Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Last weekend, when most of Los Angeles was transfixed on some awards show, we drove down to Santa Ana to see music's other biggest night at the Constellation Room. We hadn't planned on it, really, but it was the last night of Zola Jesus and Deradoorian's month-long U.S. tour, traffic was going to be Sunday light, and as a backup plan we could always try out that new ramen burger joint down the street in case we couldn't sneak in. Still, the clincher for us even contemplating the idea of going out on a #DowntonNight was Bouquet who was a fairly late add to the lineup and a band we hadn't seen in awhile. (We know there are two L.A. bands named Bouquet but we're talking about the less hardcore punk one).
We have been fans of anything Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs has done over the last decade from Palms to The Finches to guest appearances in L.A. Ladies Choir and supergroup duets like Jung Bouquet with Charlyne Yi. And, of course, her latest duo Bouquet. Something about the precise tranquility of her voice that goes beyond the obvious comparisons to twee queens Tracyanne Campbell and Rose Melberg that makes her so fascinating. It also could be her always-witty in-between song banter -- like her adorable jab at punk band Leftover Crack (who were headlining The Observatory next door that night). In any case, the band is releasing an equally adorable 10" on March 10th through the great Folktale Records. "In A Dream" contains everyone's favorite Bouquet songs including "Come To Your House" and "Falling" (whose chorus fade-out induces tears of joy every. single. time).
Bouquet performs 2/15 at The Echo, 3/8 at Origami Vinyl, and 3/29 at Center for the Arts Eagle Rock (record release show).
