REVIEW: Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Bones and All at the Salt Shed in Chicago
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY ALINA PAWL-CASTANON ☆
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is sending love to the Midwest as their Chicago Weekend came to a close at The Salt Shed on March 1st, 2026. The soft reminiscence of days past and excitement for what's ahead echoed through the crowd as they kick-started “Bones North American tour” with a bang.
Born within a college dorm in North Carolina, Rainbow Kitten Surprise has had many evolutions in their 10 plus years as a group. Coming out with five studio albums in the process and in turn, solidifying their impact within what is known as the alternative indie sound. With songs bursting full of devastating lyrical imagery and dancing rhythms, Rainbow Kitten Surprise not only holds your attention but grabs it with an iron grip.
Within the blurs of color, twirls and bright smiles, lead singer Ela Melo ushers us through the group's classics. Dancing between lyrical tear-jerker songs like “Bare Bones” and “Devil Like Me,” the audience is taken through a journey within its raw vocals and acoustic sound that captures a deep resonance of self-acceptance and the ache that contemplation can bring .
RKS brings the energy back up with newer releases like “bones” from the 2025 album of the same name. Born from a failed collaboration with EDM artist Fred Again, it's certainly a tone change from their previous work into a more layered pop sound. However, throughout the album with songs like “Dang”, we see a tribute to their musical roots, interwoven with gritty guitar while still leaving room for experimentation and play.
Closer to the end of the night, the band slows down the energy. Meeting in a circle at center stage, the light dims and a vintage ribbon microphone gleams in front of them as they enter into a stripped rendition of “Lady Lie”. Taking a moment to address the crowd, front woman Melo looks across the audience, band members smiling on either side. “We started this just playing music on our porch with our friends dancing in the front yard”, she said in slow drawl. “Look at us now.”
