If you’ve listened to anything from Rainbow Kitten Surprise before, you’ll know the unique sound and deep vibes they emit. Drowning the Red Rocks stage in rainbow lights before they made their appearance on the first of two nights, RKS emerged to a roar from the audience. The soulful rasp of lead singer Ela Melo cast an immediate calming yet firm hold on the crowd. Mere moments into the first song, she was already jumping the barrier and walking through the masses of people, giving fans a close-up encounter with their favorite artist.
Known for top tracks like “Fever Pitch,” “Devil Like Me,” and “It’s Called: Freefall,” they cite groups like Modest Mouse and Kings of Leon as inspiration. Given the fact they’ve been around for nearly a decade, they have no doubt gone on to influence upcoming bands themselves, with their exceptional display of indie rock. RKS’s catalog boasts over one billion streams through online platforms.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is comprised of Ela Melo (she/her; lead vocals, piano), Darrick “Bozzy” Keller (he/him; guitar, vocals), Ethan Goodpaster (he/him; lead guitar, vocals), Charlie Holt (they/them; bass, vocals), and Jess Haney (he/him; drums). They originally hail from Boone, NC and the band was formed in 2013 by Melo and Keller.
In addition to putting on fun shows throughout the country for their fans, Rainbow Kitten Surprise regularly partners with charities local to each show. For their Colorado dates, RKS has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from each ticket goes to support Food Bank of the Rockies, which services those in our population facing hunger.
To kick the night off, Briston Maroney, alternative/indie artist, hailing from Knoxville, TN, got the crowd properly warmed up and dancing along throughout his set as the opening act. Fun songs like “Bottle Rocket” and “It’s Still Cool If You Don’t” made any listener immediately tune into the fun on stage coming from him and his band.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise continues their tour through December hitting cities across the US, Canada, and Europe.
VIEW A FULL PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE SHOW HERE.