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Deep in the incestuous (professionally speaking) world of indie rock, there is Rilo Kiley. Based out of Los Angeles, it isn’t that much of a surprise that the band was founded by two former child stars, Jenny Lewis of Troop Beverly Hills fame, and Blake Sennett, aka Salute Your Shorts’ Ronnie Pinksy, aka Joseph 'Joey the Rat' Epstein from Boy Meets World. More interesting is the number of popular side projects on which these two have embarked. Lewis lends her vocal talent to the Postal Service, a Ben Gibbard side project, and has her own solo group Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, whose recent album Rabbit Fur Coat includes guest artists Conor Oberst and Gibbard himself. Meanwhile, Sennett also formed a side band of his own in 2003 that includes Rilo Kiley drummer Jason Boesel. All in all, quite the family tree.
That side project, The Elected, very appropriately visited D.C. last night to play at the Black Cat on a rainy election day, performing many tracks off of their second album, Sun, Sun, Sun. Sennett has apparently moved beyond his original shy act, as he faced the small crowd at the main stage with a confidence that, based on a few of his comments, we can only imagine was reinforced with a heavy dosage of some mind-altering substance. He ordered the stage lights down, and looking very Jack White with his hat and mustache, led the band and backup singers into their first song. “I’ll Be Your Man,” which stirred up images from the 1950’s, and could very well be mistaken at first for “Mr. Sandman.” While the voters were out making history, The Elected brought us back to a time of classic, mellow sounds blended with modern and emotionally edgy lyrics.
Perhaps all the crossing over has gotten to Sennett’s head. Much of their music is focused around “coming and going.” Both in relationships and the idea of home, he sings on these somber themes while simultaneously presenting an upbeat atmosphere on stage. Girls with tambourines and lots of movement kept the show alive, and some of his dialogue, while a bit incomprehensible, was just plain funny. In his only reference to the actual election, the native Californian announced that he voted absentee against "Mein Fuhrer." Apparently he has the inside scoop on one Arnold Schwarzenegger’s collection of Nazi paraphernalia. As the crowd tried to process this information, the band kicked into two of their more well-known and standout singles, “Not Going Home” and "Fireflies In A Steel Mill."
It was during “Fireflies” when the trumpet-wielding Hubert brought his “love” to the stage, and Sennett told us not to be afraid. For, in his words, Washington, D.C. used to be a very violent city, and so while we are probably unfamiliar and afraid of love, we should embrace it. Once again, I found myself awash in confused laughter, but enjoying an outstanding live rendition. “The Bank and Trust” and “Greetings in Braille” blended together around yet another absurd commentary on the Chinese words for pineapple and Asian-Americans. Yup. Don’t ask, because I don’t have an answer.
Towards the end of the night, the pace changed a bit as Sennett handed the singing over to the guitarist for “7 September 2003." He then picked up the mic and confessed his love for both Netflix and Lost, sharing his temptations to quit the band and devote his life to watching the show.
Sennett's enunciated vocal style is very similar to that of Conor Oberst, who almost incorporates more speech in the songs than actual singing—not that this is a bad thing. As the set wrapped up, I also noticed a resemblance to the end of the Bright Eyes show at DAR a few months back where the stage turned into a jam session of sorts. Jenny Lewis wasn’t in the house, but one of the band members from opener Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s came up to assist with dancing, tambourine shaking, and light flashing. Everyone was back out on stage, almost more concerned with each other than the audience as they played an extended version of “Biggest Star.” But I expected no less — for in this indie rock empire, they apparently like to keep it in the family.
Photo from Myspace.com/TheElected (by Alex Prager)
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Wish you would have talked more about Margot - I thought they were great...
I'm pretty sure the Boesel is in Lewis's band, not Sennett's.
Ah, I'll partially correct myself. Boesel is now in Lewis's band, but played on the Elected's first CD (but not the second one). I have no idea whether or not Boesel plays live with Sennett.
I thought Margot was great too. Still can't Skeleton Key out of my head.
yeah-i thought margot was the best part of the show. blake's voice still annoys me.