By Mat Weir (full story in the GoodTimes)
A soothing, blue light washed over the Ugly Mug Coffeehouse in Soquel last Thursday, the air buzzing with an energy not entirely from the caffeine.
Roughly two dozen people sat captivated by the singer/songwriter duo performing in front. The woman sat cross-legged in a chair, layers of talisman necklaces sparkling against her crocheted vest and messy-chic hair. Her bandmate rocked a redwood-green cardigan and ripped jeans, reminiscent of a more put-together Kurt Cobain, as he strummed an acoustic guitar. The bohemian aesthetic blended perfectly into the vibe of Soquel’s favorite coffee shop.
“Last night I was supposed to tell the audience how my guitar got its name, but I forgot,” he says with a laugh. “But it was at a brewery, and everyone was wasted, so nobody noticed.”
It’s the type of duo you might expect to find in any independent coffee shop, except that not every coffee shop is visited by pop royalty like Paris “P.K.” Jackson—yes, that Jackson, daughter of the late Michael—and not many new bands are followed around by a film crew. Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn—Paris’ boyfriend and lead singer and guitar player for Hollywood’s self-proclaimed “mangiest band,” the Trash Dogs—play together as the Soundflowers. Their sound echoes Joni Mitchell and early Dylan while fitting in with the sound of newer folk artists like Two Gallants (minus the drums) and the Civil Wars. They actually played two shows in the Santa Cruz area on Thursday, with a set at the Blue Lagoon before the performance in Soquel. The question is: why here?
Read the rest of the story here in the GoodTimes
