09/09/03 London, England, Dublin Castle

w/ Jarcrew, Houston 500, Engerica

[setlist]

Execution of all things
Capturing moods
My slumbering heart
Good that won't wont come
Paints peeling
A better son/daughter
Spectacular views

[review]

from http://www.soundsxp.com/gigs/gigs20.html

Rilo Kiley / Engerica (Dublin Castle, London)

First up and looking too trendy for metal, Engerica played a feisty set of staccato hardcore and tightly controlled early Metallica-esque thrash fests. Presumably their name is some sort of Spooneristic pun on generic output but, while hardly an wholly radical departure, they showed a skill and energy that sets them well above some of the metal plodders I've seen here. For a trio in such a small venue they also managed a suprisingly meaty sound. There's still some work to be done on the lyrics mind you: "You are shit, you eat shit, you are what you eat." won't win 'em any prizes.
Now, it's often claimed that the film world isn't as glamourous as we might believe. But I'd lay good odds that it beats the shit out of being second on a bill of four down the Dublin Castle on a Tuesday night. Nevertheless, the two diminutive former actors that front the Californian four piece Rilo Kiley don't seem to care. Jenny Lewis might have appeared opposite the likes of Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon, but she seems genuinely glad to be playing a short set for a few dozen Londoners at the opening of the band's first European tour. Blake Sennett takes more time to come out of his endearingly geeky shell, but after a few songs he dares to peek from under an extravagent fringe and even utter a few words. Maybe the nervousness is understandable - their unashamedly intelligent and melodic guitar and synth indie pop wouldn't immediately seem to fit in with the rest of the rather metaltastic bill - but they needn't have worried. As a general rule of course, "Actors shouldn't sing and singers shouldn't act" is one of the less violable rules of good taste, but there are always exceptions (Will Oldham among them). Live, Rilo Kiley beef up their short selection from their rather magnificent second full album, Lewis giving a harder edge to her delicate voice to compliment the greater power of the guitars. Kicking off with the album's title track and imminent new single - the Execution of all Things (including the sweetly sung couplet "we'll murder what matters to you most and move on to you neighbours and kids") they launch into a series of well crafted, both danceable and substantial pieces of bittersweet sunshine. Closing up with the synth heavy and marching beat backed celebration of inadequacy and the breathless rush of Spectacular Views, complete with forgiveably self-indulgent ending, they leave us grinning, but wanting rather more than this heavenly half hour. Fortunately they're back a the end of the month to light up another of Camden's dingy backrooms. Hopefully the Barfly on the 26th will mark the end of a tour that will see Rilo Kiley capture more hearts across the continent on the way to bigger things.

Setlist: Execution of all Things, Capturing Moods, My Slumbering Heart, The Good that Won't Come Out, Paint's Peeling, A Better Son/Daughter, Spectacular Views.

Reviewed by Matt H
 

[another review]

Heya! i went to the gig and it was really good!!! Jenny was so cute i never realised that she was so tiny!!!
But they put on a really good show even though it was only for about 30 mins!!
-K

[another review]

Given the size of the Dublin Castle it's a good job they aren't giants! The half hour was down to the fact that they were second of four bands on. It was a top quality half hour mind you- hope to get more at Barfly at the end of the month. Bonus for me was that being an old git I was able to go home early for a nice mug of cocoa.
-SPT

[another review]

"We feel like pussies compared to the other bands," said Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis ever-so-sweetly, the band having found themselves squeezed onto a hardcore bill at Camden's Dublin Castle for their UK debut. Sensibly deciding not to try competing in the pain-infliction and gurning stakes, RK stuck to their own brand of twinkly 'n' crunchy angst-y pop. And, though it lasted little more than half-an-hour, what a total joy it was to see them here at last. Elfin dynamic duo Jenny L. (resplendent in black velvet hotpants over bright yellow tights) and guitarist Blake Sennet led their quartet through a fine set which cherrypicked their most recent release, The execution of all things, capped by a ripping Spectacular views. Hopefully the band will get to play a bit longer when they return to Camden (Barfly) on the 26th - you're going, surely?!

-S Mc (http://www.reallyrather.blogspot.com/)