2008 Woodie Awards
Rilo Kiley Play Last Show 'Under the Blacklight'
Julia Corral
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Online Exclusive
A crowd of hundreds made it their mission to get to the Santa Monica Civic Center to see Rilo Kiley on Monday night. Los Angeles welcomed back its hometown heroes with a sold out show for the final performance on Rilo Kiley's nation wide "Under the Blacklight" tour.
Fans who have never navigated the too confusing, almost European streets of the city and struggled for parking more than likely missed opening acts The Bird and the Bee and Grand Ole Party.
There was even more confusion and chaos inside the venue, but it didn't deter the fans inside. The same fans that purchased tickets are the ones who remained dedicated to the band despite the controversy of their latest release. Rilo Kiley's earlier three albums excelled lyrically and instrumentally, so much so that they cemented themselves permanently as indie rock demi-gods.
After a few years of solo projects, the band, comprised of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder and Jason Boesel, reunited to record an album that seemed to step away from the band's norm and enter the realm of pop music.
"Blacklight" consisted of dance tracks and bangers, and was funded fully by a Warner Brothers paycheck. It is an album praised by critics and has an almost split its legion of fans down the middle.
This tedious background information might have been useful to the barrage of guests who seemed fresh faced to Rilo Kiley's show; namely, new fans that heard the show advertised on KROQ or saw them as MTV's band of the week.
Nonetheless, the gathering of people all understood that this band deserves to reap the benefits that it has so long deserved. These fans have stood by them and don't question the motives behind their attempts at success.
Lovers of the craft understand that a band must sell out to reap the monetary compensation that they justly deserve. Also, it's a little exciting to see if Lewis does outshine her male counterpoints to the point that this could be their last tour.
Fans who have never navigated the too confusing, almost European streets of the city and struggled for parking more than likely missed opening acts The Bird and the Bee and Grand Ole Party.
There was even more confusion and chaos inside the venue, but it didn't deter the fans inside. The same fans that purchased tickets are the ones who remained dedicated to the band despite the controversy of their latest release. Rilo Kiley's earlier three albums excelled lyrically and instrumentally, so much so that they cemented themselves permanently as indie rock demi-gods.
After a few years of solo projects, the band, comprised of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder and Jason Boesel, reunited to record an album that seemed to step away from the band's norm and enter the realm of pop music.
"Blacklight" consisted of dance tracks and bangers, and was funded fully by a Warner Brothers paycheck. It is an album praised by critics and has an almost split its legion of fans down the middle.
This tedious background information might have been useful to the barrage of guests who seemed fresh faced to Rilo Kiley's show; namely, new fans that heard the show advertised on KROQ or saw them as MTV's band of the week.
Nonetheless, the gathering of people all understood that this band deserves to reap the benefits that it has so long deserved. These fans have stood by them and don't question the motives behind their attempts at success.
Lovers of the craft understand that a band must sell out to reap the monetary compensation that they justly deserve. Also, it's a little exciting to see if Lewis does outshine her male counterpoints to the point that this could be their last tour.
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