Amanda L. from Rhode Island was the winner of the Propeller experience to "Win a Trip To See Rainbow Kitten Surprise in LA" that took place in November 2024. Below are some of Amanda's highlights from the experience.
Two important things to know about me: 1) I've been a big Rainbow Kitten Surprise fan since ~2015, and 2) as a person who identifies as queer and gender-expansive, I'm deeply invested in LGTBQ+ rights and safety.
So, when RKS announced they were teaming up with Propeller to raise money for Human Rights Campaign, PRIDE, and Nashville Launch Pad… and if I took action through Propeller to support those incredible LGTBQ+ causes, I could enter to win an all-inclusive trip to LA to see RKS play two shows at the Hollywood Palladium during their Love Hate Music Box Tour… say less, fam. I'm all in!
HRC, PRIDE, and Nashville Launch Pad each do vital things to support the LGBTQ+ community, and especially LGBTQ+ youth. This is near and dear to my heart as someone who didn't always have the support I needed in my own youth, and relied on similar organizations for their resources and hotlines. I'm so grateful for these support systems, and being able to support them in turn is something I'm incredibly lucky to do.
RKS auctioned off a signed Fender Orchestra acoustic guitar as part of their partnership with Propeller and Nashville Launch Pad, so I bid with the knowledge the money was going to a crucial cause… and I won! She's a gorgeous guitar, I love her — and my luthier friend (thanks, Tim Sway!) made a custom acrylic panel to protect the signatures so I could play the guitar without fear.
That auction win, plus the actions I'd taken through Propeller to sign petitions, donate for exclusive RKS merch, and support other charitable causes across the platform, granted me a ton of entries into the RKS LA contest.
The scream I scrumpt when I got the email from Propeller that I'd won the contest and was going to LA to see RKS, oh lord — I bet RKS heard it all the way in Nashville. I and a guest were going to be flown roundtrip to LA, where we'd spend three nights in a swanky hotel, see both RKS shows at the Hollywood Palladium, receive a signed setlist from each show, and check out a list of the band's favorite spots in LA (helped out by a rideshare credit to make sure we could see as many sights as possible!).
I spent the weeks leading up to the trip getting so hype — this was going to be my 14th and 15th time seeing RKS live (like I said, big fan)! When Propeller emailed the list of the band's favorite spots in LA, I took to Google Maps to pin them all so I could plan out our route and min/max our Silverlake explorations before and after each show. (Here's a third thing to know about me: I'm a big ol' neurodivergent nerd).
The glorious day came to hop on a plane and head to LA… and my guest had to bow out at the last minute for a work emergency. So it was going to be just me — which meant I had to have a doubly good time in his honor! And I think I managed.
Sat in a comfortable window seat on a Delta flight, I waved goodbye to New England and settled in for a cross-country adventure — with my RKS playlist on a loop in my ears, of course. I'd only been to LA once before for a work conference, and I basically lived in the conference hall and didn't see much of the city. This was going to be my first proper time exploring the area, and what better way to check it out than with my favorite band's suggestions! My flight touched down in the evening the day before the first show, which was perfect — gave me plenty of time to make my way to my hotel and get a good night's sleep before the adventures began.
And WOW, what a stunning hotel it was — Propeller set me up in the Prospect Hollywood, a super charming old hotel with a beautiful garden in the center, and rooms themed after classic stars in Hollywood. Mine was the Bette Davis room, which had the most fun kitschy wallpaper and leopard-print carpeting, not to mention a gorgeous clawfoot soaking tub. And though it was mere blocks from the bustle of Hollywood Boulevard, it was so quiet and peaceful — my little oasis in the city.
Breakfast in the hotel was so scrumptious — delicious pastries from a local bakery, fresh fruit and juice, and the silk-smoothest coffee. I got up mega-early, still on East Coast time, but it was perfect for enjoying a croissant and an espresso out in the hotel garden. Then it was time to make my way to Griffith Park for a hike!
I spent two hours hiking around the park, enjoying the sunny West Coast weather and taking in the sweeping views of LA. Me and hikes go way back; I couldn't have asked for a more perfectly Mandz recommendation from the band.
After working up an appetite, I made my way down the hill to Cafe Nido in Silverlake, an eclectic and adorable cafe with a mini book-truck bookstore inside (another perfectly Mandz thing, thank you, RKS!). I grabbed a post-hike latte and a book for the plane (Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami), then made my way onward to explore more of Silverlake.
Broome Street General Store was a must-stop, an eclectic little shop of curiosities and delicacies, where I found some delicious snacks — including mochi gummies, oh lawd, that bag did not last a day.
I wound up at the delightful Sunday's Best Vintage, a queer-owned, gender-spectrum-inclusive vintage shop with a shop kitty on staff. (We're four for four on the perfectly Mandz things to do in LA, haha.) Grabbed a few fashionable threads, and then made my way over to Pine & Crane for a boba shandy — passion fruit tea, Taiwanese beer, and boba! What a surprising and tasty combo.
Then it was time to head back to the hotel and get ready for the night! My hotel was only a 15-minute walk from the venue, so I made my way over on foot and lined up outside the Palladium. Met some super sweet folks waiting in line (and also some of the band members as they headed into the venue, so nice of them to stop and say hi!), traded bracelets, and the time flew by — before we knew it, we were ushered into the venue!
The Hollywood Palladium is gorgeous, adorned in gold fixtures and glass chandeliers, with a cozy balcony level overlooking the pit. I found a spot right on the rail with my line buddies, and settled in to wait for (Grammy-nominated!) opener Madi Diaz to take the stage.
Madi was amazing — I'd seen her once before opening for RKS in Denver, and was so happy to get to see her again. Her vocals and songwriting are gorgeous, and I fell in love with her songs "Women In My Heart" and "Obsessive Thoughts", especially. Felt lucky to be so close to the stage and able to see her emotive performance so clearly.
Around 9:15, RKS took the stage… and I was transported to another realm. Their performance was absolutely electrifying, and I loved every minute of the show. Sing-screaming my favorite songs mere feet from my favorite band — my soul is utterly invigorated every time. Every aspect, from the band's superb talent with their instruments to the spectacular lighting to frontwoman Ela Melo's enchanting dance moves, filled me with pure joy.
The setlist was complete fire — got to hear so many top tier RKS bangers from all throughout their discography, and the energy of the crowd singing along was so wholesome. Chills every time they play "First Class" and the audience doesn't miss a single word. We were Lucky™ to hear "Lucky", a total bop from the new LHMB album. And "Sickset", my love — I can't get enough of that song live.
RKS surprised us for "Overtime" by bringing Madi back on stage to sing Kacey's part, and she killed it! Then they Rainbow Kitten Surprised™ us again for the encore by bringing out Jess Haney, who's been out on paternity leave, to jump in on drums, so fun!
My signed setlist, as part of the Propeller prize package, was waiting for me at the merch table after the show — eee! That's going in a frame on my wall, "you can bet your bare bones".
I'd made a few thank-you gifts to the band, and luckily had gotten to give the members I ran into earlier in the day some bracelets, but had a special gift for Ela — a little handmade notebook — so waited outside for a bit after the show, hoping I might be able to give it to her. I didn't get the chance, but gave it to one of her managers, so I hope it made its way to her!
The next day, I continued exploring more of the band's recommendations, including Silverlake Flea, an indoor-outdoor weekend flea market with a sweet selection of vintage clothes and designs from local artists. I saw a few items I would've loved to add to my closet, but with suitcase space at a premium, I stuck to window shopping. Might just have to go back to LA with an empty suitcase next time.
Echo Park, another of the band's favorite spots, was just around the corner from the market, so I wandered over to check out the local flora and fauna who call the pond and park home. I saw birds of all variety — ducks, geese, herons, swan boats! After walking around a bit and taking some photos (love me some birds), I relaxed on a bench by the water and did a bit of journaling. Perfect vibes for the morning.
Time for a coffee! RKS listed Dinosaur Cafe as one of their favorite spots, and with a name like that, how could I refuse? I had a delicious vegan pumpkin spice donut alongside my flat white, then wandered up the hill over to Mount Analog on the band's recommendation. The tiny record shop was full of excellent eccentricities, and I just had to grab the 20th anniversary edition of Animal Collective's Sung Tongs, one of my favorite albums (outside of RKS, heh).
After a beer and some lunch back in the oasis of the hotel garden, I made my way over to Amoeba Records, this time on Mount Analog's recommendation. I got lost in the stacks for a solid hour, and wandered out with The Greatest Gift Mixtape by Sufjan Stevens, a record I'd loved, loaned, and never saw again — which is a win for Sufjan in my book, and now the loanee can keep my first copy.
And then it was time to get ready for another night of dancing and scream-singing with RKS! As the night before, I lined up eager and early, and made line friends to hang out with on the rail. Between trading bracelets and chatting about what brought us all to that moment in time, music lovers from all over the globe now waiting on the rail to see our favorite band, the hours trickled away, and soon the house lights came down.
Madi opened once more and took us on another emotional journey, filling the Palladium with a lovely blend of gentle melodies and rock'n'roll breakdowns. I was able to sing along a bit this time, now knowing a few more of her songs — and we all sang along for the line "I hope you f—k her with your eyes closed". What a banger!
Anticipation built as the crew swapped out the stage for RKS — my last show of 2024. (At least that's what I thought at the time; the next day, I bought tickets to Whale Jam, haha.) 9:15 hit, the lights went down, the triangle logo lit up, and we all lost our collective mind as that groovy walk-on beat hit the speakers.
I was so hoping to see "Peter Pan" at one of these shows, and RKS didn't disappoint! Hits so hard live, ahh. The whole setlist was a delight — and earlier in the day, I'd commented on their Instagram post to ask if we might hear "Bearwalk" that night, and they replied that we would! I was so stoked for the whole show knowing that we'd get to bask in that killer guitar riff-off between Ela and lead guitarist Ethan Goodpaster. Such a sick moment!
In fact, we got "Hide" into "Wasted" into "Bearwalk" into "That's My Shit" into "Run"! You spoil us, RKS. That is *such* a tremendous run of songs, the energy absolutely crackled. And as ever, the lighting, the sound, the dance moves — all of it on point. All of it making me so grateful to be a silly little human loving live music on this pebble hurtling through space.
Madi joined for "Overtime" again (and nailed it), as did Jess for the encore, which was such a wholesome way to close out the two nights in LA. "Thanks for coming, and please do come again" — we sure will.
I hit up the merch table on the way out for my Night 2 signed setlist, and picked up a few extra goodies while I was at it (including the zipper tote bag, which was super handy for the flight back with all my extras).
Outside, one of RKS's managers was kind enough to let the folks waiting know that the band wouldn't be coming out to say hi (they were watching the Mike Tyson fight, haha), so I asked him if he could possibly give the band some of the instant photos I took during the show. He agreed, and, quite unexpectedly, ran back out with one of the photos signed, and told me Ela said she loved them! Color me over the moon, that completely made my night. Thank you, Ela and Don!
And with that, it was time for one more snooze in the comfy Prospect Hollywood accommodations, another tasty breakfast of local pastry (quiche this time!) and silky espresso — then it was off to the airport and back to reality.
I floated at 30,000 feet, physically and mentally, in awe of the whirlwind experience of the previous three days — and while I've since landed back home, I don't think I've touched the ground yet.
I'm so filled with gratitude for every facet of this experience. Grateful to Propeller for the opportunity to spend two incredible days on an adventure starring my favorite band. Grateful to RKS for teaming up with organizations that support such critical LGBTQ+ needs, and offering their fans an engaging way to help these charities. Grateful to LA for the friends I made each night, united in appreciation of our favorite band.
And so, so grateful, forever and always, for RKS's musicality, performance, and artistic expression that has been such a continual source of joy, comfort, understanding, and community for me over the last almost-decade. You could never know how much you've helped me, and it's an honor to have been able to support our LGBTQ+ community alongside you.
"Thank you for all that you've done; I can't express that too much."
- Amanda L.
