Rilo Kiley at The Greek Theater, June 18, 2008

Rilo Kiley played the final show of the Under the Blacklight tour thankfully in our shared hometown. With each successive show the soft spot in my heart grows larger for the band. While the anxious energy that Rilo performed with at the Santa Monica Civic show last October wasn’t topped, the outdoor park setting of the Greek and a more boisterous crowd made the night equally memorable. The highlights of the night include the audience singing, remarkably in tune, a capella the last bars of “With Arms Outstretched” per the guidance of Jenny Lewis, the confetti-filled balloons thrown out into the audience during “Silver Lining,” and the guy standing next to me singing with abandon the entire lyrics to “I Never” so that no one noticed my frail attempt. One of the backstage friends that came on stage to throw out the balloons looked remarkably like Zooey Deschanel. Blake Sennett’s fiancee Winona Ryder was also spotted before the show. I, for one, hope that the discussions around of the band splitting are completely baseless, and that Rilo return with a fifth album quickly after finishing their myriad of solo/side project commitments. Yes, Jenny closed the night by saying, “It’s been nice knowing you,” but in L.A. ninety minutes is considered an eternity for a relationship.

Set List:

Close Call
The Moneymaker
Dreamworld
Capturing Moods
Breakin’ Up
Does He Love You
Ripchord
Absence of God
With Arms Outstretched
Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight That Surrounds You
It’s a Hit
A Better Son/Daughter
Silver Lining
I Never
—encore—
Pictures of Success
Portions for Foxes
Spectacular Views