Reunion tours can be hit or miss. A good reunion tour can help reinvigorate a band, shed fresh light on old songs, and give younger fans chances to see legendary acts they may have missed out on during their heyday. On the flip side, some reunion tours can feel like cynical exercises in cheap nostalgia or mere uninspired cash grabs. Landing firmly in the ‘good’ category was last Tuesday’s Rilo Kiley show at the Palace. Heroes of aughts-era indie rock, Rilo Kiley has not released a proper studio album since 2007’s Under The Blacklight, and up to this year hadn’t played a major tour in over a decade and a half. Needless to say, the show and tour arrived with lofty expectations. On this night, those expectations were met and exceeded.
Following a pleasant, somewhat mellow opening set by Seattle singer-songwriter Dean Johnson, the band came out swinging with The Execution of All Things, the title track to their acclaimed 2002 record. From that point forward, the band and audience felt locked in-energized, engaged, and importantly, happy to be there. They also sounded really, really good.
In the years since Rilo Kiley’s breakup, Frontwoman Jenny Lewis has released several strong solo albums. While none of that material appeared in the set, Lewis exuded the same confidence and charisma on stage that made those recent songs and tours memorable. Her voice sounded excellent, as did the band’s guitar work, which was as hooky as ever.
The set hit all of the major points fans could hope for, with a few deep cuts sprinkled in (“Frug” for one, felt quite unexpected). The most memorable sequence came towards the end of the main set, with “Silver Lining,” “With Arms Outstretched” and “A Better Son/Daughter” preceding the anthemic “Portions for Foxes.” Each of these had climacitc and memorable moments, and all were received rapturously.
One important aspect of any good reunion tour is connecting with fans who may have missed the Opportunity to catch a band during their initial run. Rilo Kiley is a band whose influence and impact have only grown since they broke up, so naturally they’ve gained a lot fans in that period. This was reflected in the crowd, which was noticeably more multi-generational than one might expect from a band whose last major release came out nearly two decades ago. That there were so many younger fans at the show is a testament to the band and their songs.
