Rose City Band—helmed by guitarist and vocalist Ripley Johnson—brings its sun‑kissed, timeless country‑rock to Boulder’s Fox Theatre on Tuesday, September 30. Rooted in Johnson’s love of private‑press records from the mid‑ to late ’70s, the quartet crafts music that radiates warmth even as it acknowledges the shadows lurking at the edges of consciousness.
On their latest album Sol Y Sombra, Johnson’s effortless momentum meets moments of unexpected darkness. “With Rose City Band, I’m generally trying to make uplifting music, good time music,” he explains. “This time I couldn’t avoid the shadow being more of a presence. There’s no getting away from it. The shadow is always there. So, I left it in.” From the halogen‑bright highways of opener “Lights on the Way” to the melancholic reverie of closer “The Walls,” the record’s contrasts evoke both the joy of a desert sunset drive and the introspection of nightfall.
Joining Johnson are pedal‑steel virtuoso Barry Walker, whose shimmering licks on tracks like “Evergreen” infuse each note with starlight; keyboardist Paul Hasenberg, whose organ and piano weave sumptuous atmospheres; and drummer John Jeffrey, whose propulsive grooves ground the music in unshakable rhythm. Special guest Sanae Yamada adds touches of synth and harmony, pushing the ensemble’s explorations into even more dreamlike terrain.
Rose City Band’s Fox Theatre appearance marks one of the most anticipated country‑rock shows of the fall season. Fans can expect a setlist drawn heavily from Sol Y Sombra, alongside select favorites from the band’s earlier catalog—each song delivered with the intimate honesty and buoyant interplay that has earned them acclaim across the West Coast.
Doors open at 7:00 pm with the show beginning at 8:00 pm. Tickets go on sale at 10 AM on Friday, May 9th—don’t miss your chance to experience Rose City Band’s warm, expansive sound live at Boulder’s Fox Theatre.
