Rilo Kiley bring reunion tour to Pittsburgh after long hiatus

Rilo Kiley opened up a time capsule that took a sold-out Pittsburgh crowd back to the early 2000s.

The long-absent indie rock band is back on the road for the first time in 17 years, with their Sometimes When You’re On You’re Really (Expletive) On tour making a stop Thursday night at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks.

For 95 minutes, the band started by former child actors Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett revisited their heyday, with six songs each from 2002’s “The Execution of All Things” and 2004’s “More Adventurous,” with five more scattered from their releases between 1999 and 2007. The group last performed in 2008 before reuniting earlier this year.

Sennett handled lead guitar most of the night, while lead vocalist Lewis bounced between bass, guitar, keyboards, tambourine and harmonica. Sennett took over lead on a pair of songs — a lush “Dreamworld” and “Ripchord,” generally considered to be about the death of singer/songwriter Elliott Smith in 2003.

Highlights: “I Never,” a timeless-sounding love ballad — “I got nothing to give you, you see, except everything…” — had the crowd swaying, while “With Arms Outstretched” featured a loud crowd singalong, clapping, arms outstretched (no surprise there) and a ton of phones up to record it. “The Moneymaker,” a much-maligned song when it came out, got funky, and a moody yet rocking “Paint’s Peeling” led to a crowd-pleasing “It’s a Hit.”

“Portions for Foxes” ended the regular set with a particularly blazing outro.

Encore: After a brief break, Rilo Kiley returned with a trio of fan favorites: the folky “More Adventurous” saw Lewis break out a harmonica; a playful “The Frug” had Lewis breaking out the dance moves (as seen in the original video); and a bubbling, building “Pictures of Success” ending with Sennett going off on his guitar.

Rilo Kiley plays “The Frug” on Sept. 11, 2025, in McKees Rocks, Pa. During their sold-out show pic.twitter.com/DwONus7Mnp

— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) September 12, 2025

Does somebody in the band look familiar? Lewis might be recognized from starring in the movies “Troop Beverly Hills” and “The Wizard,” as well as TV’s “Brooklyn Bridge.” Sennett, a fellow former child actor, appeared in the TV shows “Boy Meets World” and “Salute Your Shorts.”

Who else is in the band? Rilo Kiley is comprised of Lewis, Sennett, drummer Jason Boesel and bassist Pierre “Duke” de Reeder, with the group rounded out with touring guitarist/keyboardist Harrison Whitford.

Have I heard this before? It’s quite possible, as their songs have appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and more.

Not sure about that empress title: Sennett showed off an Allegheny County pin at one point.

“The empress of Allegheny County came to us and visited us earlier today,” he said. “An executive order from the empress was handed down to give us the key to Allegheny County.”

Sennett was referring to Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, who he unsuccessfully tried to spot in the audience.

About the crowd: The sold-out show meant the lower general admission floor was densely packed, with venue staff restricting further access.

I’ve seen sold-out shows at the Roxian. This feels like the most packed with venue reps not letting anyone else on the GA floor pic.twitter.com/Ol5Cb2Fbjr

— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) September 12, 2025

Quotable: Lewis on her father, Eddie Gordon, a Philadelphia native: “My dad was a harmonica player. When I was a kid, they put the harmonica in the crib. But I’m playing this tonight, thinking about him and this great state.”

Quotable 2: Lewis on the Pittsburgh audience: “You’re the most warm, involved crowd we’ve had on this tour. It’s a big deal to us. We feel you, and we’re thinking about the world and everything that’s going on in it today. So we’re processing all of it. I hope we’re expressing it in our songs. We’re thinking about everything. Here’s to better times.”

Latest release: The band curated “That’s How We Choose to Remember It,” an “entry point” and career-spanning collection in May ahead of their reunion tour.

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Tour name origin: The Sometimes When You’re On You’re Really (Expletive) On tour is named courtesy of a lyric in their 2002 song “A Better Son/Daughter.”

Last time in Pittsburgh: Rilo Kiley’s last show here came on July 24, 2003, at the long-shuttered Rosebud in the Strip District.

Next up: The tour resumes Sept. 13 with a show at the Bourbon & Beyond festival in Louisville, Kentucky, and runs through Oct. 18 in Los Angeles.

The merch: Rilo Kiley’s wide variety of swag included a button set ($5), socks ($20), shirts ($40), tour posters ($40) and a blanket ($85).

Sold-out show for Rilo Kiley at the Roxian Theatre + tonight’s merch + the bar’s special drinks pic.twitter.com/Tu70zombgV

— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) September 11, 2025

The opener: Seattle songwriter Dean Johnson opened his show with “Shake Me,” fretting about having to hit higher notes so early.

There were no issues there or in the rest of his 45-minute set, which dipped into his two albums. His first album, “Nothing For Me, Please,” dropped on his 50th birthday in 2023, followed by “I Hope We Can Still Be Friends” last month.

Johnson, who opened for Lewis’ solo tour in 2023, showcased his gentle, lilting blend of Americana, folk and alt country.