After more than a decade of silence, Rilo Kiley returned to the stage in a fashion only they could conjure — emotionally raw, musically pristine, and brimming with the kind of lived-in chemistry that can only come from a band that once changed the shape of indie rock. On May 12th, the Van Buren in Phoenix played host to a momentous night on their long-awaited reunion tour. A sold-out, shoulder-to-shoulder affair that felt both electric and deeply intimate.

With lights dimmed — cheers erupted as the band opened with a soaring rendition of “The Execution of All Things.” Immediately setting the tone for a night of unabashed catharsis. “Wires and Waves” followed. Its melodic ache met by a crowd already mouthing every word. By the time they launched into “Spectacular Views,” the audience had fully surrendered, swaying in unison with the band's unmistakable rhythm and Jenny Lewis’ ever-resonant vocals.

Time had not dulled their spark. If anything, the years apart seemed to have sharpened their edges. It all made every note feel both nostalgic and freshly urgent. The band’s tight performance was anchored by the kinetic energy between Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett, whose guitar work remained sharp and evocative. When “Moneymaker” hit, the crowd pulsed. All feet were left dancing. Every voice shouted the lyrics while bodies moved with reckless abandon.

“Dreamworld,” with Sennett at the helm, cast a spell over the room. The song's hazy melancholy hung in the air like desert heat outside. “Close Call” kept the momentum strong — its off-kilter groove reminding fans why Rilo Kiley’s catalog still feels so vital.

Then came “Does He Love You?”—and the temperature in the room shifted. The song drew the entire room into stillness. Jenny Lewis’ voice cracked in all the right places. The kind that sends chills up your spine. The crowd hung on every word, every pause, and every hurtful revelation. Completely stunned by the rawness of the moment. The same reverence carried into “With Arms Outstretched,” where arms were outstretched. “Silver Lining” found the crowd humming along gently. A slow build that warmed the room once more before reaching its glittering, bittersweet climax. Then, the moment so many had waited for: “A Better Son/Daughter.” The venue collectively held its breath. The song’s slow rise into a defiant cry of resilience was the emotional centerpiece of the night. As the main set closed with the raucous “Portions for Foxes,” the crowd erupted. The energy was frenzied. Unified and euphoric. 

The encore sealed the reunion fuelled magic. “A Man/Me/Then Jim” offered a gentle reentry, before the band whipped into “Frug.” Of course, the dances were mirrored in the crowd. “Pictures of Success” was a fitting close. The song was haunting and wistful.

Rilo Kiley’s Phoenix stop was a reckoning with the past. A celebration of growth, and a reminder of the kind of communal release only live music can offer.