I’ve never come across a band that slides between labels and genres quite so evasively (and with such resulting triumph) as Rainbow Kitten Surprise. A band formed in a 2013 state university dorm room somewhere in North Carolina, in a deceivingly mundane fashion, has since evolved several times over, into unique rock band who’s genre seems to newly manifest each time you listen. Like a word whose definition pivots, however slightly, with each new generation. A quick search on the internet yields a handful of describers: alternative, folk, grunge, queer, jam, pop, indie—go a little deeper and you’ll find message boards full of well-meaning fans and curios spectators debating which term best describes the rock band (we can agree they’re rock, right?) Listen long enough and you’ll hear poetry, improvisation, hip-hop, prog rock, a little jazz, some psychedelic—that instinct may kick in to nail down their genre and place them tidily in a cultural compartment for easy access. But it’s not going to happen. To fully enjoy their catalog, you have to resist that urge and embrace an ever-morphing inventiveness of RKS.
The Love Hate Music Box tour, which promotes the group’s latest album by the same name, started in Indianapolis back in September and has made its way through the country with only one out-of-country stop in Vancouver, finishing in San Francisco on November 25. Their Houston show at 713 Music Hall on November 8 was a celebration of self expression that showcased the best of their repertoire, both new and old.
The band started their highly anticipated set with “Devil Like Me,” from their breakout 2013 record Seven + Mary, which the crowd knew well. The opener was followed by “Cocaine Jesus” from the 2015 album RKS, and “Holy War” from the 2018 offering How to: Friend, Love, Freefall.
The fans got a real treat when singer songwriter Madi Diaz joined RKS on stage for a beautiful rendition of “Overtime” from their new album, Love Hate Music Box.
The band finished with a 2-song encore: aptly, “Thanks for Coming” and “It’s Called: Freefall.”
Though the group’s 2024 tour has come to an end, they are likely to announce a few shows for next year and we highly recommend seeing them.
SETLIST:
Devil Like Me
Cocaine Jesus
Holy War
SVO
Fever Pitch
Hide
Hot Pink Ice Cube
Work Out
First Class
Drop Stop Roll
When it Lands
Sickset
Wasted
Cold Love
Overtime (featuring Madi Diaz)
Goodnight Chicago
Our Song
Lucky
Meticulous
Painkillers
Matchbox
Superstar
Run
Thanks for Coming
It’s Called: Freefall
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