Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a band that is hard to ignore. For starters, there's the captivating name - a product of the band's earliest days. Whether it be a prophetic-like vision of what the band would ultimately become or the result of a drug-induced word association due to this friend's morphine drip, the name Rainbow Kitten Surprise was born in that hospital room. While the band's name, which arguably consists of the most pleasing combination of words in the English alphabet, may be the first thing that anyone notices about them, it's hardly the sole reason for their avid following. Together, the five of them have cultivated critical and commercial success through stunning live performances and three genre-defying albums. The band's latest, their Elektra debut " How to: Friend, Love, Freefall ," is a sonic exploration of classic folk, indie rock, hip-hop, and so much more through stunning bouts instrumentation and moving lyricism. The end result is that RKS has crafted something that truly feels like a celebration of music as a whole. The sentiment translates to the band's energetic and not-to-miss live show, having sold out over 45 of their first North American headlining shows. OTW: What's the most surprising thing fans may not know about you or your bandmates? When did you first come together and start playing music?


Navigation menu
CBSN: 24/7 Live Stream
That's just how they like it. Success has come fast, too. You know it just like — it got lit really quickly," Melo said.
Where people listen
Rainbow Kitten Surprise, which got its name from the absurd phrase a friend kept repeating after surgery yes, he was saying "Rainbow Kitten Surprise" over and over again , has become the go-to act for summer festival stages across the country. From Tennessee's Bonnaroo to Florida's Okeechobee to Washington's Sasquatch, the genre-bending, passionate indie act known by acronym RKS has played at and returned to some of the biggest music festivals. Rainbow Kitten Surprise submitted the song that took off from its first album, "Devil Like Me," into the competition, and fans voted them into one of the top 24 slots. So, the band was called up to New York City in What an experience. Once they arrived, someone in a suit and a headset in a Mercedes Benz whisked them off to a warehouse to join the other top bands. We got eliminated on the first round," says Melo with a laugh. It was the first time going on camera and being told 'say this, say this. When the band plays a festival, Melo says he likes to spend the entire day before the show on festival grounds to become fully immersed in the experience. It kind of makes you feel like a superhero, because you're part of creating the experience that everybody's living in.
We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Rainbow Kitten Surprise and all five of its members hail from the mountains of Boone, North Carolina.