LA favourites Rilo Kiley have announced plans to reissue their long-out-of-print debut album Rilo Kiley. The album was originally only available on burned CDs that were sold at their shows in 1999. Though copies have turned up on the internet since then, this is the first time Rilo Kiley will be officially available in over two decades, including a vinyl pressing for the first time ever.
The new edition of Rilo Kiley will be available on October 2 and can be pre-ordered here. It is coming via Little Record Company, the label owned by the band’s own Pierre de Reeder, and it can be pre-ordered here.
One of Rilo Kiley’s earliest fans was comedian Dave Foley, who saw them play in 1998 and even helped to fund their earliest recording sessions. He shared this story along with the reissue announcement:
“January 1998, I was a young man, young compared to now, hanging out in L.A’s alt. rock club scene. One night in particular, I found myself at Spaceland, at the bar drinking when a band started playing. They were good, so good that I stopped fighting for the attention of the bartender and turned to see who it was. On stage was a very young, delightfully unpretentious group named Rilo Kiley. Between songs they were charming, smart and funny. During songs they were brilliant. After the set I introduced myself and learned that this was their first public performance. I was astonished. They invited me back to their rehearsal space for Thai food and to hear some songs they didn’t have room for in the set. Dreamily, I filled my belly with noodles and my head with one great song after another. I was in a full on, pop music fan swoon. Having decided to force myself into their lives, I suggested (insisted) that I should fund a demo recording. They relented. I also tried to talk them into changing the band’s name. They were unrelenting. A lot of years have passed. I remain proud to know Rilo Kiley and grateful that I had the opportunity and ability to be of some help”.
Watch Rilo Kiley’s first ever video for the song “The Frug”, the opening track from Rilo Kiley:
You can follow Rilo Kiley on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
