With a name inspired by the Ray LaMontangne song of the same title, Roses And Cigarettes comprises Jenny Pagliaro and Angela Petrilli, and formed in Los Angeles, back in 2013. The duo have just released their ‘Acoustic Sessions’ EP, which, as the name suggests, is made up of six acoustic tracks.
Roses And Cigarettes have performed to sold out crowds across LA, including Harvelle’s in Santa Monica, and Second Stage, at Hotel Café, Hollywood, as well as Pappy & Harriet’s, in Pioneertown, in San Bernadino’s High Desert. They’ve had their music featured Los Angeles radio stations KLOS FM, and KCSN FM, and their talent on the guitar has been recognised with endorsments from Fender Guitars, Martin Guitars, and D’Addario guitar strings.
The pair first me when Jenny was serving as a vocalist in a local covers band. Angela auditioned for a vacant guitar spot, and the ladies immediately bonded, over their desire to create and perform original material, and break out of the covers band route.
They released their debut album as Roses And Cigarettes in May 2015, and had a tour due to go forward in the autumn of that year. Unfortunately however, the tour had to be put on hold when Pagliaro was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer, and immediately started treatment. A year later, again wiith a tour planned, she was told the bad news – the cancer was back, and this time it was Stage IV. Despite this, and following further, and more gruelling treatments, the band set out and completed their tour successfully.
Despite her drastic diagnosis, Jenny continues to stun both her doctors and fans, and her health has improved dramatically. She credits the new treatment for some of the healing, but nonetheless she feels the real secret has been in making music with Roses And Cigarettes.
Pagliaro says,
“I have to take care of myself and stay healthy – that’s my priority, but my music and the band will be an important part of that healing process.”
The EP, ‘Acoustic Sessions’, is a great mix of Americana and folk sounds, with Pagliaro and Petrilli sharing vocals and strings. It’s feisty and fierce, with punchy lyrics and not so much duelling guitars as a unity. Roses And Cigarettes are certainly the perfect match.
Of the six tracks on the EP, our favourite would have to be the fourth, ‘Echoes And Silence’, especially when considering Pagliaro’s health problems. It’s a bittersweet and laid back track which nonetheless offers hope in the knowledge that she’s doing exactly what she wants to do with her life, making music and getting on with it. The track will be the second release from ‘Acoustic Sessions’, after ‘Back To You’, and comes out early next year.
Roses And Cigarettes have opened for the likes of Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, Jim Lauderdale, Luther Dickson, Mark Broussard, and many many more, and their audiences continue to grow apace, and deservedly so.
‘Acoustic Sessions’ is available to stream and download on all digital media. You can find further details on Roses And Cigarettes’ official website. You can also find them online on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SoundCloud, and YouTube.
