Rilo Kiley

The alt country/country pop indie rock band Rilo Kiley was formed in 1998 by former child actors Blake Sennett (Salute Your Shorts, Boy Meets World) on guitar and Jenny Lewis (Troop Beverly Hills, Pleasantville) singing, the pair met through a mutual friend (and dated until the release of Rilo's debut album). Sennett then brought on board high school chum, bassist Pierre De Reeder and rounded out the band with Jason Boesel on drums. After an EP in 1999, Rilo released their first full length album, Take-Offs and Landings in 2001. After switching labels Rilo released their second albumThe Execution of All Things, which was more experimental mixing electronica with the traditional elements of country and rock resulting in a more discordant sound, resulting in poor sales.

After being dropped by the label they formed their own (Brute/Beaute Records) and in 2004 released their next album More Adventurous. This third venture showed a marked change in sound, moving away from the more country aspects of their sound and focusing on the darker more rock influenced sounds. More Adventurous received much critical acclaim as well as being their most commercially successful. In August 2007, after a short hiatus to allow band members to work on side projects and after signing with a new label, Warner Brothers Records, Rilo released their fourth album, Under the Blacklight. For this, the bands major label debut they have enlisted the help of fellow musicians including: Jackson Browne and James Valentine and Mickey Madden of Maroon 5. Under the Blacklight debuted at No.22 on the Billboard Top 200.