No weapons or illegal substances. Things have happened fast since then for the band, which got its unique name when someone's hospitalized, heavily medicated friend inexplicably kept repeating the phrase Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Rainbow Kitten Surprise prepares to unleash a burst of musical influences at The Jones Assembly. That was pretty rough going down there as a kid, going from first world comfort to the third world. . I looked up their Wikipedia for the first time yesterday 3/31 and was very confused. Over the past couple of years, Ive been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. Like can you say him in a song? In this album, Rainbow Kitten Surprise continues to evolve and change their music style while maintaining the core elements of what always makes their music great. on Reading Between The Lines In The New Scooby-Doo Movie. There's so much of it down here but I keep forgetting it's actually from New York. It's Called: Freefall . And hopefully, that comes out of the next record. I think it did, I think it went well. They had started playing shows around the Boone area and wrote and recorded the earliest Rainbow Kitten Surprise songs as a duo. Fans of the band appreciate their unique sound and the way they bring a sense of joy and fun to their music. It's all fun. I'm glad that it's doing something for people, that people can relate to it. . But not every day feels like that, so how do you keep positive things flowing out your mouth without expressing, "Wow, yes, sometimes this is hard," or how do you play shows back to back-to-back every night and how do you still get into it? Im happy to share with you that I am trans. The Split Rail label was founded in 2005. They entered their dogs in fights and watched them die. In early 2013, before becoming the full ensemble that is the current Rainbow Kitten Surprise, lead singer Sam Melo and guitarist and backup vocalist Darick "Bozzy" Keller released the band's . 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 . The crowd immediately stood to their feet when they heard the . Click for more. Being able to share my experiences while remaining true to my LGBTQ identity excites me. They are known for their captivating live performances, which often involve elaborate costumes and choreographed dance moves. And it would be a different record if it got made in nine months, but sometimes you need the two-week record. Reply. . This year has seen the deaths of stars and icons, but we honor their memory by highlighting them. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Our Song. My dad's cousinlives down there. Sam Melo and Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, decided to begin writing and . San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN) is the top-read news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of San Diego. Unfortunately, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will not be able to reschedule this event. History. At that time I was pretty self-absorbed, self-conscious, I mean, I was 14. In 2010, the band was accused of plagiarism after their song Fantasy resembled another artists work. I was so shocked! At times I honestly thought the leader singer, Sam Melo, had fallen down after jumping and dancing on stage, but every time he rose up again, somehow becoming better with every song. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an alternative rock indie band, featuring lead vocalist Ela Melo, Darrick "Bozzy" Keller (guitar, backup vocals), Ethan Goodpaster (electric guitar), Jess Haney (drums), and Charlie Holt (bass). Reading the new introductions to the band has been awesome and I cannot wait for their new chapter! . Their first EP, Mary, was recorded in a dorm room at the university. Or these are 2 different people? The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists like Modest Mouse, Lana Del Rey, and Kings of Leon. Naturally, cheers climaxed when Melo confessed, "He's a better kisser than you'd think, Mom.". Due to the accusations, the band was forced to cancel several tour dates, raising questions about whether or not it sincerely apologizes for what happened. Happy birthday to Sam Melo! Scroll to read more Music Stories & Interviews articles. Although the bands members identities have not been publicly discussed, their music has often been interpreted as being LGBT-friendly. I definitely lose my phone for a month and just dive in. Saturday's All Aboard! 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". Exploring The Authenticity Of Being Big Gay : A Discussion. Those are things you gotta figure it out. My assumption is that you wrote How Tosuper fast in South Carolina. I've come to understand it differently. Was it bad circumstances that you left the Dominican. As they tried to come up with a name for their music, Rainbow Kitten Surprise was born. Learning how to navigate the technology and capabilities that come with a true professional studio wasn't the only challenge for Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Each of the queens conceals their identities for a variety of reasons, citing fear of bodily harm or damaging familial relationships. Prior to its release, Rainbow Kitten Surprise also issued the 2019 stand-alone single "Our Song.". Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 12:09 pm. 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Ela Melo and Darrick Keller. Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a six-month-old kitten, was born at Appalachian State University in North Carolina six years ago. But if you know anybody over there, we have been trying to reach out to them for some time. Life is work. My pronouns are she/her. But back to the Bustelo question. The "Rainbow Kitten Surprise Presale Presale" will go on sale Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. Tickets will cost $39.50 for Lawn seating and $45.50 for the Rapids Section. Rainbow Kitten Surprise will be joined by Briston Maroney for the pair of summer performances. 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. That's just how they like it. 2 countries. You know, the one sound that is all sounds, like combined into one awesome thing, which does not exist, but you're always looking for it. Rainbow Kitten Surprise Fashion Casual Navel,Funny Women_s Personality Sticker. It's Called: Freefall . So we were moving back in the Summer of 2006 and I was about 14, we stayed down there for about a week because we still didn't have a home yet. You write a lot about your insecurities that you have on your record, but you also have this you also have a steely side thats resolved itself to pushing the band forward does that come from that time? Dude, thanks for making music that makes me want to ask questions like that. Boy, do we have a surprise for you a Rainbow Kitten Surprise to exact. Everyone uses it down here in Florida. It's like two years old but just brush the dust off and it will be good." 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. Inspired by a close friend's morphine-ridden ramblings from a hospital bed, RKS was. Are your fans starting to come to you with some pretty heavy coming out stories of their own? Sign up for the latest music, videos, tour dates, and more Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Speech therapy usually only effects talking, not singing, though speech therapy for trans women is essentially vocal training, I underwent it for a little while a few years back. Yvonne Gougelet is a playwright, theater producer, actress, activist and political & music journalist. 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. She made the announcement on Instagram just a few days before the bands tour began. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Right on. Rainbow Kitten Surprise and all five of it's members hail from the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. The charismatic frontman who loves Bustelo coffee spent 20 minutes talking to CL in advance of his bands upcoming Ybor City show. The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists like Modest Mouse, Lana Del Rey, and Kings of Leon. We did that on a studio-run label thing, and all of that was cool. But if you have two weeks, you'll make it in two weeks. So happy for her! When Jess Haney was asked to join Rainbow Kitten Surprise while its band members were in college at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., he certainly wasn't thinking it would be a long-term commitment. 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 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 . Ray Roa 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a colorful, eye-catching name. 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? I think it was something we had to get acclimated to a bit.". "It all just happened so fast. If you haven't heard yet, we are so excited to have partnered', Rainbow Kitten Surprise [@RKSBandOfficial], "Hi everyone! I'm Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. 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. In May 2019, RKS released Mary (B-Sides), consisting of a studio recording of "Heart" (a song originally released via YouTube and SoundCloud in 2014) and the track "No Vacancy". RKS are the indie rock heroes we deserve. While their music does not necessarily have overtly Christian themes, many of the band members have been vocal about their Christian faith. When it comes to Rainbow Kitten Surprise, just remember the old axiom to never judge a book by its cover. Many electric vehicle batteries lose power when its very cold. Im happy to share with you that I am trans. In this article, we will explore the evidence behind the rumors, and examine whether there is any truth to the speculation that the lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise is, in fact, gay. 17. Sign up for our Events Newsletter. Many great bands have emerged from Rainbow Kitten Surprises home state of North Carolina (Ben Folds Five, Avett Brothers and Superchunk are a few that come to mind), but the Boone-based outfits rise to becoming a festival favorite thats selling out clubs across the country had to run through the Dominican Republic first. Get our top picks for the best events in San Antonio every Thursday morning. [1], Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Ela Melo and Darrick Keller. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy & Cookie Policy as well as our Terms of Use. Up to the point Haney joined the band, Rainbow Kitten Surprise had been the duo of singer Sam Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Whats the balancing act like between the person we hear on the record and thinks about insecurities and this other person who is committed to making RKS something you can do for the rest of your life? "Me and Ethan went to high school together, and we kind of played in my basement and did covers of random things. CANCELLED: Rainbow Kitten Surprise. If you have three days to make it, you'll make it in three days. "I got into the band through Ethan," Haney said, referencing guitarist Ethan Goodpaster during a recent phone interview. Since the 2013 release of their first album, Seven + Mary , the vibrancy and courageousness and uniqueness of RKS' music has brought in nearly 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify . By danielmorez. There's nothing better than being front row for a Rainbow Kitten Surprise show. TERMS OF USE. The band formed in Boone, North Carolina. We hadn't been in the South for a long time. Buy Rainbow Kitten Surprise tickets from the official Ticketmaster.com site. How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. The building shook as the crowded room stomped along to Holt's pulsing bass, sending their love through every floorboard of the venue. (Robbinsville, North Carolina is the hometown of Jess Haney and Ethan Goodpaster.) I'm extremely confused as I almost never get any closer to learn more about the band and just now I've learned how she was named and that now her name is Ela. 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. Over the past couple of years, I've been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. This single marked their first release as a band since May 2019. They always say, "The devil's in the details." By the time we left, we were pretty broke and it was sort of defeatist, at least from my eyes. The band is made up of singer-songwriter Sam Melo, bassist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, drummer Jesse Wells, and guitarist Richarddriver. COLD LOVE hitting different today!!! Im so glad she finally feels comfortable to be her true self! He is a 2011 Western Kentucky University graduate who has previously worked at the Paducah Sun and Madisonville Messenger as a sports reporter and the Lexington Herald-Leader as a breaking news reporter. Right on. In between those two locales were several stops, including one week-long stay in Tampa Bay, and if you believe the lyrics to Goodnight Chicago from RKS 2015 self-titled LP, then our hometown is where Melo metaphorically killed a man out of spite (When he died, I took his place, is how the lyric goes). The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists . Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. 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 . Sept. 17, 7:30 p . // Do Not Sell My Personal Information May 6, 2018. Did something happen to you here where you changed? These North Carolina-based festival favorites mix exuberant indie pop and earnest folk-rock. "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 . But you guys have tons of it, I'm sure. Melo, who was raised half in Appalachian North Carolina and half in a Dominican Republic mission, belted out the lyrics with every fiber of his being, driving home the importance of embracing your truth while the crowd sang along. 9827 fans Top Tracks. 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. In fact, as commitments go, he thought it was as minimal as it gets. The band consists of Sam Melo, Darrick Keller, Charlie Holt, Jess Haney, and Caleb Elder. If media is missing, please DM me with a link to submission url and tweet. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Rainbow Kitten Surprise, "RKS" for short, is known for its harmonies, instrumentation, and lyrics. A rigorous support tour followed, including a sold-out stop at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre and a series of shows in Athens, Georgia, which were later compiled into the 2021 concert album RKS! High-energy, queer-friendly, happy-go-lucky. They're as big a surprise as their name and, when they took the stage at First Avenue, the surprises kept on coming. They had started playing shows around the Boone area and . Thrash has previously performed at Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits. "Seven + Mary" was their first and most folky album, which combined haunting melodies with the unique and striking voice of lead vocalist Sam Melo. "I mean, I think we just move fast," said Sam Melo, one of the band's . North Carolina indie folk-rock outfit Rainbow Kitten Surprise rose from college dorm-room jammers to main-stage festival performers during the mid-2010s. This was their first of the year because of the cancellation of many events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. It makes me so happy to see fellow trans people living as themselves authentically, and you will always have my support., Ive never met kinder or more welcoming people, another commenter said. The group held its earlier rehearsals in Boone, North Carolina . Your favorite tequila battle is back on 4/7/23! Associated Press. But the band is breaking in a really serious way and the story behind it. Are you still going into these "rabbit hole states are you able to work when you are in them? Whatever time allotted you have is what you work with. Live from Athens Georgia. Once you make it better you gotta figure out how to play it. Im happy to share with you that I am trans. This was the last stop on their summer tour. Choose music service. As a boy, can you do that? With catchy and deeply lyrical meaning, beautifully designed bass lines, and melodic guitar riffs, their unique sound will keep you humming their tunes all day long. It's always a new set of gains. But then some days we got more than one song. That was the understanding that I had. And then we built . People who are brainstorming how to heap as much food as they can onto as many plates as possible have a lot to think about. independent local journalism in Dallas. Jay Joyce (at Neon Cross Studios and Jason Hall) did a great job with your vision. Rainbow Kitten Surprise w/Sun Seeker. I'm sorry if I'm gonna sound dumb, but we're talking about Sam Melo, that came out right now as trans, right? Their music blends elements of folk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, creating a unique and captivating sound. The band has had a meteoric rise since their formation in 2013, with their debut album making it to the top of the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and they have since gone on to tour the world and perform at festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. All of the things that were hinted at for this last one will get fleshed out. Yeah, so Tampa is kind of a city I only know in a very limited fashion. Become a member to support the independent voice of Dallas The group then worked out a deal with Split Rail Records, a student-run label at Appalachian State's Hayes School of Music, and in 2015, released the album RKS. In fact, Melo publicly came out through one of the tracks off of the project, "Hide." Though he wrote the song in 2015, it wasn't released until three years later. Ela Melo, the lead singer for the popular alternative/indie rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise, revealed she has found her "authentic self" in coming out as transgender. Their music style is a mix of folk, pop, and rock. What happens is, I learn different things that I'm interested in, like for the last record I got really interested in jazz drumming and the beats, the meters they're in, the different time signatures and playing around with that and usually I go down those avenues for a while until the band snaps me back into reality and it's like, "Oh shit we've got this show to put on, we've got a job to do." That success drew the attention of Elektra Records, and the major label signed Rainbow Kitten Surprise, setting the table for an even bigger breakout. The band had arrived in Nashville with only a couple of songs partially written and all two and a half weeks to write and record the rest of the songs for what became the 2018 album How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. Biography. Your band is in such a great position and there is so much for me to think about and I also wanted to congratulate you onHow to: Friend, Love, Freefall. And now about her coming out, damn that's brave of her to do that! 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. RKS independently released its first album, Seven, which was later re-released together with the band's first EP as a joint album called Seven + Mary. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Rainbow Kitten Surprise will perform at soldout album release parties for their new album . Rainbow Kitten Surprise. And I feel like you've always said it in your music, your answer is to just be yourself. local news and culture, Augusta Rizzardini Rainbow Kitten Surprise. They dont see themselves as their spokesmen for the song. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountain college town of Boone, North Carolina, Rainbow Kitten Surprise play a fervent mix of bright indie pop and earnest, harmony-driven folk-rock. "It changed my life forever.". It was limbo for me. Their songs are often filled with clever wordplay and heartfelt lyrics. The crooning voice we all love so much (: Ansley Elizabeth Photography) 288. 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. No glass or glass hubblies. BY CONTINUING PAST THIS PAGE YOU AGREE TO OUR Ela Melo, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a popular alternative rock band, recently came out as lesbian. 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. February 18, 2019 Rainbow Kitten Surprise has expertly used the spotlight to promote the welfare of LGBTQ+ people. I'm grateful to be able to express who I truly am and share in this moment with you. Yvonne Gougelet Formed in an Appalachian State dorm room in 2013 by singer Sam Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, the duo recorded and self-released their acoustic EP, Mary . Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an indie rock band based out of Boone, North Carolina. 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's (RSK) recording will be the eighth album produced and released by Split Rail Records since 2008. Still, deliver the caliber performance that you are hoping to. The move to Elektra put the band on a different level. 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 think where it comes from is the place that I'm at when I'm writing. On August 13, 2021, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the live album RKS! 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. 02:32 . 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's Tampa concert moved from Orpheum to The Ritz Ybor City. 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. It just sounds great. Be yourself. They're songs that Sam [Melo] wrote before Rainbow Kitten Surprise was a thing. I'm Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Then a couple of years later we're doing it with Jay Joyce in Nashville in like this incredible studio with all of this [label] support behind us. At the end of the video, one of the queens reveals her persona to her father - and in true pride month spirit, he declares, "I'll always be your biggest fan. There wasn't a seat remaining as the lights dimmed in the Tennessee Theatre. So, to make that jump was definitely a little bit of a shock for all of us. Happy Pride Month. 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. Especially in a place of uncertainty. on Rainbow Kitten Surprise has also been involved in various Pride events, such as playing at the Los Angeles Pride Parade in 2016. Popular Sam Melo songs. They received an outpouring of support from their fans, as well as other bands. A year of heavy touring followed and yielded the 2021 concert album RKS! Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American rock band from North Carolina. 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. NINE LIVES: Rainbow Kitten Surprise frontman Sam Melo, who brings the band to The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on September 17, 2018. . 33 cities. 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise lead singer Ela Melo revealed in an interview that she had found her true self as a transgender woman. // Privacy Policy 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. Hi everyone! Rainbow Kitten Surprise is Ela Melo (lead vocals), Darrick "Bozzy" Keller (guitar, vocals), Ethan Goodpaster (lead guitar, vocals), Charlie Holt (bass, vocals), Jess Haney (drums). The Caribbean island is where frontman Sam Melo, whose parents were missionaries, spent seven years of his childhood before circumstances forced a permanent move back to the U.S. . The contemplative "Mission to Mars" then eases into fuller band arrangements and introduces lead singer Sam Melo's stylized, melodic speaking-rapping. 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.. . It included a collection of 25 songs performed at a previous live concert. Suddenly, the five musicians found themselves driving to Nashville, where they all now live, setting up shop in the high-end Neon Cross Studios and working with one of the city's most in-demand producers, Jay Joyce. On this weekend, the quintet from North Carolina will perform at Boston Calling. 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. Do you feel any kind of responsibility in hearing their stories? And you were aware of this at 14, I'm assuming you've been a deep feeling person your whole life. When you consider some of its subject matter songs like "Cocaine Jesus" come to mind the name really is a bit of a "Surprise.".