In 2021, Rose City Band delivered the all-soothing salve that was Earth Trip, born of a stronger connection to the natural world brought about by Ripley Johnson’s decision to enjoy the smaller things in life such as ‘hikes in nature, bathing outdoors and waking with the first rays of dawn.’ Where those experiences were maybe driven by isolation and lockdown, his new album Garden Party, out on 21 April via Thrill Jockey, expands and blossoms through the return of the communal experience and all that summer brings. European and UK tour dates in May/June (see below).
Listen to the lead single Chasing Rainbows that begins the beautiful cosmic journey…the perfect summer anthem…out today:
Gone out to blaze a path
Brought it in and you take it back
Finding a way of our own
Rolled down to see the creek
Reel it in and you take a peek
Throw it out and pray for our soul
> And you sing high in a low song
> Spaced out and chasing rainbows
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Thrill Jockey: Garden Party is 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. Recorded at Johnsons’ Portland home as well as The Center for Sound, Light, and Color Therapy and mixed by John McEntire, Garden Party features guest appearances by Moon Duo bandmates John Jeffrey on drums and Sanae Yamada on synths, as well as Rose City Band live performers Hasenberg on keyboards and Walker on pedal steel. Recorded by Songwriter Johnson primarily as a solo endeavor, the recordings nonetheless capture the twists and bends of a fully realized ensemble. In a nod to bands such as the Grateful Dead it doesn’t stop there. “The songs won’t really be finished until we play them on the road,” says Johnson.
Garden Party’s carefree attitude is layered with subtle turns and melodic gems which push the easygoing spirit towards transcendence. In live performance, the songs expand, opening up for the players to shine. Rose City Band features some of the finest players in contemporary rock: pedal steel guitarist Barry Walker, keyboardist Paul Hasenberg, bassist Dewey Mahood (aka Plankton Wat) and drummer Dustin Dybvig. Garden Party is a joyous ride where the band’s sounds surround and embrace you. Ripley says it best: “I always like when an album starts in one place, and ends in another”. What a beautiful journey it is.
Rose City Band tour dates:
Mar. 22-26 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Festival
Apr. 27 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
Apr. 28 – Santa Barbara – Soho
Apr. 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
Apr. 30 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
May 4 – Vancouver, BC – Cobalt
May 5 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
May 6 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theatre
May 21 – Berlin, DE – Privatclub
May 22 – Copenhagen, DK – Loppen
May 23 – Gothenburg, SE – Pustervik
May 24 – Oslo, NO – Blaa
May 25 – Stockholm, SE – Fasching
May 26 – Malmö, SE – Plan B
May 28 – Hamburg, DE – Hebebühne
May 29 – Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje
May 30 – Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet
May 31 – Middelkerke, BE – De Zwerver
Jun. 1 – London, UK – Scala
Jun. 2 – Manchester, UK – YES
Jun. 3 – York, UK – The Crescent
Jun. 4 – Brighton, UK – Patterns
Jun. 7 – Zürich, CH – Bogen F
Jun. 8 – Ravenna, IT – Beaches Brew
Jun. 9 – Milano, IT – Arci Bellezza
Pre-Order Garden Party – https://thrilljockey.com/products/garden-party