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Rainbow Kitten Surprise In Vancouver
If any band deserves to close out the PNE Summer Night Concert Series, it’s Rainbow Kitten Surprise in Vancouver. Ela, Darrick (guitar and vocals), Ethan (lead guitar), and Jess (drums) came determined to leave the city buzzing. The North Carolina alt-rock group has built a devoted following with tracks like It’s Called: Freefall, Cocaine Jesus, and Devil Like Me. For fans who missed last year’s sold-out show at UBC Thunderbird Arena, this was the chance to finally experience those hits live, along with plenty of deep cuts.
True to their name, the night wasn’t without surprises. Midway through the set, a fan injury in the crowd briefly paused the show for about 15 minutes. RKS quickly cleared the stage, allowing venue staff to respond without distraction. Once the situation was resolved, they returned with even greater intensity, determined to make the rest of the night unforgettable. From there, Rainbow Kitten Surprise powered through an epic 26-song setlist, holding nothing back and leaving every ounce of energy on stage.
Setlist
With their upcoming album Bones on the horizon, Rainbow Kitten Surprise used this show to give fans a taste of what’s next. New tracks like 100 Summers and Dang have already built serious momentum, and the packed crowd sang every word alongside Ela like a single voice. Alongside the fresh material, RKS delivered a career-spanning set, pulling favorites from RKS, Love Hate Music Box, and How To: Friend, Love, Freefall. Songs like Goodnight Chicago, Hide, and Sickset kept the energy surging throughout the night.
Closing Act III of the performance was Run, a song that, like so many others, united the audience in pure celebration. But when the final note faded, fans weren’t ready to leave. Whispers of “Where’s Freefall?” and “No Thanks For Coming?” rippled through the stands. Moments later, their wishes were granted. The band returned for a three-song encore packed with heavy hitters. As the opening notes hit, Vancouver erupted, dancing wildly and singing freely, as if no one was watching.
In Closing
The night ended with the song everyone had been waiting for, Freefall. With nearly 600 million streams on Spotify, it was the undeniable highlight of the set. Vancouver stood frozen, locked in on Ela and the band as they delivered the track that has defined RKS’s rise. Ela commanded the stage, holding the city in the palm of her hand. The song’s infectious energy had fans singing so loudly it felt as if the crowd itself had taken over the performance. As the final note rang out, the arena erupted, bringing the night to a powerful close. For those who missed last year’s sold-out show, this was a worthy redemption. For those lucky enough to have been there before, it was a chance to relive the magic all over again.
Thank You
I’d like to thank Rainbow Kitten Surprise In Vancouver and their team for allowing us to capture the night. Also a shoutout to the PNE Summer Night Concert crew for allowing us to experience the show. To find out more about RKS, please visit here: https://www.rksband.com/
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