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[review]
(from no-nothingrock.com)
by Michael
did you know that rilo kiley is amazing?
with that said there isn't much more to say... but there is so much
that could be said. most people wouldn't consider this band so underground,
or completely hard to find, but as i talk to people, and i get a general
consensus (at least in the chicagoland area) not many people know who
rilo kiley is.
now that's just a shame.
i saw them, inadvertently, as the opened for ozma and nada surf. suffice
it to say, i was blown away. their music was witty, original, and interesting.
i don't know how many different times, i've gone to a show, and all
the "newer" bands sound like every other band i've ever listened
to.
music and music fans have been calling for something new, something
to bend the genres at least a little bit. and i think rilo kiley have
done just that. they bend the edges of what would normally be a confined
genre.
which in a way, is an interesting point, since the idea of independent
music is just that, to be it's own thing, and independent from large
labels and large genres.
rilo kiley is music that soothes the soul. the songs invite you in,
and tell you the story. stories of heartbreak and love, told like no
one else has told them yet. mellow guitar strumming with a light tremolo,
the bass playing a nice blues-y line, the keys complimenting every measure
gracefully. and then a voice that pierces your heart with a pure and
truthful stab, that gets you every time. this is rilo kiley.
supporting their only second length still, rilo kiley promises to be
bringing the world more of their music, and that makes me smile.
[and here's another review]
I saw the Chicago show last night at the Metro. Rilo Kiley was Awesome,
none of the pictures I've seen or CD's I've listened to even began to
prepare me for their performance. The show was awesome, full of energy.
Their songs, normally wonderfull anyways, took on a warmth that a CD
just can't capture. Jenny was absolutely stunning, I had no ideas from
the pictures just how beautiful she was.
Tonight I'm going to Milwaukee tonight to see them a second time at
the Miramar.
-Mark
[and here's another.. a big 'un!]
I left for Chicago at 8:30 A.M. EST with a map, a dream, and a giant
four foot 7 inch tall stuffed tweedy bird in the back seat I was ready
and after 5 hours, some wrong turns (including one that took me on a
tour of the south side of the city) I arrived in the Comfort Inn on
Clark in Lincoln Park at 12:30.
I checked in and having a mere 6 hours till show time immediately embarked
to find the venue, Metro.
I knew that it was near Wrigley field so I employed my natural sense
of direction and walked for 15 minutes the wrong way. After evoking
a chuckle from the folks at the world HQ of the Elk's lodge when I asked
where Wrigley field was I turned around and tried again I asked some
traffic cops and was on my way. I found the stadium and found Metro
by 2 O'clock.
I tried the front door and found them locked. The stage door was locked
as well. After going back to the front and loitering a while a woman
came out and asked me what I wanted. I did my best William Miller impersonation
explaining to her that I was here on behalf of the OFFICIAL RILO KILEY
fan club. She said I still could not come in. I asked if she could deliver
something to Rilo Kiley, she said sure.
It is at this point that I'd like to extend my deepest sympathies for
any one who has ever been in love or on their way to a funeral in Chicago.
There is a shortage of Florists in the Wrigleyville area. I was originally
going to give the RK the Giant stuffed Tweedy bird, but on second thought
I knew they had very little room in their van and I didn't feel like
lugging Tweedy around Chicago. There is also the fact that receiving
anything from someone you never met that could possibly contain a small
child, or your lead guirtarist in its head is an unnerving experience.
I stopped in a number of party stores trying to find flora to no avail.
I was able to find a nice Curious George post card (It was really the
only one that didn't feature sex, drugs, or failed 80's musical groups,
and I don't think Rilo Kiley's ultimate goal is to end up on a postcard
in a head shop in 20 years.) The clerk informed me where I might find
a vendor of flowers. I found the establishment and purchased one white
and one dark red rose along with a yellow and a red orange-sunflower.
I didn't really know which band members they were for but I figured
they worked. Perhaps a topic of discussion could be which flower best
suites which band member.
So I get the flowers, fill out the post card (Dear RK, Welcome to Chicago
Good Luck YOU ROCK! Ect.) and begin my 12-block trek back to Metro.
Along the way I found that the card has fallen out of the bag…so I go
BACK to said same shop repurchase same CG card and resume my journey.
When I arrived at back at Metro around 4 and gave the flowers (and
card, that I held on tightly to checking it was still there every ten
steps) to the door girl. There was a mere 2.5 hours to go and the line
was already growing. I soon realized that there had been a miscommunication
with the theater or the fans. The concert was billed as NADA SURF w/
rilo kiley and ozma…the fans believed it was an OZMA concert. I never
met a person who didn't come for OZMA. I looked. When PositronicCat
said he was there my feelings of failure grew even larger at my inability
to detect a RK fan. I was 2nd in line behind some IL suburb Ozma fans
so I did get to spread the Gospel of our group a little. I tried to
talk about Desert Blue, Don's Plum, Foxfire, Little Boy Blue, but in
the end I failed in my greatest way by speaking the words that all know
and RK hates…I said Wizard and Salute your shorts….JENNY!…BLAKE!… FORGIVE
ME I WAS WEAK!….I WAS JUST TRYING TO SPARK THEIR INTEREST….PLEASE HAVE
MERCY ON ME….I SWEAR I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!….PLEASE BELIEVE ME AND
CAST ME NOT INTO THE PIT WITH THE REST OF THE GROUPIES FROM THE 80'S!….of
course once I said that they all had seen the film and was truly saddened
at having tainted their first impression of this great band.
Van's and trucks had been pulling up and I was amazed that the bands
were arriving after the fans. I saw a maroon van pull up and a two male
humans exit it. One was about 4'11 and had painted patterns on his face
under his eyes, very similar to Morgan Freeman in Robin Hood Prince
of Thieves. The other one was a caucasion about 6'1 and sporting short
dreadlocks from his raven hair. I also saw Pierre a few times but did
not recognize him because the picture I had both he and Blake had long
shaggy beatle-esque haircuts…they now have semi-shaved heads. I thought
I saw David Rock and upon consulting my trusty computer print out. I
then summoned my courage and approached the man. All that has been said
about him is true, he is a real nice guy, he actually took the time
to talk to me and tell me about my shirt. I was wearing the early RK
shirt with the heads of the two men. I was told that the two men on
the shirt were Pierre's Father (Robert Loggia look alike) and Jenny's
God Father (Dudley Moore look-alike). I wished him Luck and returned
to my place in line. About that time OZMA showed up and everyone went
ape-shit. Everyone was in awe…I saw one girl shaking and close to tears…I
was soon to go through a similar moment. About 20 minutes before we
were let in it happened. Ms. Jenny Lewis came out. My heart was doing
a techno beat on steroids and my legs shook like one of those things
in the hardware store they use to mix paint. It was a bit strange she
came out, walked to the left of the front of the line, paused and looked
around, went further back, came back to the original spot and took one
more look around. I felt like she was looking for somebody (perhaps
the person who sent flowers) and fought disparately with myself to scream
out ME…I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ME…I got a few pictures. We were let
in a little later.
I think I can quite honestly say that is my first true rock and roll
concert in the fact that all the other concerts I'm ever attended had
chairs and personal space. It was a new experience. The first group
on was Aurora Rien from Milwaukee. They played a loud yet simple set
of three songs and moved their mouths but I'm not sure if lyrics came
out. They showed promise yet still need some work. The second act was
our own beloved Rilo Kiley. They started out with Always…they also did
a cover I didn't recognize, picture of success, and again I beg forgiveness
those were the only three I remember.
They Rocked the house, Jenny reminded me of Janice Joplin a couple of
times banging on her keyboard with her hair in her eyes completely in
the moment. I'm afraid I must concur with my compatriot Herr Laxton
in MA. When I first heard Rilo Kiley's music I thought of them as poets
suited to a coffeehouse…I think those that hear them live might be disappointed
at how slow some of the songs are and the CD lovers might be disappointed
at how loud and fast their live shows are. Well the crowd was now fully
warmed up for the main Attraction and when OZMA came on the crowd drowned
out the speakers. After the OZMA set I went to the merchandise booth
to face my destiny.
I waited in line trying to calm my nerves. I met Jenny and she complimented
me on my shirt and told me its history again. I asked if they got the
package…."uh.sure" I asked for a shirt…but they were sold out of Larges,
Jenny assured me that they would soon be available on the web site.
I asked again about the flowers with a similar response. I told them
that Fan club Jenny sent me and she was sorry she was unable to make
it due to the Radio head concert…Upon hearing about Fan club Jenny,
Jenny Lewis says "OH…You're the guy who sent the Flowers!" YES, I felt
like screaming,"YES, I'M THE FLOWER GUY". I told them the standard you
guy are great spiel and I'd tried to make it to Milwaukee, I never did.
I ended up getting a new Rilo sticker and a picture with Jenny. I should
have taken more pictures. I was tired and my back hurt from a standing
for 3.5 hours so went back to my hotel. I walked back with a reporter
who was there to interview OZMA for a website and told him all about
Rilo Kiley.
-josef ploski
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(photo by Joe Ploski)