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The Appalachian

The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

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The Appalachian

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Rainbow Kitten Surprise returns to Legends

Rainbow+Kitten+Surprise+returns+to+Legends

Best known for their spot as one of 24 finalists on VH1’s “Make A Band Famous” competition in 2014, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will return to play at Legends on Thursday night.

The alternative pop band produced their latest album, “Run,” in April through the local production company Split Rail. Vocalist Sam Melo said the band hopes to produce a new album without a production company.

“We funded our last album on Kickstarter,” Melo said. “Right now we’re doing a bit of soul searching and will probably go back to our roots, which is recording and producing ourselves. We’re not sure where we’re going but we definitely want to keep it in house.”

Despite their current contract with Split Rail, the company has little to do with post-production, lead guitarist Ethan Goodpaster said.

“Split Rail operates by picking a new local band every semester to work with,” Melo said. “They switch off because they are constantly hoping to bring up new talent.”

The five-piece band often performs covers on stage, and is influenced by old-school Kings of Leon and Modest Mouse, Melo said. The group members originally bonded over folk music.

“We had been approached by Split Rail several times [in the beginning],” Goodpaster said. “And we were kind of unsure because we didn’t have all of our stuff together to record an album. Once they approached us, we started trying our best to get ready.”

Melo said the influences on a band change once a production company is involved. Often, there are deadlines and multiple people offering input.

“Know who you are and know what kind of music you want to make before you sign yourself away to control of someone else,” Melo said.

He encourages a strong foundation and experience playing live shows before recording in a studio.

“If you have material you can play live and you are consistently good at playing it, then you know you are ready,” he said “If you can’t put it on for someone else, don’t step into a studio and try to put it into a microphone.”

Sophomore theater major Noel Harrold is happy for the band’s recent success.

“I feel like [RKS] were originally more popular outside of Boone,” Harrold said. “It was actually my friend in a different state who tipped me off to them. She called me and begged me to go see them on her behalf.”

Tickets for the show are $6 and the doors open tonight at 9 p.m. Thursday night.

Story by: Kelsey Hamm, A&E Editor

Photos by: Halli Cardin, Courtesy Photos

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