Rainbow Kitten Surprise at The Fillmore Philadelphia

North Carolina alternative indie-rock natives Rainbow Kitten Surprise played The Fillmore Philadelphia on Thursday night, bringing some of their Cold Love to a city that was already issued a “Code Blue” this week due to dangerously low temperatures. Per The Fillmore’s adherence to the City’s weather emergency protocol, fans were barred from lining up outside the venue until just ten minutes before doors opened. Fillmore staff advised all attendees to seek shelter in a nearby warm building, referring most to Punch Line Philly, the affiliated comedy club just next door. The Fillmore announced that they would be honoring all verified Punch Line receipts as Fast Pass access tickets to that night’s events.

Once the crowd was packed tightly into the venue, fans eagerly awaited for the sold-out show to begin. Opening for RKS was Los Angeles-based band Mt. Joy, formed by two childhood friends from Philadelphia, Matt Quinn and Sam Cooper. Quinn graced the stage sporting a Joel Embiid 76ers jersey, announcing to the crowd, “We’re Mt. Joy, and we’re from right here.” A blend of folk and rock with a little bit of funk mixed in on the keys, Mt. Joy held their own in their hometown, proving not just to be an opening act. Their fanbase turned out for them, shouting along the lyrics to their songs, and cheering loudly at the start of each recognizable tune. The group even slipped in a couple verses of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. By the end of their set, the lively crowd of 2,500 seemed to be officially warmed-up.

See More Photos of Mt. Joy Here.

Photo By | Taylor Shields

Opening with When It Lands from 2018’s How to: Friend, Love, Freefall, Rainbow Kitten Surprise had the crowd moving at the very first notes of the opening bassline. With technicolor lighting refracted through fog machines, and the way lead singer Sam Melo prances around the stage with the dexterity of a cat, the band’s name is actually no surprise at all. RKS delivers on the promise. Powering through a 20-song setlist, the group covered most of their latest album, as well as songs off their previous two LPs. One of the most high-energy and mesmerizing bands touring right now, Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a show to be seen. You can catch them on the festival circuit at Austin City Limits in Austin, TX later this month, and at Trondossa Music & Arts Festival in North Charleston, SC alongside Widespread Panic and Umphrey’s McGee in April.

Se More Photos of Rainbow Kitten Surprise Here.

Full setlists for Mt. Joy and Rainbow Kitten Surprise below:

Mt. Joy

Bugeyes

Jenny Jenkins

Astrovan

Dirty Love

Mt. Joy

I’m Your Wreck

Drop D

Sheep

Julia

Silver Lining