Photo courtesy Rasputina.com

With three cellos and more fuzz than the Melvins, Rasputina makes for an ensemble that is not only amazing, but an original idea that is rarely seen today. The "group" has been together for the past 11 years, with members coming and going in between. Rasputina fuses rock, classical, folk tales and humor to make a collage of melodies that gives birth to a unique brand of music. The Arizona Daily Wildcat was able to speak with the only original member, Melora Creager, to find out what her take is on the state of music, touring and being positive goths.

Wildcat: Have you ever played in Tucson before?

Creager: No, but I got my beloved cello at the (Chicago) music store. A friend had heard about that store, we drove from Las Vegas just to get it. My cello is so wonderful.

Wildcat: How collaborative is Rasputina as far as songwriting goes?

Creager: It's not very collaborative. The live show is a good part of what we do, and that's totally collaborative, obviously.

Wildcat: Why do you think it has been hard to keep members?

Creager: It's a hard job, that's why people go in and out so much. Touring is hard on your body.

Wildcat: Did you learn to play cello as a child?

Where and When Rasputina is playing at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., tonight at 9. The event is all ages. For more information on the band go to http://www.rasputina.com.

Creager: I started playing cello when I was nine. I stopped from the time I was 14 until I was about 19. I didn't want to be involved in the orchestra scene. People have a really personal response to that instrument.

Wildcat: On your Web site it says that Rasputina are "positive goths"?

Creager: We don't wear black, we wear white. We're the opposite of goth.

Wildcat: Have you always played cello in bands?

Creager: I played in more conventional rock bands, and the cello was more like decoration. But I wanted it to be heard. I just wanted to do my own shows. We just learned about it (cello), and tried get better and better at performing. When we first started, we didn't really sound that good. The idea (of playing cello in a rock-type band) always attracted people.

Wildcat: How do you feel about bands dressing up or having an image while they perform?

Creager: It's part of your responsibility to give it (performing) everything you've got, in every respect. I don't think it's gimmicky or fake.

Wildcat: What do you think people take from your shows?

Creager: The beauty of the shows.

Wildcat: Do you attract a certain type of crowd at your shows?

Creager: There are a few people who will really respond, some middle-aged people, lots of goth kids, and some frat-looking guys.

Wildcat: How do people react at metal shows when they see three girls with cellos open up?

Creager: We're a lot heavier than people think. People who don't know us are always surprised, the sounds that can come out of our cellos surprise people too.

Wildcat: What will you be doing after the tour?

Creager: We're not going to tour for a while because we're recording and we'd like to put the new record out in the spring.