Were you sad to leave? It was incredible, but it was a lot to take on at the time. On August 13, 2021, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the live album RKS! NINE LIVES: Rainbow Kitten Surprise frontman Sam Melo, who brings the band to The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on September 17, 2018. 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 . turns out shes still there and i love it for her:)). thanks in part to Melo's intense vocal style, but also because only two of the 13 tracks cross the four-minute . My pronouns are she/her. Everyone uses it down here in Florida. "Devil Like Me" went on to get radio play, as did two songs from RKS "Cocaine Jesus" and "Lady Lie" propelling Rainbow Kitten Surprise onto tours and appearances at notable festivals including Bonnaroo and Sasquatch. I'm sorry if I'm gonna sound dumb, but we're talking about Sam Melo, that came out right now as trans, right? Safe travels to you. On October 9, 2020, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single "Our Song", which had been previously played at multiple live events. The Ritz, 1503 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. RKS 'Work Out' available now! Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a six-month-old kitten, was born at Appalachian State University in North Carolina six years ago. What is genre in the streaming age? I wouldn't say it gets easier, it certainly gets more routine. They're songs that Sam [Melo] wrote before Rainbow Kitten Surprise was a thing. 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. How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. In the bands words, we have grown as humans and as a band. Other bands as well as their fans rallied around them in support of them. [8] In spring and summer 2018, the group toured the US and Canada to promote the album. One trigger for the success came when the band submitted their song "Devil Like Me" to the VH-1 reality show Make a Band Famous and saw it voted into the top 24. You're always blindsided by it. On July 14, 2020, RKS played a livestream concert. As a result, many of the songs on their albums contain spiritual imagery, such as references to God, angels and heaven. I can't wait to watch her sing in a few weeks . 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. Get our top picks for the best events in San Antonio every Thursday morning. The band consists of Sam Melo, Darrick Keller, Charlie Holt, Jess Haney, and Caleb Elder. Now boasting over 1 billion global streams across platforms, the band first began building their devoted fanbase with independent albums "Seven + Mary" (2013) and "RKS" (2015). 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. Mon, Jul 4, 2022 at 4:00 am. 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. The crowd immediately stood to their feet when they heard the . They later added three new members, Ethan Goodpaster . 116 posts. 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. 264K followers. That's just how they like it. And it was just kind of a transitory period. Definitely. "Work Out" arrived alongside a lyric video, handwritten by RKS frontperson Ela Melo. And Ethan ended up getting into the band and he was like, 'Well, my roommate used to play drums and he might be able to help us out with a few shows. We had few friends back here. So once that reality sets in then it becomes a little bit more productive. Exploring The Authenticity Of Being Big Gay : A Discussion. Follow. I wasn't like a full-time drummer. Rainbow Kitten Surprise's May 20th Instagram post touts what was by all measures the group's most successful tour to date: "38 shows. February 18, 2019 These North Carolina-based festival favorites mix exuberant indie pop and earnest folk-rock. 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 sound of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, or RKS, as their fans call them, is hard to define. At first, it's "How do you pay bills? Especially in a place of uncertainty. Being able to share my experiences while remaining true to my LGBTQ identity excites me. You talked about it being pretty disheartening or defeatist in a way. Songs like Six and Fever Pitch are often cited as being particularly LGBT-friendly, with themes of unrequited love, acceptance and identity. It's all fun. Rainbow Kitten Surprise in Concert. On April 6, 2022, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single "Work Out," their first new single released in nearly 18 months. No own drinks allowed. 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.. . Excited for the new music from the band. No professional camera, video, or audio recording equipment. 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. Their mix of tight instrumental chops and jam band finesse helped earn them a strong grassroots following and, after a couple of indie releases, they . 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. Life is work. 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. The North Carolina band have been on the fast track to success in recent years, their first two albums gaining enough support that they began playing No large umbrellas or gazebos are allowed. On March 23, 2022, the band announced a new single, "Work Out" off their upcoming album. The band formed in Boone, North Carolina. Popular Sam Melo songs. The two wrote and composed music together as they attended Appalachian State University.The band name was created by a friend who was on a morphine drip at the time, recently out of surgery. Because of I definitely still kind of in that mode of wanting to try too many things and given more time it would have ended up being an incomplete 21 songs record. Once you make it better you gotta figure out how to play it. My dad's cousinlives down there. basically using musical vocal techniques to raise the pitch of your voice to sound more feminine in everyday social scenarios. 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. We regret to announce, that due to unforeseen circumstances, tonight's show with Rainbow Kitten Surprise has been canceled. 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. In June 2019, they performed at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, which they sold out in seven days. Am I going to fit in? Spiritual warfare informs Sam Melo's music. In their video for Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Thrash shows a drag queen coming out to her parents. This single marked their first release as a band since May 2019. 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise and all five of it's members hail from the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. 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 . Sold out, 8 p.m., Saturday, July 9, Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM306, New Braunfels, (830) 964-3800, whitewaterrocks.com. It was just kind of a thing I did in high school with my friends. 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. Founded In. I'm sorry if I'm gonna sound dumb, but we're talking about Sam Melo, that came out right now as trans, right? I'm happy to share with you that I am trans. That's super interesting. VOILA!Rainbow Kitten Surprise's Tampa concert moved from Orpheum to The Ritz Ybor City. I'm glad that it's doing something for people, that people can relate to it. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is quickly becoming one of the most beloved and respected bands of their generation. Twenty dates on their tour were sold out earlier this week. The charismatic frontman who loves Bustelo coffee spent 20 minutes talking to CL in advance of his bands upcoming Ybor City show. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The Split Rail label was founded in 2005. No glass or glass hubblies. 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. Do you have to cancel all press and just go work? Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Just a few weeks ago at the end of . It was incredible. They were voted into the final 24 on the . I'm always under the assumption that the band life is never is as glamorous as you think it is. San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN) is the top-read news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of San Diego. on Whatever you need. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a popular indie-rock band that has made waves in the music scene with their unique sound and style. They have released seven singles and two EPs, all of which are their own work. The expansion resulted in the bigger, more energetic sound heard on their debut album, Seven, which was later repackaged with their EP in a release called Seven + Mary. No food. The Riv // Chicago, IL // February 8, 2019. By 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 fact, as commitments go, he thought it was as minimal as it gets. local news and culture, Augusta Rizzardini In January 2020, the long-running PBS show Austin City Limits aired Rainbow Kitten Surprise in a half-hour set recorded the previous fall. The Troubadour is located in West Hollywood, the historic gay district of Los Angeles. People who are b. 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." 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. After forming in 1972, John Fogerty the singer, guitarist, and songwriting mastermind behind Creedence Clearwater Revival broke up the band. 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. 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. . This was the last stop on their summer tour. Dude, thanks for making music that makes me want to ask questions like that. NINE LIVES: Rainbow Kitten Surprise frontman Sam Melo, who brings the band to The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on September 17, 2018. . Rainbow Kitten Surprise has booked two nights at Colorado's iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2022. Live from Athens Georgia. Sometimes life is a grind of the best possible espresso you can put into a percolator. [3] They later added three new members, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney, and Charlie Holt. It's not a daily thing, you're never like, ok well here's that sad story for the day. Rainbow Kitten Surprise prepares to unleash a burst of musical influences at The Jones Assembly. 'Bout twenty more I'll be forty-four, head back to Tampa Bay. Sign up for our Events Newsletter. Well, it just so happens that two of the members of the five-piece band are also members of the LGBTQ+ community - singer Sam Melo is gay and bassist Charlie Holt is trans. Medications in Pregnancy: What Not To Take? 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Before Rainbow Kitten Surprise's sold-out show at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul last month, I met up with Sam Melo (lead vocals and keys) and Charlie Holt (bass). My pronouns are she/her. In particular, the song Killing for Love has been interpreted as an allegory about finding solace in faith and discovering inner peace. 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. Their music blends elements of folk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, creating a unique and captivating sound. The band's Pride Weekend performance at the Troubadour was a truly spectacular celebration of equality, community, and love - not to mention a kickass rock show. She made the announcement on Wednesday, March 30 about a week before the band hits the road for a highly-anticipated tour. 10201 fans Top tracks. 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 don't know, it was a lot of fun.". This tale of internal conflict is particularly relevant for both the band and this particular show. All you gotta do is just pour some cream on top and chug it. The move to Elektra put the band on a different level. Ela Melo, the lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, came out as transgender in a social media post on Wednesday, March 30. The song's beautiful melody line and the effervescent vibe is a stark juxtaposition to its poignant lyrics about the difficult relationships - of all sorts - that people struggle with. By VinStyleRe. Musician/band "Work Out" video out now . Mon. Up to the point Haney joined the band, Rainbow Kitten Surprise had been the duo of singer Sam Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller. 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. "Rainbow Kitten Surprise on their fast road to fame and unforgettable name", "Rainbow Kitten Surprise hometown, biography", "Alternative/indie-pop band signs with Appalachian's Split Rail Records", "Director Kyle Thrash Takes Fans Inside Rainbow Kitten Surprise's Emotional 'Hide' Video", "Rainbow Kitten Surprise | How to: Friend, Love, Freefall | the New Album", "Rainbow Kitten Surprise on Instagram: 'Just a little reminder that our upcoming run starts in less than 2 weeks! Each of the queens conceals their identities for a variety of reasons, citing fear of bodily harm or damaging familial relationships. 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? Rainbow Kitten Surprise on Audiotree . Their music style is a mix of folk, pop, and rock. At that time I was pretty self-absorbed, self-conscious, I mean, I was 14. Straight from the bluegrass hotbed of Boone, North Carolina . Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) is an American indie rock band that was formed in Boone, North Carolina in 2013. Rainbow Kitten Surprise - Photo by Chris Taylor. 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. "I mean, I think we just move fast," said Sam Melo, one of the band's . 4:00AM. From $1.46. 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. Boy, do we have a surprise for you a Rainbow Kitten Surprise to exact. 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. . 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. 2023 LIVE NATION WORLDWIDE, INC. In 2017, the band appeared at festivals including Bonnaroo, Firefly, and Austin City Limits, and they signed with Elektra Records for their third album. 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. It feels like this big, intricate record that was always kind of hiding in the band's music even when it was a two acoustic guitar band. Dallas' independent source of Your favorite tequila battle is back on 4/7/23! Alan Sculley And it would be a different record if it got made in nine months, but sometimes you need the two-week record. Ela Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American indie rock band from Boone, North Carolina. Happy birthday to Sam Melo! It was the utmost honor for Ones to Watch to be in attendance, and we are proud to join Rainbow Kitten Surprise and countless other artists in the promotion of equality through the greatest unifier, music. She has written, produced, directed &performed in four original plays. by Timothy Monger. The group held its earlier rehearsals in Boone, North Carolina . It's like two years old but just brush the dust off and it will be good." Concert Review: Rainbow Kitten Surprise By October 29, 2018 October 29, 2018 Music . Im grateful to be able to express who I truly am and share in this moment with you.. "Seven + Mary" was their first and most folky album, which combined haunting melodies with the unique and striking voice of lead vocalist Sam Melo. And now about her coming out, damn that's brave of her to do that! 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 . My pronouns are she/her. Over the past couple of years, I've been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self.I'm happy to share with you that I am trans. He also states that his faith has been an important influence on the music he makes. The song's . I still had dial-up till a year after we moved back, so MySpace hit me pretty hard. Thrash has previously performed at Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits. My pronouns are she/her. That was the understanding that I had. Biography. Well, if you keep selling out each show, then Atlantic is going to have to give you more than two-and-a-half weeks in the studio to get it done, right? Ela Melo is the lead vocalist for alt-rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise; she wrote their biggest hit, "It's Called: Freefall.". 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? Sam Melo. // Manage Preferences, The Dares latest single Good Time, is the definition of were here for a good time, not a long time. The track. That's the thing, Jay and I talked about this, somebody said the first day, so if you have nine months to make a record it's going to take you nine months to make a record. You adapt pretty quick as a kid and kind of roll into it. It ended up working out, and we did it. And I feel like you've always said it in your music, your answer is to just be yourself. And there are just so many details there are into making a good sounding record. High-energy, queer-friendly, happy-go-lucky. Because especially if the song were to be a hit, then immediately were poster children, you know?, "Hide" was accompanied by one of the most impactful music videos of last year. 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. We hadn't been in the South for a long time. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. 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". Although the bands members identities have not been publicly discussed, their music has often been interpreted as being LGBT-friendly. No weapons or illegal substances. 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise, "RKS" for short, is known for its harmonies, instrumentation, and lyrics. It is said to mix indie rock and roll, hip-hop, electronic music, and pop influences in its music. I will say as a trans girl that some of the older lyrics make more sense now. Their music has a calmer demeanor. When Ela Melo, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, decided to come out as transgender, her family and friends were overjoyed. Is what I'm wearing OK? Sam Melo, lead vocalist of Rainbow Kitten Surprise performs at the Georgia Theatre, on Tuesday April 8, 2018, in Athens, Georgia. On June 11, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will perform at Red Rocks alongside their ride-or-die, . Ultimately, Rainbow Kitten Surprises music is open to interpretation, and it is up to the listener to decide whether or not they find spiritual meaning in their songs. It's Called: 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 . I'm Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Over the past couple of years, I've been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. 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). ", RKS' performance of "Hide" at the Troubadour felt particularly profound. Press J to jump to the feed. I've come to understand it differently. She has appeared Read his 2016 intro letterand disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ela Melo, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a popular alternative rock band, recently came out as lesbian. Once you get over that search and you get heartbroken by it, you realize all of the tools that are now at your disposal. Somebody will grab the phone and somebody will read it out loud and everyone listens. Rainbow Kitten Surprise consists of Sam Melo, Darrick 'Bozzy' Keller, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and Charlie Holt. Reading the new introductions to the band has been awesome and I cannot wait for their new chapter! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging schools to incorporate transgenderism and LGBT education into their curricula. 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. When it comes to Rainbow Kitten Surprise, just remember the old axiom to never judge a book by its cover. As a boy, can you do that? A rainbow kitten surprise concert can last anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours. Like if somebody loses a friend and somehow our music is cathartic to them, go for it, man. 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). Their sound has been influenced by artists such as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean and Schoolboy Q. The band name was created by a friend who was on a morphine drip at the time, recently out of surgery. Jay Joyce (at Neon Cross Studios and Jason Hall) did a great job with your vision. Hi everyone! Over the past couple of years, Ive been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. That was pretty rough going down there as a kid, going from first world comfort to the third world. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images 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. 8. They have more than 3.3 million monthly streamers on Spotify, with their upcoming tour taking them across the country and to several premier music festivals. The band opened with one of the marquee tracks off of their most recent release, "It's Called: Freefall," a haunting folk-rock-tinged song that addresses internal conflict. 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. "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 .
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