There’s indie rock music, then there’s the unique alternative indie rock sound of Rainbow Kitten Surprise who brought this sound to Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, IA on May 16th. This was their first U.S. stop on their Thanks For Coming Tour, after kicking it off with a few shows in Canada earlier this month. Hailing from Boone, NC, RKS has been recording music since 2013 with the release of their debut album, Seven + Mary.
Vibrant Music Hall is truly one to patronize. This was my first time visiting this venue, and I was beyond impressed! VMH is a beautiful establishment, and every staff member I had encountered that evening was more than hospitable. Fans arrived early, waiting outside on a cool (and quite blustery) evening, some wrapped in blankets, eagerly awaiting entry to claim their spot for the evening in the GA pit.
Opening was New Translations — who are just wrapping up the last few shows of their Vacation Tour, and will be supporting for the remainder of May. Based out of Nashville, TN, this band was reminiscent of my high school days, as their synth sound and the voice of lead singer Oliver Pierce were, to my ears, parallel to that of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s (OMD) lead singer Andy McCluskey.
8:45 p.m., the lights went down, the crowd screamed, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s lead singer, Ela Melo entered on stage. She donned a flower-patterned dress, pink bow socks, and a pair of silver Ash Rolls Maryjane Fashion sneakers. The look was completely on brand for her. They opened with “Devil Like Me,” the second most performed song on their tours. To no surprise, numerous colorful lights were in abundance during their set, including the risers on stage. The steps of the risers, lined with LEDs, lit up with individual colors to set the mood for each song, as well as the occasional rainbow of colors of course. Strobes were a predominant feature, enhancing the excitement and the overall intensity of the show.
After quite a few high-energy songs, they brought down the pace a bit, breaking into “Espionage.” (a tour debut song) This newest single was released this past Valentine’s Day, 2025. A timely release, as the lyrics tell of the heartaches of relationships. Continuing with the theme of heartbreak and difficult relationships, they followed with “Work Out.” This song seemed to truly resonate with the crowd. As the lights went out in preparation for their next number, Ela addressed her fans asking, “are we in our feelings yet?” — displaying just one way of connecting with her fans.
The lights came up, a guitar was now held in Ela’s hands. She strummed the first few chords of “First Class,” and the energy level lifted even higher! It seemed as though everyone in the house began singing along with this one. Definitely no surprise there, as it’s one of their earliest singles, and is in the top four of their repertoire performed on tour. One of my favorites of their set that night was “Goodnight Chicago.” It wasn’t so much the lyrics that got me, but the sound, beat, and tempo of this song had me moving a little while enjoying the show.
After performing “Meticulous,” another single from their most recent album, Love Hate Music Box, they continued to promote this album, and broke into “Superstar,” a song about self-worth and not wanting to be second best. As many artists do at some point during their set, Ela took a moment afterwards to introduce the band members one by one. Following those introductions, they closed their set with “Run,” highlighting lead guitarist Ethan Goodpaster’s virtuosity.
Departing the stage after that number, fans began chanting, “One more song! One more song! One more song!” Rainbow Kitten Surprise honored the crowd’s wishes with a two-song encore. Ela reappeared on stage with a glistening white open-front kimono draped over her dress, and began singing the title song of their tour, “Thanks For Coming.” Ending the night with a widely performed song, “It’s Called: Freefall,” Ela Melo literally took a freefall on stage at the end of the song for a stage worthy dramatic effect.
After two more U.S. shows in May, it’s one more stop in Canada, then back to the U.S. to finish their tour in a variety of regions in the U.S., ending in the Pacific Northwest with their final show on August 13, 2025 at the Kettlehouse Amphitheater in Bonner, MT.
GALLERY: Rainbow Kitten Surprise at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, Iowa (May 16, 2025)
