The Vault presents Wild Pink with Cal Rifkin on March 8, 2024 @ 8PM.
Wild Pink, the New York-bred project of John Ross builds worlds inhabited by ghosts and angels and aliens, inciting a strange and lovely daze as the backdrop shifts from the mundane (subdivisions, highways, hotel parking lots) to the extraordinary (deserts, battlefields, the moon). But within its vast imagination lies a potent truth-telling on the part of singer/guitarist John Ross who’s lyrics lay out potent stories that paint with broad brush strokes.
2021’s A Billion Little Lights—a critically acclaimed effort praised by the likes of Pitchfork, NPR, Vulture, and Stereogum, who named it “one of the prettiest rock records of the past decade”— and who has collaborated with J Mascis, Julien Baker, Ryley Walker, Yasmin Williams, Samantha Crain and more on the latest album ILYSM. Not to mention appearances on CBS This Morning, KEXP and Stereogum sessions and many more accolades to name during Wild Pink’s impressive rise over the years.
Cal Rifkin is a power pop group from the Nation’s Capital consisting of Erik Grimm (Guitar/Vocals), Keith Butler Jr. (Drums), and Robin Rhodes (Bass). The band formed in the Fall of 2018 and was solidified by the members’ shared love for greasy Ledo’s pizza, early 90’s baseball aesthetics, and rock ‘n’ roll music.
Chock full of jangly guitars, big riffs, and gorgeous Beach Boys-esque harmonies layered over sugary hooks, Cal Rifkin's latest EP, Better Luck Next Year effortlessly captures the essence of ‘70s power pop. The lyrics strike a delicate balance between self-aware and heartachingly sincere, and the delivery is intimate and earnest without taking itself too seriously. Grimm’s uncomplicated melodies and driving lead guitar complement the groove of the rhythm section in a way that sticks in your head for days.
