Concert Review: Rilo Kiley / Johnathan Rice / Grand Ole Party at the Showbox, Seattle, 9/8/2007 - Page 3

They opened with a crowd favorite, "It's A Hit," the lead track off of their last album, More Adventurous. This was followed by "Portions For Foxes" off of the same album; also clearly a crowd favorite. It appears on the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack, which may have contributed to a broader familiarity. The band mixed old favorites with some of the songs off of their new album, Under the Blacklight.

The nod to the 70s disco tune "Breakin' Up" lead into the disco ball delivery of "Dreamworld," in which the bassist's white shirt glowed under a blacklight. I wasn't sure whether it was in reference to the album title or simply a cool effect. At that point, I was particularly struck by the "putting on a show" aspect of their performance. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, but one almost had a sense that they would be doing pretty much the same things they were doing, whether the audience responded or not.

Throughout the chorus of "Moneymaker," the lights flashed quickly like a strobe, which made for an interesting display, but also distracted me from really listening to the song. The same thing happened later on when three large balloons filled with confetti were sent out into the audience during the song "Silver Lining." Predictably, it wasn't long before they popped, sending a gasp through the crowd each time. We were all paying more attention to the trinkets than to the quality stuff happening on stage, which was disappointing, since I like that song.

If their set at the Showbox in Seattle is any indication, Rilo Kiley's tour for Under the Blacklight is one you won't want to miss. They put on a good show, with plenty of sparkle and sheen, but also with the substance of solid songs and skills. The band has rehearsed enough – they're ready for the big stage.

Article Author: Anna Creech

Anna Creech is a librarian and blogger who dreams of a day when she can improve the ratio of read-to-unread books in her house.

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