Rainbow Kitten Surprise
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About Rainbow Kitten Surprise
As if channeling another dimension where genres simply don’t exist, Rainbow Kitten Surprise finds harmony in unpredictability – weaving together lyrical poetry, hummable melodies, and a rush of instrumental eccentricities. Now boasting over 2 billion global streams across platforms, the band first began building their devoted fanbase with independent albums SEVEN + MARY(2013) and RKS (2015). The band’s breakout full-length debut for Elektra, HOW TO: FRIEND, LOVE, FREEFALL, arrived in April 2018. Produced by GRAMMY® Award-winner Jay Joyce (Cage The Elephant, Lainey Wilson), the album featured RIAA-certified Platinum single “It’s Called: Freefall,” 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 soup…very earnest, beautiful, political, loving rock n’ roll,” and saw the band make several national television appearances, including performances on “CBS Saturday Morning,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and PBS’s “Austin City Limits.” After gracing the bills of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Osheaga, to name a few, RKS moved 80,000 tickets of their own on the sold-out 2018/2019 Friend, Love, Freefall Tour. That tour was earmarked by a sold-out debut at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and three consecutive gigs in Athens, GA (the latter of which were chronicled on their first official live album, LIVE FROM ATHENS GEORGIA, released in 2021).
The band released a two-track single Mary (B-Sides) in May 2019 – consisting of “Heart” and “No Vacancy.” The following year brought the release of standalone single “Our Song” – already a fan favorite in their live rotation prior to release – as well as a livestream concert in July, held for thousands of fans on what would’ve been the date of another sold-out Red Rocks performance (cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In March 2022, the band released the emotionally charged track “Work Out,” marking their first new music in nearly two years.
2022 also saw the band set out on their first full headline trek in nearly 3 years, a run that included their long-awaited, sold-out, two-night return to Red Rocks. And in 2022 alone, with the help of partners PLUS1 and Propeller, Rainbow Kitten Surprise raised over $170k for food banks in local tour markets, LGBTQ+ causes, and mental health initiatives.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is: Ela Melo (she/her; lead vocals), Darrick “Bozzy” Keller (he/him; guitar, vocals), Ethan Goodpaster (he/him; lead guitar, vocals), Jess Haney (he/him; drums)
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American indie band known for blending alternative rock, folk, pop and soul into an eclectic style. The band has built a devoted following, many of whom travel across the country to catch a Rainbow Kitten Surprise Show.
Their music often explores meaningful themes such as identity, vulnerability, and personal growth. Rainbow Kitten Surprise tickets from AXS offer fans an incredibly personal experience, featuring the band’s distinctive vocals, raw emotion, and undeniable energy.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Background
Rainbow Kitten Surprise began in the small college mountain town of Boone, North Carolina. Their music career took shape when five Appalachian State University students connected in the dorms as freshmen.
All sharing a love of music, they started playing for fun, with their first show an open-mic night at their college. After the open-mic night turned out to be a success, the band began devoting more of their time towards writing and recording music.1
The band continued to grow in popularity; in March 2014, it played to 300-plus concertgoers. By August, the band had booked its first “big” show, selling out 950 tickets.1 The band continued to attract a loyal following who were drawn to their relatable lyrics and experiences that often can’t be translated into words. The band attributes its success to word-of-mouth and social media, which have helped amplify its presence.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Awards
While Rainbow Kitten’s success has largely been driven by their connection to their loyal fans and touring, their work has also earned industry recognition and praise.
- Billboard Chart Top TV Songs Chart (2025): After their song It’s Called: Freefall appeared on the third season premiere of the popular Netflix Series Ginny & Georgia, the song made it to the No.1 position on Billboard’s Top TV Songs charts.2
- Spotify Streams: Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s songs have amassed millions of plays, with It’s Called: Freefall boasting over 650 million streams and Painkillers having over 122 million streams.3
- Festival Appearances (2022): Rainbow Kitten Surprise has appeared in myriad renowned music festivals, including Bottle Rock Festival and Shaky Knees Festival in 2022.4
Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Biggest Hits
Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s catalogue includes a mixture of deeply emotional and fun, energizing songs. With millions of streams across major platforms, many of their songs have hit the mainstream.
- It’s Called: Freefall (2018): Perhaps the band’s most recognizable song due to its appearance on a popular Netflix series, it is best known for its reflective lyrics and gradual build.2
- Work Out (2022): This song highly resonated with fans due to its deep dive into the complexities of relationships, a somber portrayal played out in a handwritten lyric video by RKS frontwoman Ela Melo.4
- Painkillers (2018): A fan favorite, this song highlights the band’s unique ability to balance vulnerability with energetic instrumentation. The song has earned over 122 million streams.3
See Rainbow Kitten Surprise Live
Rainbow Kitten Surprise tickets offer fans an emotional, unique, and raw live performance. Fans can expect emotional intensity, dynamic pacing, and a strong audience connection as the band moves through their fluid set list, alternating between high-energy songs to slower, more introspective works.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise tickets are available through AXS, making it easy for fans to explore upcoming shows and tour dates as they’re announced.