Review: Rainbow Kitten Surprise brought some much-needed queer joy to Des Moines

Returning to Des Moines for the first time in three years, Rainbow Kitten Surprise lit up Vibrant Music Hall on Friday, May 16 with a performance that radiated joy. The band’s chemistry was palpable. Each member moved with intensity, feeding off one another’s rhythm and the crowd’s roar. Their iconic logo pulsed in sync with the music, amplifying the atmosphere. There was no mistaking it — RKS wasn’t just back; they were reborn.

Lead vocalist Ela Melo skipped onto the stage in a sparkly floral dress, her snow-white hair glowing under the red lights. I watched her laced-up kicks bounce across the stage with a smile that wrapped her face from ear to ear. Her magnetic presence had the crowd grooving around and singing their lungs out. 

The emotional peak came during “Hide.” Like Melo, I’m trans, and hearing her sing, “Hide your love, don’t let it slip away” struck a chord with me. I know what it feels like to walk into a room and feel the need to hide part of yourself, or who you love. The lyrics speak to the ache of wanting to be known without fear or rejection.

As anti-trans legislation threatens the safety and futures of trans and nonbinary Iowans, Melo’s voice offered something rare: visibility and truth. This show was a reminder for me that we’re still here, still loving and still creating joy. Rainbow Kitten Surprise gave us a space to be free, to connect and to dance without a care about what existed beyond that room for a night.

And in a place like Iowa? That kind of freedom is revolutionary.