Kicking off the penultimate show of their UK tour, Rainbow Kitten Surprise hit the stage to rapturous applause and screams of approval from the young crowd. With minimal chat, it was clear that the evening was all about the music as the North Carolina four-piece had complemented their live lineup with an extra two members, providing extra depth to their unique blend of rock, pop and folk.
Full of energy, lead singer Ela high-kicked and twirled her way through fan-favourites including ‘Painkillers’ and ‘Cocaine Jesus’, where vocal harmonies soared perfectly with electric guitars while the crowd scream-sang along to every word. Towards the end of the show, the four core members came together to “play some more acoustic shit” – the slower pace doing nothing to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm for this emotional set.
Last visiting in 2023, the band played at Manchester Academy. This year’s triumphant return saw quite an upgrade to the O2 Apollo, and the historic bones of the building perfectly compliment RKS’s brand of music which draws influences from Kings of Leon and Taylor Swift. Promoting their new album Bones, they played a mixture of old songs and new – and all were met with screams of recognition, often from a single note.
Support was delivered by Cigarettes @ Sunset who warmed the crowd with their self-titled brand of “Possum Rock” – a unique blend of gritty vocals, americana, folk and rock. They performed under rainbow lights and gave a shout out to a plushie of Blåhaj, the IKEA shark toy that rose to internet fame as a pro-trans icon after spotting them being waved in the front row.
Music aside, what really stood out was the connection and community within the crowd. Age was irrelevant as excited teenagers rubbed shoulders with the older generation. People were sharing glitter, giving out stickers and sprout hair clips, and telling stories of how they discovered the band and what they mean to them. I chatted to local people as well as those who had travelled from further afield – Liverpool, Germany and even America were represented in this dedicated fanbase. People wearing jeans and t-shirts danced with people in full sequin catsuits. Everyone was hoping to hear a different favourite song, but it was clear that all were united in their love of this band. That love shone in every single smiling face in the gorgeous venue, and every hand waved in the air with the raw emotion that is injected in every song.
In this climate of hate where the news seems to get worse every day, tonight was the most wholesome gig I’ve been to in a long time. It was a shining beacon of love, hope and community where it felt like anything was possible and that, just maybe, there is hope for the future after all.