Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Boy Scouts Of America Under Pressure To Allow Gay Men To Serve, Is Jack Skellington Gay? The band is scheduled to play a sold-out show at New Braunfels' Whitewater Amphitheater on Saturday, July 9. Any actual connection? (Robbinsville, North Carolina is the hometown of Jess Haney and Ethan Goodpaster.) Join the Observer community and help support Ela Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American indie rock band from Boone, North Carolina. Sam Melo. The contemplative "Mission to Mars" then eases into fuller band arrangements and introduces lead singer Sam Melo's stylized, melodic speaking-rapping. Sign up for the latest music, videos, tour dates, and more That's just how they like it. I definitely lose my phone for a month and just dive in. They definitely do, more than even with "Hide," which was kind of personal, but "Painkillers" is one of those on the record that definitely people's stories played into it. Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. But after a while it becomes, you're playing shows every night, you're having to do these press things on the days in between, you gotta always portray because everybody that is coming at you is coming from the perspective of success, like "Wow, congratulations, you're making it." Spiritual warfare informs Sam Melo's music. Excited for the new music from the band. That those are your problems. Their first EP, Mary, was recorded in a dorm room at the university. Reading Between The Lines In The New Scooby-Doo Movie. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Rainbow Kitten Surprise Band Music Tour Poster. The point being, I'll start all of these ideas and show them to the guys and they'll gestate with them for a while and I'll just completely have forgotten about them. High-energy, queer-friendly, happy-go-lucky. I think it did, I think it went well. While Holt has been openly trans for some time now, Melo only came out as gay alongside the release of Rainbow Kitten Surprise's 2018 album, How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. The band consists of Sam Melo, Darrick Keller, Charlie Holt, Jess Haney, and Caleb Elder. The band got their name during a hospital visit with a friend, who suggested Rainbow Kitten Surprise while under the effects of anesthesia. Hi everyone! We did that on a studio-run label thing, and all of that was cool. 04. I was thinking about this performance today when I saw the bands post on Insta, that was an unforgettable show and it makes me so happy ela feels comfortable being her true self . // Privacy Policy RKS 'Work Out' available now! Sept. 17, 7:30 p . Somebody will grab the phone and somebody will read it out loud and everyone listens. Their second LP, RKS, arrived in 2015 via hometown label Split Rail; combined with the increasing viral success of their single "Devil Like Me" (from Seven), the record brought Rainbow Kitten Surprise to a much wider national audience. I will do my best to solve the issue. Genre-defying, live sensations Rainbow Kitten Surprise announce South African Tour Dates for March 2023 including a show at the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on Friday 10 March 2023. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch. The Split Rail label was founded in 2005. He also states that his faith has been an important influence on the music he makes. They're songs that Sam [Melo] wrote before Rainbow Kitten Surprise was a thing. That was pretty rough going down there as a kid, going from first world comfort to the third world. This was the last stop on their summer tour. It ended up working out, and we did it. What is genre in the streaming age? Although the bands members identities have not been publicly discussed, their music has often been interpreted as being LGBT-friendly. If you haven't heard yet, we are so excited to have partnered', Rainbow Kitten Surprise [@RKSBandOfficial], "Hi everyone! Memoriam 2022, which will take place in Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Yvonne Gougelet Rainbow Kitten Surprise, the best name ever we know, sat down with us at Outside Lands to talk about their new record and their song Hide. No coolerboxes. The album is built around this narrative about how hard it is to pay bills as a musician, it started out as a different idea and you've mentioned this pressure that comes with being a band, basically gone from becoming locally famous after Bozz asked you to play the Galileo show and now you have PR, festival dates, this following, how are you coping this last year, after writing this album, releasing it and going on this tour? Saturday's All Aboard! Be yourself. That was the understanding that I had. [7] The single "Fever Pitch" from the album climbed to number 34th on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in spring 2018. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a band that defies all definition. [1], Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Ela Melo and Darrick Keller. Tickets can also be . (Courtesy Matthew Salacuse) By Tom Lanham . With catchy, yet deep lyrical meaning, beautifully designed bass lines, and melodic guitar riffs, their unique sound will keep you humming their tunes all day long. I think it's cool that people, it always hits ya like the story would. This story was originally published March 31, 2022, 9:40 AM. If you're looking for the living embodiment of multi-dimensionality, turn to Sam Melo, lead singer from the band Rainbow Kitten Surprise. . I wonder how her voice is going to change though, she has such a unique raspy singing voice, Im excited about the new sound! Rainbow Kitten Surprise live in South Africa!Genre-defying, live sensations Rainbow Kitten Surprise announce South African Tour Dates for March 2023 including a show at the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on Friday 10 March 2023.Rainbow Kitten Surprise recently released the emotionally charged track "Work Out," marking the band's first new music in nearly two years. Thank you for your taking the time and we look forward to seeing you guys at The Orpheum, (Now playing the Ritz due to popular demand), when you guys come down to Ybor City for pretty much the tour kickoff. Fergie: An Icon For The LGBTQ+ Community And One Tree Hill Fans, The Never-Ending Debate: Exploring Franklin Jonas Sexuality And Its Impact, Is The Navy Ready To Be Gay Friendly An In-Depth Look At The Navys LGBT Policies, Mariah From Sister Wives: Breaking Down Stereotypes About Polygamy And Sexuality, Is Fred Gay? While the band has not explicitly stated that they are LGBT, their music and involvement in Pride events have been seen as a sign of support for the LGBT community. These North Carolina-based festival favorites mix exuberant indie pop and earnest folk-rock. Once you make it better you gotta figure out how to play it. "Seven + Mary" was their first and most folky album, which combined haunting melodies with the unique and striking voice of lead vocalist Sam Melo. Appalachian State University offers up and coming student musicians the opportunity to record, publicize and more for free with the school's own record label, Split Rail Records. . NINE LIVES: Rainbow Kitten Surprise frontman Sam Melo, who brings the band to The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on September 17, 2018. My pronouns are she/her. My assumption is that you wrote How Tosuper fast in South Carolina. If I hear of a Bustelo connection, I will definitely help get that sponsorship for you guys. pic.twitter.com/kejuO2yLIn. I can't wait to watch her sing in a few weeks . On August 13, 2021, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the live album RKS! By TOM KRISHER and MARK THIESSEN . Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. This tale of internal conflict is particularly relevant for both the band and this particular show. I wouldn't say it gets easier, it certainly gets more routine. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an indie rock band from North Carolina, and their music has been described as a mix of folk, pop, and rock. As they tried to come up with a name for their music, Rainbow Kitten Surprise was born. It's not a daily thing, you're never like, ok well here's that sad story for the day. In 2013, Melo and Keller had self-released a three-song EP, Mary, and the band followed that with a self-released full-length, Seven. By VinStyleRe. The Troubadour is located in West Hollywood, the historic gay district of Los Angeles. While their music does not necessarily have overtly Christian themes, many of the band members have been vocal about their Christian faith. The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists like Modest Mouse, Lana Del Rey, and Kings of Leon. They had started playing shows around the Boone area and . Are your fans starting to come to you with some pretty heavy coming out stories of their own? BY CONTINUING PAST THIS PAGE YOU AGREE TO OUR Read Full Biography. And it was just kind of a transitory period. Its like 2 AM and the bars all close at ten in hell, thats a rule I made'Anyway, you say youre too busy saving everybody else to save yourselfAnd you dont want no help, oh wellThats the story to tell". RKS was formed in early 2013 when the first two members, Sam Melo and Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, decided to begin writing and composing music together. I feel like you've said everything that needed to be said about "Hide" the video's origin. What's more, it was the first time all five band members were involved in the creative process from the ground up. No own drinks allowed. And you were aware of this at 14, I'm assuming you've been a deep feeling person your whole life. Formed in 2013 by college students Sam Melo and Darrick Keller, Rainbow Kitten Surprise developed a sound that was every bit as colorful as the group's name, eventually becoming one of America's m.. . Im happy to share with you that I am trans. Associated Press. Biography. My pronouns are she/her. t.co/kejuO2yLIn", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rainbow_Kitten_Surprise&oldid=1141755995, Indie rock musical groups from North Carolina, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "It's Called: Freefall" (January 28, 2019), This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 16:57. Formed in an Appalachian State dorm room in 2013 by singer Ela Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, the duo recorded and self-released their first acoustic EP, Mary, before recruiting additional members Ethan Goodpaster (guitar), Charlie Holt (bass), and Jess Haney (drums) to complete the lineup. Somewhere in our minds, we're still just the kids playing music in bars in Boone. In fact, as commitments go, he thought it was as minimal as it gets. I'm glad that it's doing something for people, that people can relate to it. "It was life changing," says Sam Melo, RKS's firecracker of a lead singer whose emotive and powerful croon, fire-spitting raps, and unpredictable dervish dance moves make . The video, which in part contains a micro-documentary directed by Kyle Thrash, follows four drag queens in New Orleans throughout their day to day life. History. So once I was a teenager, everything else was a faint glimmer, I didn't really understand The States, so coming back was a rough transition for sure. 264k Followers, 70 Following, 116 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Rainbow Kitten Surprise (@rksbandofficial) rksbandofficial. By danielmorez. ", Produced by Grammy Award-winner Jay Joyce (Cage The Elephant, Sleeper Agent), the album featured RIAA-certified Gold single "It's Called: Freefall", and earned widespread praise from Billboard, TIME, Vice, and NPR who described their sound as "a mix of jam and indie and whatever else you can throw into the soupvery earnest, beautiful, political, loving rock n' roll," and saw the band make several national television appearances, including performances on "CBS This Morning Saturday," "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and PBS's "Austin City Limits.". On April 6, 2022, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single "Work Out," their first new single released in nearly 18 months. This came after she announced on March 30 that the band would embark on a highly anticipated tour right before the end of the month. TERMS OF USE. Lyric Video. She has written, produced, directed &performed in four original plays. Is what I'm wearing OK? Hi everyone! Mon, Jul 4, 2022 at 4:00 am. Yeah, we stay stocked, for sure. The length of the concert will depend on the number of songs the band performs and the amount of time they spend between songs. Does that feel like a burden for you as your fan base grows and is very devoted to the band? Relishing in the opportunity before them, RKS have truly taken ownership of who they are to the point where they're . All you gotta do is just pour some cream on top and chug it. . In his childlike post-op haze, their friend proposed the band name themselves "Rainbow Kitten Surprise." Laughs were had, and so it was, and so it remains. On June 11, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will perform at Red Rocks alongside their ride-or-die, . It included a collection of 25 songs performed at a previous live concert. All of the things that were hinted at for this last one will get fleshed out. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Though he wrote the song in 2015, it wasn't released until three years later. I don't know if that's the way this next record is going to come together but given our history, I feel like maybe that right now it's still that gestation period I'm curious to know what's going to come out on the other side of the rabbit hole. Live from Athens Georgia. 2023 LIVE NATION WORLDWIDE, INC. Rainbow Kitten Surprise live in South Africa! At that time I was pretty self-absorbed, self-conscious, I mean, I was 14. The charismatic frontman who loves Bustelo coffee spent 20 minutes talking to CL in advance of his bands upcoming Ybor City show. Am I going to fit in? Or these are 2 different people? No pets (excluding service animals). Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Maybe even more so going forward but also in the performance aspect, as well. Rainbow Kitten Surprise's (RSK) recording will be the eighth album produced and released by Split Rail Records since 2008. Im grateful to be able to express who I truly am and share in this moment with you.. A post shared by Rainbow Kitten Surprise (@rksbandofficial). Buy Rainbow Kitten Surprise tickets from the official Ticketmaster.com site. on Rainbow Kitten Surprise's Tampa concert moved from Orpheum to The Ritz Ybor City. Rainbow Kitten Sursprise was formed in early 2013 when the first two members, Sam Melo and Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, began writing and composing music together . With an ever-growing following, Ela Rainbow Kitten Surprise is sure to keep producing captivating music for years to come. I killed a man there, in spite, and when he died, I took his place. I think youve only played Florida twice. Sam Melo and Ethan Goodpaster of Rainbow Kitten Surprise perform on the Lands End Stage during the 2018 Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival at Golden Gate Park on August 12, 2018 in San Francisco,. Press J to jump to the feed. Fans of the band appreciate their unique sound and the way they bring a sense of joy and fun to their music. [2] Their first EP, Mary, was recorded in a dorm room at the university. But back to the Bustelo question. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. They had started playing shows around the Boone area and wrote and recorded the earliest Rainbow Kitten Surprise songs as a duo. More info: theritzybor.com. But power to Ela! Rainbow Kitten Surprise has also been involved in various Pride events, such as playing at the Los Angeles Pride Parade in 2016. So you didn't feel constrained, it worked out for you then? Become a member to support the independent voice of Dallas Scroll to read more Music Stories & Interviews articles. You talked about it being pretty disheartening or defeatist in a way. They enjoy it. Im so curious about Elas sound. I can hop out and do press stuff in the middle of that. Im so glad she finally feels comfortable to be her true self! "Yeah, we were pumping out a song a day and it felt good. local news and culture, Augusta Rizzardini I don't understand the culture. ElA you are beautiful! This year has seen the deaths of stars and icons, but we honor their memory by highlighting them. Their sound has been influenced by artists such as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean and Schoolboy Q. Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Documentarian Kyle Thrash was enlisted by the band to create the video for Hide, which depicts sexuality in a subtle way. Two members frontman Sam Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller went to visit a friend in the hospital who had bacterial meningitis and gave him the honor of dubbing their title. I'm Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Inspired by a close friend's morphine-ridden ramblings from a hospital bed, RKS was. Rainbow Kitten Surprise recently released the emotionally charged track "Work Out," marking the band's first new music in nearly two years. But the band is breaking in a really serious way and the story behind it. Ela Melo is the lead vocalist for alt-rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise; she wrote their biggest hit, "It's Called: Freefall.". Frontman Sam Melo has stated that his faith is a major part of his life and that he prays every day for strength and guidance. Surely the beginning of a new era for the band, Transgender women voices actually dont change with hormones so they might actually sound the same just with a hot ass chick as the lead , She didn't sound any different when I saw them in December? On the track, Melo sings, "Called to the devil and the devil said, 'Hey, why you been calling this late? Alan Sculley However, there is one feature that is present throughout each of the group's songs - a captivating story. // Cookie Policy Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The Scroll to read more Show Previews articles, When we went down in '99, it was like this is home now and at least until me and my three brothers were old enough to move back stateside on our own, that's where we'd be living. 'Bout twenty more I'll be forty-four, head back to Tampa Bay. // Do Not Sell My Personal Information SDGLN provides in-depth coverage on issues of importance to the LGBT community and our allies. $28.27. The internet. I don't know if that's the way this next record is going to come together but given our history, I feel like maybe that right now it's still that gestation period I'm curious to know what's going to come out on the other side of the rabbit hole. And the circumstance that we left my family had lived on predominately support from missionary organizations so as time progressed, as happens quite often with people going down to do medical work the excitement and support wains because people don't know what's going on down there. Founded In. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy & Cookie Policy as well as our Terms of Use. Their music has a calmer demeanor. Although the group of Carolinians frontman Sam Melo, Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and . I feel like we are the most blessed to be able to play. In particular, the song Killing for Love has been interpreted as an allegory about finding solace in faith and discovering inner peace. Concert Review: Rainbow Kitten Surprise By October 29, 2018 October 29, 2018 Music . When it comes to Rainbow Kitten Surprise, just remember the old axiom to never judge a book by its cover. I've come to understand it differently. Im happy to share with you that I am trans. Frontman Sam Melo's dexterous lyrics delivered over the band's uniquely narrative playstyle condenses a vast expanse of emotions and experiences into a cohesive, consumable performance. Over the past couple of years, I've been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. While the band does not have an explicitly religious ideology, it has been noted that some of their music does touch on spiritual and religious themes. "It was like, we did RKS. It's like two years old but just brush the dust off and it will be good." Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American rock band from North Carolina. But before long, Melo who recently announced on Twitter that she is trans, her pronouns are she/her and that she wants to be referred to as Ela Melo and Keller decided they wanted to have a full band, and that's when fellow students Haney, Goodpaster and bassist Charlie Holt joined up. She has performed in the theater for 20 years in nearly 50 plays in London, Scotland, Chile, NYC, Chicago, Miami & Tampa. Additionally, this performance coincided with the West Hollywood Pride Parade and associated celebrations during a year where the LGBTQ+ community has faced particular hardship, with the advancement of legislation like Donald Trump's recently upheld ban on transgender enrollment in the military. Formed in 2013 by college students Sam Melo and Darrick Keller, Rainbow Kitten Surprise developed a sound that was every bit as colorful as the group's name, eventually becoming one of America's m.. . B. y the time I reached that period, especially with this last record, I just started furiously writing down pages of lyrics, the guys came back and was like, "Sam, you don't have to rewrite a whole other album, look at what we already have. In addition to championing equality via their music, the band has frequently partnered with Equality NC, the oldest statewide organization in the country dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights, donating portions of ticket and merch sales to the nonprofit. Even at this early stage, there were signs that Rainbow Kitten Surprise might grow into something more than a just-for-fun college-years band. I'm Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. "I mean, I think we just move fast," said Sam Melo, one of the band's . Right on. Read our full chat and get information on the show below. February 18, 2019 Video shows Florida alligator easily blasting through a metal fence, The four-day Grand Prix of St. Petersburg starts today. [9], In April 2019, RKS performed at several venues across North Carolina to raise funds for Equality NC, the country's oldest statewide LGBT equality organization.[10]. Where we would go and huddle up and maybe my dad and one of my brothers, and myself would go get a U-Haul and get our stuff from the airport, or however it was shipped. The alternative band will perform at the famous music venue on Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12, concert promoter AEG Presents announced Monday. You just played a show or you're just traveling or bullshitting, or whatever and it always comes up and somebody reads it and it's like holy shit guys look at this message that somebody just sent us. Recorded at Nashville's Neon Cross Studio, where the group took advantage of a collection of vintage instruments, How To: Friend, Love, Freefall was produced by Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant, the Head and the Heart) and released in 2018. Mike Stunson covers real-time news for McClatchy. By It was weird. The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists like Modest Mouse, Lana Del Rey, and Kings of Leon. The Boone, North Carolina quintet hit the Moody Theater stage in support of its highly acclaimed third album How To: Friend, Love, Freefall, from which comes the hits "Hide" and "Fever Pitch . A New Dallas Doc Fills in the Blanks on the Spectacular Story of Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Hoosier States Patron Saint, John Mellencamp, Blessed Grand Prairie on Wednesday Night, 10 Best Concerts of the Week: Muse, Carrie Underwood, Buddy Guy and More. It features 13 tracks, including the single "Hide", the music video of which depicts four drag queens coming out to their families. Hide has been elevated by the LGBT community as an anthem but front man Sam Melo says it was never meant as an anthem but more just about his own journey of self discovery. Hi everyone! We regret to announce, that due to unforeseen circumstances, tonight's show with Rainbow Kitten Surprise has been canceled. [Verse 1] Am F Hey pretty Momma don't you leave me like that C Bring it on back, bring it on back Am F Love me don't leave me, don't you leave me like that C Bring it on back, bring it on back [Chorus] Am 'Cause you're high, you're low F C You're fine but you don't say anything Am F Well you've got my heart in your hands C And your love in . North Carolina indie folk-rock outfit Rainbow Kitten Surprise rose from college dorm-room jammers to main-stage festival performers during the mid-2010s. I will say as a trans girl that some of the older lyrics make more sense now. Over the past couple of years, Ive been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. I was just talking about this with my bassist last night, you encounter different sets of problems the further you go.