities up and down the east coast (NYC, Baltimore, Philly). We plan to do as many “mini-tours” as possible this year and to continue promoting “Lost in Pennsylvania.” We will also continue to work on new songs and, I hope, start planning our next recording.