Rose City Band on StageOne at FTC, Fairfield, CT on September 17, 2025
I’d heard plenty about Portland, Oregon’s Rose City Band over the years. Friends raved over their blend of cosmic country, psych-rock, and rootsy grooves, describing them as a band that sounded like a road trip soundtrack drifting across the open highways of Texas or the California coast. Living in Hawai‘i, I figured they’d always remain out of reach, one of those groups I’d admire from a distance, but never catch live. That changed when I came to visit family in Connecticut, and by pure luck, the band was scheduled to play StageOne at FTC in Fairfield. Suddenly, a show I never thought I’d see was right in front of me.
StageOne itself was the perfect venue for such an experience. Tucked into downtown Fairfield, its intimate size, makes it feel more like a listening room. The welcoming vibe makes every performance feel personal. The sound system is pristine, capturing every shimmer of guitar and subtle shift in rhythm, while the small stage creates the sense of being in on something special.
From the moment Rose City Band took the stage, the atmosphere was unhurried and magnetic. Ripley Johnson, with his signature calm presence, led the group into the set with a loose, “In The Rain” that immediately set the tone, expansive, hypnotic, and quietly powerful. The music unfolded like a landscape, with Barry Walker’s pedal steel weaving through airy guitar riffs, and Paul Hasenberg’s hazy, sun-drenched keys. Surprisingly the band only played three selections off their most recent release, Sol y Sombra. “Evergreen” glowed with warmth, its rolling rhythm and pedal steel creating a sense of a transcendence. “Seeds of Light” built gradually, forming a hypnotic flow that pulled the audience deeper into Rose City Band’s orbit. The laid back groove of “La Mesa” was another standout, the full-bodied jam filled StageOne.
Older favorites blended seamlessly into the set. “Slow Burn” lived up to its title, unfolding gradually with a steady groove. “Mariposa,” one of the band’s most melodic and transportive tracks, soared in the live setting. “Dawn Patrol,” closed with a perfect send-off that captured the night’s atmosphere. The set showcased Rose City Band’s ability to balance accessibility with deep layers.
The entire night Rose City kept the balance between structure and improvisation. Each song served as a launching pad, expanding into extended passages, flowing in natural directions. The music was grounded in country-rock tradition, but with a cosmic openness that made it feel timeless.The crowd, too, played a role in shaping the evening. StageOne’s size made it possible to catch every smile, every nod of recognition between fans as the music carried us along. For me, sitting there, thousands of miles from home, the night had a kind of perfect vibe, the right place, the right time, and the right band.
