Blake Sennett once said Rilo Kiley would reunite when hell froze over. Last summer, the indie-rock band got back together.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Sennett describes how he and frontwoman Jenny Lewis discovered they had "strong musical chemistry" in 1998. With bassist Pierre de Reeder and drummer Jason Boesel, they became cult icons through the 2000s before breaking up in 2008.
A comeback seemed unlikely for years. Lewis had built a solo career. Her breakup with Sennett left "lasting scars, professionally and personally." The two barely spoke. Sennett's 2011 comparison of a reunion to the Eagles getting back together became indie-rock shorthand for "never."
Then last summer, the band reunited.
"The shows were stunning, the crowds were enormous," according to Rolling Stone. They are now touring stateside before heading to London and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival. Sennett describes the band's appeal plainly: "You either haven't heard of us or you have a tattoo of us."
Sennett credits his early recognition of Lewis's talent. "I recognized her brilliance before we even wrote a song together," he tells Rolling Stone. "I've never been great at making art just for the sake of it. I need to dream of greener pastures."
After nearly 20 years apart, Rilo Kiley's reunion brought full venues.
