I went to a show in college at Cafe du Nord in the early 2000’s. Specifically, it was October 10th, 2002. I recall it vividly, because for some reason I had a lot of cash on me at the show, and a woman I had a crush on was there. A little band called Rilo Kiley were headlining, and I had already fallen hard for this band based on a prior appearance at this venue opening for The Mountain Goats. Anyways, the girl I had a crush on was their for a support band… Someone called Arlo. She asked me about Rilo Kiley, and I described them as “guitar-heavy indie rock with a subtle hint of twang.” This was enough to convince her to stay for the headliner. (YES!) She fell for the band much like I had. At the end of the night, I went to the merch table and bought double of everything they’ve released thus far: their self titled debut EP (which on some pressings was referred to as The Initial Friend EP, but not this one), Take-Offs and Landings, and The Execution Of All Things. I gave her one copy of everything, and I kept the other copy. I also gave her my scarf, because it was cold and she lost her’s. Sadly, I never officially asked this woman out on a date. Also, sadly, about two years later, I fell on hard times financially about a year or so later, and sold a lot of CDs. By this time Rilo Kiley had signed to a major and were getting big, and that first EP had fallen out of print, so I sold it, because it had value to it. Also, if I had known lead singer Jenny Lewis would become massive one day, I would’ve held onto it a little longer.
I’ve regretted both not selling that CD and not asking that woman out for years. Luckily, I married a different, wonderful woman, and we had the Rio Kiley song “More Adventurous” play as we walked down the aisle at our wedding. Also lucky for me, that record that I so sadly miss from many years ago is FINALLY seeing the light of day again! It is coming out on Little Record Company on October 2nd, and can be preordered here as a colored, gatefold vinyl release, or, if you dislike having “things,” you can also get it digitally! And, just for fun, our writer Joel Edelman got to interview Rilo Kiley in 2002 for Agouti Music! You can enjoy him musing with the band over the joy of El Farolito and a commitment to Converse shoes here!
In the meantime, here’s a couple of videos from the bands’ first release to tide you over til October:
