Rainbow Kitten Suprise brought electrifying energy and liveliness to their performance at the “Thanks for Coming” tour at the Fillmore New Orleans last Tuesday, Oct. 14.
The concert started right at 8 p.m., around an hour after the doors to the venue opened. The opener for the concert was Californian indie-rock artist Jelani Aryeh.
The highlight of Aryeh’s set was his new hit “Marigold,” in which he had all the lights on stage turn a marigold yellow. Aryeh said that this was his favorite venue he has played so far and his first time in New Orleans. He was sporting a NOLA hat he had gotten from Bourbon Street that day.
Aryeh is someone to look out for in the coming months, as he really found a way to connect with the audience and brings a completely new sound to the folk-rock scene.
Around 30 minutes after Aryeh closed, the lights all turned off. The entire venue went silent, but then immediately erupted in screams as soon as the band took the stage. Lead Singer Ela Melo told the crowd multiple times to get up on their feet and jump along to the music. The crowd was fast to obey, and it created a surreal atmosphere.
Rainbow Kitten Suprise is a breakthrough band, gaining more traction at big music festivals like Lollapalooza for their hits “It’s Called: Freefall” and “All That and More.” The band has a special sound, mixing indie and folk-rock, and a lot of that has to do with Melo’s captivating and distinctive vocals.
The band’s set started with “Hide,” a vibrant song packed with emotion about the LGBTQ+ community, but also about Melo herself and her struggles with coming out and self-discovery. As emotional as the song is, it is upbeat and immediately engaged the excited crowd.
Throughout the set, it was easy to tell how close the bond between the bandmates was as they came together on center stage to sing. This was particularly evident when they sang the popular “Matchbox.” It was a powerful moment in the show, increasing the energy and liveliness of the set.
The closing song to the set was nearly perfect. “It’s Called: Freefall” is Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s most well-known song and it was easy to tell some fans had been waiting for it, belting along with the lead singer.
Rainbow Kitten Suprise’s concert in New Orleans was long awaited, and they did not sell anyone short of a unique sound and an amazing night of music. Their touching lyricism and captivating stage presence made this concert unforgettable for fans.