(Robbinsville, North Carolina is the hometown of Jess Haney and Ethan Goodpaster.) Up to the point Haney joined the band, Rainbow Kitten Surprise had been the duo of singer Sam Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller. 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? They had started playing shows around the Boone area and wrote and recorded the earliest Rainbow Kitten Surprise songs as a duo. They're songs that Sam [Melo] wrote before Rainbow Kitten Surprise was a thing. They received an outpouring of support from their fans, as well as other bands. History. He also states that his faith has been an important influence on the music he makes. Rumors have swirled for years about Melos sexuality, with some claiming that he is gay. Songs like Six and Fever Pitch are often cited as being particularly LGBT-friendly, with themes of unrequited love, acceptance and identity. Over the past couple of years, I've been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. 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. Im so curious about Elas sound. 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. Did something happen to you here where you changed? 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.. . What is genre in the streaming age? Nah, I was pretty much in my own world, to be honest. My pronouns are she/her. Alan Sculley Yvonne Gougelet is a playwright, theater producer, actress, activist and political & music journalist. In fact, Melo publicly came out through one of the tracks off of the project, "Hide." ", 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.". Was it bad circumstances that you left the Dominican. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an indie rock band from Boone, North Carolina, formed in 2013. 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. And it would be a different record if it got made in nine months, but sometimes you need the two-week record. Are your fans starting to come to you with some pretty heavy coming out stories of their own? It was incredible, but it was a lot to take on at the time. Over the past couple of years, Ive been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. 04. 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. Congrats on coming out, Ela, one person wrote on Instagram. So once that reality sets in then it becomes a little bit more productive. 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. Excited for the new music from the band. Especially in a place of uncertainty. In their video for Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Thrash shows a drag queen coming out to her parents. Exploring Clues And Implications Of LGBTQ+ Representation In The Nightmare Before Christmas, ISSLN: A Symbol Of Solidarity And Acceptance For The LGBTQ+ Community, Ask Your Insurance Company About Gay Rights. 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. and 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. That was the understanding that I had. You tend to do it when something is unstable in your real world and then you hole up to gain some measure of control by expelling into this musical format. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a popular indie-rock band that has made waves in the music scene with their unique sound and style. They announced earlier this week that their tour had sold out in less than a week. 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." Obviously, some days we didn't get anything. I think it's cool that people, it always hits ya like the story would. Hi everyone! Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Ela Melo and Darrick Keller. 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? 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. // Do Not Sell My Personal Information 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. Sam Melo. Jay Joyce (at Neon Cross Studios and Jason Hall) did a great job with your vision. Play. "I think the (time) restraint was probably good for us," Haney said. COLD LOVE hitting different today!!! Be yourself. For their first evening in Chicago, they pulled out all the stops and gave their fans a flawless performance. 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. Live from Athens Georgia. The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists like Modest Mouse, Lana Del Rey, and Kings of Leon. 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. They are known for their captivating live performances, which often involve elaborate costumes and choreographed dance . (Courtesy Matthew Salacuse) By Tom Lanham . Unfortunately, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will not be able to reschedule this event. 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. Address: Orange Road, Emmarentia, Johannesburg 2195. The band got their name during a hospital visit with a friend, who suggested Rainbow Kitten Surprise while under the effects of anesthesia. Maybe even more so going forward but also in the performance aspect, as well. 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. This tale of internal conflict is particularly relevant for both the band and this particular show. Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. If you haven't heard yet, we are so excited to have partnered', Rainbow Kitten Surprise [@RKSBandOfficial], "Hi everyone! Rainbow Kitten Surprise Sticker. The alternative band will perform at the famous music venue on Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12, concert promoter AEG Presents announced Monday. That was the understanding that I had. 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. "It was all just very surreal," Haney said. Three years ago, when Rainbow Kitten Surprise sold out Visulite Theatre, . You talked about it being pretty disheartening or defeatist in a way. on A beautiful experience indeed. On August 13, 2021, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the live album RKS! Rainbow Kitten Surprise and all five of it's members hail from the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. Hi everyone! That's awesome. Safe travels to you. 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). 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 songs are often filled with clever wordplay and heartfelt lyrics. Rainbow Kitten Surprise has booked two nights at Colorado's iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2022. "Yeah, it was zero to 100 for us, really," Haney said. But I still can't wait to hear what they've got coming next. His spot was kind of a transitory period for us. 70 following. Im happy to share with you that I am trans. Concert Review: Rainbow Kitten Surprise By October 29, 2018 October 29, 2018 Music . It was limbo for me. Guaranteed to be fire . Im grateful to be able to express who I truly am and share in this moment with you.. 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 success drew the attention of Elektra Records, and the major label signed Rainbow Kitten Surprise, setting the table for an even bigger breakout. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. By anibendod. Rainbow Kitten Surprise and all five of its members hail from the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. On June 11, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will perform at Red Rocks alongside their ride-or-die, . Their live performances are renowned for their high-energy, raw emotion, and often times, humor. Ray Roa For Rainbow Kitten Surprise's lead singer and songwriter Sam Melo - a man who has lived all over the place; including in the Dominican Republic for seven years because he was raised by a . It's Called: Freefall . Just working with Jay and Jason and the whole crew just opened my eyes to what kind of sonic avenues there were. . After forming in 1972, John Fogerty the singer, guitarist, and songwriting mastermind behind Creedence Clearwater Revival broke up the band. More than three million streams of the bands music are recorded each month on Spotify. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American rock band from North Carolina. Mon, Jul 4, 2022 at 4:00 am. How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. All of the things that were hinted at for this last one will get fleshed out. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. No own drinks allowed. Tags: Music Features, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Sam Melo . When it comes to Rainbow Kitten Surprise, just remember the old axiom to never judge a book by its cover. Right on. Do you have to cancel all press and just go work? 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. The band is scheduled to play a sold-out show at New Braunfels' Whitewater Amphitheater on Saturday, July 9. Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 12:09 pm. Sept. 17, 7:30 p . i saw their instagram post and freaked out bc i thought sam left. No professional camera, video, or audio recording equipment. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Or these are 2 different people? We wish them the best and hope to see them back in SLC again soon. 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. Like if somebody loses a friend and somehow our music is cathartic to them, go for it, man. TERMS OF USE. Founded In. 2023 LIVE NATION WORLDWIDE, INC. They are known for their captivating live performances, which often involve elaborate costumes and choreographed dance moves. Ela Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American indie rock band from Boone, North Carolina. Am I going to fit in? Join the Observer community and help support She made the announcement on Wednesday, March 30 about a week before the band hits the road for a highly-anticipated tour. Get our top picks for the best events in San Antonio every Thursday morning. Sam Melo and Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, decided to begin writing and . They entered their dogs in fights and watched them die. On March 30, 2022, the band's lead singer came out as transgender.[11]. 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. 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. [5][6], On April 6, 2018, RKS released its How To: Friend, Love, Freefall album, under the Elektra Records label. by Timothy Monger. If media is missing, please DM me with a link to submission url and tweet. No glass or glass hubblies. Scroll to read more Music Stories & Interviews articles. Many electric vehicle batteries lose power when its very cold. "Yeah, we were pumping out a song a day and it felt good. We did that on a studio-run label thing, and all of that was cool. (Photo/Christina R . Life is work. The band consists of Sam Melo, Darrick Keller, Charlie Holt, Jess Haney, and Caleb Elder. 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 in Concert. And there are just so many details there are into making a good sounding record. It was incredible. San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN) is the top-read news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of San Diego. Documentarian Kyle Thrash was enlisted by the band to create the video for Hide, which depicts sexuality in a subtle way. Everyone uses it down here in Florida. Relishing in the opportunity before them, RKS have truly taken ownership of who they are to the point where they're . RKS initially recorded its music under the Split Rail Records label, a student run label at Appalachian State University's Hayes School of Music, where three of the band's members attended. There wasn't a seat remaining as the lights dimmed in the Tennessee Theatre. But if you have two weeks, you'll make it in two weeks. Arriving in 2018, the band's breakout full-length debut for Elektra, "How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. Just a few weeks ago at the end of . Happy for her! In the latest episode of Fender Presents, Rainbow Kitten Surprise plays "Work Out" and talks about their hometown roots, giving back, their greatest inspirat. 10201 fans Top tracks. "It all just happened so fast. This was their first of the year because of the cancellation of many events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their music style is a mix of folk, pop, and rock. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. 8. But if you know anybody over there, we have been trying to reach out to them for some time. At first, it's "How do you pay bills? We love you so much!! Rainbow Kitten Surprise's (RSK) recording will be the eighth album produced and released by Split Rail Records since 2008. It's incredible that this is what life is. I'm sorry if I'm gonna sound dumb, but we're talking about Sam Melo, that came out right now as trans, right? 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. I wasn't like a full-time drummer. There's so much of it down here but I keep forgetting it's actually from New York. 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 bandswitty and introspective lyrics complement Alis powerful and emotional voice perfectly. She made the announcement on Instagram just a few days before the bands tour began. Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m. $25 & up. It included a collection of 25 songs performed at a previous live concert. . "Work Out" arrived alongside a lyric video, handwritten by RKS frontperson Ela Melo. It's always a new set of gains. My pronouns are she/her. The band got its name when someone's hospitalized, heavily medicated friend kept repeating the phrase Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Over the past couple of years, Ive been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. You heard words like Atlantic and all this stuff, but it's just so hard to make it as a band, even at your level. How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. Rainbow Kitten Surprise live in South Africa! The band name was created by a friend who was on a morphine drip at the time, recently out of surgery. 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? thanks in part to Melo's intense vocal style, but also because only two of the 13 tracks cross the four-minute . By Tom Lanham. It's not a daily thing, you're never like, ok well here's that sad story for the day. I still had dial-up till a year after we moved back, so MySpace hit me pretty hard. "It was like, we did RKS. The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists like Modest Mouse, Lana Del Rey, and Kings of Leon. They're as big a surprise as their name and, when they took the stage at First Avenue, the surprises kept on coming. 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. Ela Melo, the lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, came out as transgender in a social media post on Wednesday, March 30. If you have three days to make it, you'll make it in three days. Does that feel like a burden for you as your fan base grows and is very devoted to the band? 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. It was just kind of a thing I did in high school with my friends. Rainbow Kitten Surprise has expertly used the spotlight to promote the welfare of LGBTQ+ people. By the time we left, we were pretty broke and it was sort of defeatist, at least from my eyes. Read Full Biography. Although the bands members identities have not been publicly discussed, their music has often been interpreted as being LGBT-friendly. 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. Right on. Sam Melo, the lead singer, took the stage with the lyrics and bent down to pray during the ominous and richly emotional Holy War . Twenty dates on their tour were sold out earlier this week. Thrash has previously performed at Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits. That's just how they like it. Rainbow Kitten Surprise Band Music Tour Poster. 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. 33 cities. Once you get over that search and you get heartbroken by it, you realize all of the tools that are now at your disposal. 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a six-month-old kitten, was born at Appalachian State University in North Carolina six years ago. 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. The building shook as the crowded room stomped along to Holt's pulsing bass, sending their love through every floorboard of the venue. 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 most beloved indie-rock acts of the late 2010s and early 2020s. Sam Melo, second from left, brings Rainbow Kitten Surprise to the Fillmore. They are based in Boone. One day we were all sitting in Boone and the next thing we were touring the world. Their sound has been influenced by artists such as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean and Schoolboy Q. Rainbow Kitten Surprise consists of Sam Melo, Darrick 'Bozzy' Keller, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and Charlie Holt. If I hear of a Bustelo connection, I will definitely help get that sponsorship for you guys. The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists . 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. "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. On June 9, the North Carolina-based band played an intimate show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA, and Ones to Watch was lucky enough to stop by and see what stories the band had to tell. I feel like we are the most blessed to be able to play. Liking Bridget Jones: Does It Mean Im Gay? And since then I've just been digging into the harmonic series and trying to figure out what makes a sound a sound. . I'm Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. 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. 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. No coolerboxes. 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? My pronouns are she/her. Though each Rainbow Kitten Surprise show has a compelling narrative, we were lucky enough to catch a performance that had a particularly relevant message. 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. High-energy, queer-friendly, happy-go-lucky. BY CONTINUING PAST THIS PAGE YOU AGREE TO OUR The band is made up of singer-songwriter Sam Melo, bassist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, drummer Jesse Wells, and guitarist Richarddriver. I just couldn't be more thankful to be able to do what we do.". She is, indeed, a trans woman, she stated as she revealed her gender to her fellow human beings. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch. Their music has a calmer demeanor. Ela Melo, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a popular alternative rock band, recently came out as lesbian. Dallas' independent source of ", RKS' performance of "Hide" at the Troubadour felt particularly profound. armed forces vacation club for veterans 082 825 4557; welsh keith brymer jones wife zapperstore.xyz@gmail.com I don't know, it was a lot of fun.". There's nothing better than being front row for a Rainbow Kitten Surprise show. Although the group of Carolinians frontman Sam Melo, Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and . 264K followers. I don't understand the culture. Are you still going into these "rabbit hole states are you able to work when you are in them? You don't tend to hole up by yourself and write lyrics when you're happy. At that time I was pretty self-absorbed, self-conscious, I mean, I was 14. Now two NC men face prison. Im so glad she finally feels comfortable to be her true self! After gracing the bills of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Osheaga, to name a few, RKS moved 80,000 tickets of their own on their sold-out Friend, Love Freefall Tour earmarked by a packed night at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and three consecutive gigs in Athens, GA-as chronicled on their first official live album, "Live from Athens Georgia" released in 2021. Singer Sam Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, started the band in their Appalachian State University dorm room and self-released their first EP, "Mary," in 2013. I think where it comes from is the place that I'm at when I'm writing. My pronouns are she/her. What's the Truth Behind the Beyonc Country Album Rumors. ', "I always thought it was funny that I was insistent that I was only going to do one show," Haney said. Sign up for the latest music, videos, tour dates, and more The sound of Rainbow Kitten Surprise, or RKS, as their fans call them, is hard to define. Mon. In an interview with VICE, he said, I thought that it might be a step too far, because there are just so few songs that talk about it, you know? Video shows Florida alligator easily blasting through a metal fence, The four-day Grand Prix of St. Petersburg starts today. Buy Rainbow Kitten Surprise's album titled How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 17. All you gotta do is just pour some cream on top and chug it. 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 Somebody will grab the phone and somebody will read it out loud and everyone listens. It's like two years old but just brush the dust off and it will be good." The Truth About Margaritas: Is It Gay For Men To Drink Them? No mentally. My pronouns are she/her. And then we built . I'm happy to share with you that I am trans. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. 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. 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.