After first appearing on the NBC singing competition The Voice, Bijou Belle and The RathCo hosted “An Evening with Bijou Belle,” a 7:00 PM watch party for her appearance earlier that month. The event was hosted at the 445 Lounge in the Rushmore Hotel last Friday night, the 13th. The event was successful, with many attending from the Rapid City area in support of Belle.
The community came together to sing and dance alongside Bijou and The RathCo. The 445 offered signature mocktails and cocktails called “ The Wildflower” named after Belle’s Blind Audition song, as well as $3 sodas with free refills to all who attended.
After watching Bijou’s audition on The Voice, her family band The RathCo performed more than a dozen cover songs, beginning with “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5 in honor of her coach on The Voice, Adam Levine. Other covers they performed included “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Creep” by Radiohead, and “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. The band also performed all 3 of their live songs from the debut release “The RathCo EP.”
The first question asked to Belle that night was, “What did Adam Levine smell like?” Bijou laughed and answered,
“I’ve been asked this question before if you can believe me,” she said, “I don’t really know how to describe it. He smelled good, like manly-success.” She laughed, “ I don’t know how else to describe it besides he smelled like he used good cologne!”
Another question asked to Bijou was, “What would you tell your younger self?” Bijou answered,
“Well, I’d say dream big! She was always really stressed out about stuff. I guess I’d tell her not to worry as much.”
Before performing Wildflower by Billie Eilish, Bijou spoke about how she admired Eilish. “I’ve always looked up to Billie Eilish. She works and performs with her brother Finneas, and that really inspired, and continues to inspire me, to work and perform with my family, The RathCo.”
There were many tears shed that evening by both The RathCo and the audience as Belle discussed her late grandfather, her family, community, and appreciation for where she is today.
“I’m very glad for everyone who came tonight.” Bijou’s mother, Roxanne Rathbun told the paper. “Bijou’s been working so hard, and I’m proud to be a part of a community that supports their local artists so much. We’re thankful to the 445 for lending us the space to watch, perform, and have a great night with an amazingly supportive local community.”
One of the final Q&A questions Bijou read said, “Are you going to create music after the Voice?” Bijou answered,
“Yeah of course! I love music. I’ve been doing lots to try to get better. I’ve taught myself how to play guitar because I can’t ask my brother. He’s a beast at guitar. I think anything he’d try to teach me would just go right over my head.” She laughed.
The performances ended with the final song of their EP, “Seventeen,” a song about wanting to get away from heartbreak and return to “the way it used to be” poetically ended the night, before the audience clamored for a cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” which actually ended the night.
