Today we’d like to introduce you to Rainbow City Park. They and their team shared their story with us below:
The band’s story begins in 2021, when Chris, pondering life’s priorities in the wake of the pandemic, decided to put together an indie project. After many hours spent scouring Craigslist and other platforms for the right members, Rainbow City Park was formed in early 2022 and released three singles with former lead vocalist Maria Angelica before she stepped away from the project. The band’s first year ended on a high note with the opportunity to open for Japanese Breakfast and The National Parks at Sacramento’s Farm to Fork Festival.
As a 5-piece with Dani as lead vocalist, the band released three songs in 2023: double single “Broken Record / Dad Jeans” in May and “Convince You” in October. Beginning February 2024, Rainbow City Park will support the release of their next single, “Valentine’s Day 1999,” with a series of shows throughout California, including a show at the Silverlake Lounge on 3/20 and the Vine in Long Beach on 3/21.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggles that we face are not unique to Rainbow City Park. The startup costs of being in a band is one that we and many independent musicians struggle with. The culmination of inflation, transportation, equipment, studio time, and other services add up quickly. Add that to the low initial payout at shows, venue merch cuts, a fraction of cents for music streaming, and the list goes on. It’s definitely a challenge when we see so many of our favorite artists come off seemingly successful runs and post about how little money they made. We hope we can find a way to navigate through the ever-changing music industry and have music careers that can support us.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Rainbow City Park is an indie alt-rock/dream pop band from California. The band draws inspiration from 90’s alt-rock acts such as Third Eye Blind and The Smashing Pumpkins, infusing their music with a modern twist akin to the sounds of Boy Genius and Snail Mail. Band members reside in both San Francisco and the Central Valley, converging in Sacramento for rehearsals.
Sonically, Rainbow City Park takes you on a journey through various soundscapes, from dance-inducing rhythmic sections to heavy breakdowns to ethereal interludes where shimmering guitars blend seamlessly with the vocals. The lyrical content often delves into existential and melancholic themes, offering a stark contrast to the buoyant musical atmosphere. This juxtaposition finds its resonance with artists they admire, such as Phoebe Bridgers, Frightened Rabbit, and Pinegrove.
Fronting the band is the charismatic Dani Judith, a multi-talented artist who wears the hats of an audio engineer and music teacher when she’s not playing with Rainbow City Park. The trio of guitarists, including Dani herself, Nick Nassab, and Chris O’Keefe, weaves intricate melodies that intertwine with Dani’s vocals. Their signature indie-rock sound is heavily influenced by their love of Fender guitars and an array of pedals that shape their tone. The rhythm section provides the backbone of the band, with accomplished musicians Dwight Struthers on bass and Ryan Williams on drums.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Support and collaboration is really important to us. The best way to support us is to come to a show and buy some merch, or buy some merch from us online. We’re always interested in collaborating with other people in the music industry. More collaboration with other indie arts is on our short list of things to do in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: rainbowcitypark.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowcitypark/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RainbowCityParkMusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FRainbowCityPark
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rainbowcitypark8470
Image Credits
Portraits: Caleb Bikaika @calebikaika Live shots: Aidan Harper @a1danharper
