Rose City Band - Chasing Rainbows

Rose City Band - “Chasing Rainbows” from the 2023 album Garden Party on Thrill Jockey.

Rose City Band, the brainchild of Ripley Johnson (also of Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo and, with a name like that, was either born to play music or be the keeper of facts that you may, or may not, believe) is due to release their fourth record later this month. Titled Garden Party, the album follows up 2021’s Earth Trip and is said to be, “A celebration of summer and all it brings: communal gatherings, the respites offered by nature, and an appreciation for even the simplest beauty, from 12-foot sunflowers to a contorted carrot planted in the spring.”

The record’s lead single and our Song of the Day does not dispute that claim. “Chasing Rainbows,” by name alone, suggests the nostalgic innocence of childhood when one’s summer days might consist of chasing things one cannot capture but deeply believe they can. Led by a rollicking pedal steel by Barry Walker, the song actually tells a story not of childhood but on the road on tour, which can feel like a certain kind of childhood in that your days are filled with car rides and playing music. ”Tour ‘round the world and back,” sings Johnson. “Throw it out and you blaze a path /Wanderin' a dream all our own.”

Rose City Band will be chasing rainbows all the way to Seattle on Friday, May 5th to play the Tractor Tavern. Read Martin Douglas’ Throwaway Style piece on Rose City Band and watch Ripley Johnson front a Wooden Shjips KEXP in-studio performance from all the way back in 2013 at the full post at KEXP.org.

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