Rainbow Kitten Surprise :: Common People
February 27, 2026
Landmark Credit Union Live, Milwaukee WI
Shot & Written by Kelsie Barlow
There was a buzz of excitement in the air of downtown Milwaukee on Friday, February 27th, as Rainbow Kitten Surprise were about to cement themselves as the first band to ever play on the stage of Landmark Credit Union Live. This new 4,500-cap venue was about to start its life with a soulful and unforgettable opening night of the Bones North American Tour from an iconic band.
Walking into the venue it was much larger than I expected. The ceiling is higher than it looks from the outside, and the general admission area is spacious below the steep and expansive balcony section. Everyone was on the top of their game from bartenders, to securityβthis room was ready to rock. The opening band, Common People, hails from Southern California and brought a fun and fresh energy to Milwaukee. The band also let everyone know that they released a brand new song, βDear Worryβ, this very day, and that they would love for all of us to go stream it. Continuing their set, I appreciated the Mick Jagger-esque energy of the lead singer, and how you could tell how much fun they were having with this performance. Common Peopleβs sound reminds me of artists like Joe P and Cage The Elephant, and their vibe mixes perfectly with that of Rainbow Kitten Surprise.
Vocalist Nicky Winegardner garnered audience excitement by saying, βWe have all been granted a gift this eveningβ¦Rainbow Kitten Surprise is playing tonight!β Cheers erupted from all corners of the room, and fans were all in for Common People and the show they were yet to see. He then shared that the band met Rainbow Kitten Surprise in Nashville, and that joining them on this tour is one of the greatest experiences of their lives. Towards the end of the set, the crowd took a moment to take it all in with common people, and feel the music and togetherness we were all experiencing. With the closing of their set, the anticipation for Rainbow Kitten Surprise began.
At 9:15 pm, the lights dimmed and the band started making their way onto the stage. Emotion and adrenaline buzzed through the air as they opened their set with βHell Nahβ, and continued their momentum by playing one of my personal favorites, βOur Songβ. One thing that I noticed immediately is how connected all members of the band were. Several times throughout their performance they played to each other, interacting and feeding off of their collective energy. They really felt like a collective, and not just individual musicians playing together. Lead singer Ela Melo is an absolute powerhouse, and sounds even more raw and powerful live than she does in studio.
The show continued as they played favorites both new and old including βDangβ, βAllβs Well That Ends Wellβ, βCocaine Jesusβ, βPainkillersβ, and the live debut of βMurderβ (track 5 off their 2025 album, bones). In the middle of the set the standard microphone was taken offstage and was replaced by a halo microphone that the band gathered around. Here they sang some breathtaking acoustic covers of their songs βBare Bonesβ, (from their 2015 self-titled album), along with βHey Pretty Mommaβ, and βBlack and Whiteβ (both from their 2013 album Seven + Mary). Following this was the second live debut of the night with βSixteenβ. This was a purely cathartic show, and that was something I could not only feel, but see. Fans danced together, sang along, and swayed while closing their eyes so they could feel every emotion represented in these songs. After leaving the stage temporarily, Rainbow Kitten Surprise closed their set with an encore and played βTropicsβ, and arguably their most well known song, βItβs Called: Freefallβ.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a gem of a band. Their 10+ year career has connected music lovers of all walks of life, and their music continues to be a staple in the LGBTQ+ community. Milwaukee was lucky enough to be the first stop on this tour, and fans have several other chances to catch this show live. Stay updated on all things Rainbow Kitten Surprise via their social media and website. This tour is a breath of fresh air, and an experience you wonβt want to miss.
