Rilo Kiley at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Rilo Kiley

Matthew Caws

Shepherd's Bush Empire, 3 June 2026

I was back again to see the reunited Rilo Kiley for a second time, this time at the much smaller Shepherd's Bush Empire, and, unbelievably, night two of their London shows was even more incredible than the first. The whole band were just radiating joy and good feeling and the whole thing felt so much looser and even more special. I can't deny, I was absolutely floating at the end of this show!

Rilo Kiley at the Roundhouse

Rilo Kiley

Matthew Caws 

Roundhouse, 2 June 2026

It's been almost 20 years since I last saw Rilo Kiley live and what a joy it was to finally seen them reunited again at the Roundhouse in London. It was definitely worth braving the train strikes and the heavy rain. Jenny Lewis and her band were honestly like a ray of sunshine and brought back so many good memories as they played pretty much all my favourites from their back catalogue, and I'm happy to say, they are even better than ever.

My Favourite Albums Of 2023

My top albums of 2023:

Wednesday - Rat Saw God

Jess Williamson - Time Ain't Accidental

Margo Price - Strays & Strays II

Jenny Lewis - Joy'All

The Mars Volta - Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon

Lana Del Rey - Did You Know There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

PJ Harvey - I Inside The Old Year Dying 

Inger Lorre - Gloryland

Margo Cilker - Valley Of Heart's Delight

Black Belt Eagle Scout - The Land, The Water, The Sky

Wilco - Cousin

Albums Of The Decade

My favourite albums of the past decade. It's really hard to rank albums and really every one is interchangeable because each has meant something special to me or been something of an obsession over the past decade at different times. It's also interesting to see since starting this blog how a lot of the albums on my end of year lists are now rarely listened to by me and some almost completely forgotten (I really don't think I've thought about Yuck, for instance, since 2011 but they are there on my list that year). These were chosen for a combination of most listens and the memories they bring back. I'm sure I've missed out some good ones though.

My Favourite Albums Of 2019

Every year I wonder if this is finally the year where my love for music leaves me and there are times where I feel nothing will inspire me. Then a record comes along, one like Lana Del Rey's Norman Fucking Rockwell for instance, that grabs hold of me and reminds me just why music has been so important to me all my life. For others it's a thing of their youth, a thing of nostalgia but, thankfully, for me it continues to be a huge comfort and joy. 

In 2019 there were plenty of albums that helped my love of music endure: a lot from old favourites but thankfully some fantastic new discoveries too. There were a few disappointments, but nothing devastating, and a few I loved that didn't make the list. If I had made it a little longer I would have definitely included Bat For Lashes' atmospheric ode to 80s vampire movies Lost Girls, Ryan Bingham's foot-tapping raw and rootsy American Love Song and the dark, witty storytelling of what would tragically be David Berman's last ever album, Purple Mountains. I may add them later, who knows but until then these are the 11 albums that made the cut...

Best Gigs Of 2019

I didn't go to as many shows this year but it was definitely quality over quantity as there were still so many memorable moments. 

Jenny Lewis at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Jenny Lewis
Slow Moving Clouds
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 25 July 2019

There are few artists I would brave the hottest July day in UK history for but Jenny Lewis is certainly one of them. Her new album, On The Line, is already one of the year's best and despite a venue upgrade (this show was originally supposed to be at the much smaller Electric Ballroom), I knew Lewis' showmanship and sparkle would make this a gig to remember (and the air conditioning at the Empire didn't hurt either).

Best Gigs Of 2018

It's incredibly hard to rank all the great gigs I've been to this year but one definitely stands out as the best: Jenny Lewis wowing the crowds at Koko. If there was any doubt that the world needs Ms Lewis (and really there isn't) then this concert celebrating her entire career from Rilo Kiley to her forthcoming solo release, certainly proved that she still is as essential and exciting as ever.

Jenny Lewis at Koko

Jenny Lewis
Christian Lee Hutson & Jason Crosby
Koko, 14 August 2018

It feels like ages since I last went to a concert and that coupled with the recent heatwave left me a reluctant gig goer today but such is the healing power of music that my frown was quickly turned upside down. Of course it helps that I was seeing an artist and entertainer as brilliant as Jenny Lewis and the show turned out to be one of the best, if not the best gig I've been to this year.

My Favourite Albums Of 2014

As the years go by I do seem to be more and more drawn to female artists but I do think that the girls of late have been releasing records way more innovative and musically interesting than the boys. Not that there hasn't been amazing records from male artists too.

Jenny Lewis at Islington Assembly Hall

Jenny Lewis

Alessi's Ark

Islington Assembly Hall, 5 September 2014

I've seen Alessi's Ark so many times but always in small venues, so it's strange to see her on a relatively big stage playing support to Jenny Lewis tonight. Dressed in a striking embroidered green silk outfit, she seems to have finally settled on a two-piece backing band, who I last saw her play with last year, and they sound well-rehearsed and comfortable with each other. Alessi's had bigger bands in the past but I've always felt they overwhelmed her but playing as part of a trio suits her sound perfectly.

Jenny And Johnny interview

I was lucky enough to interview Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice for Hive Mag regarding their new duo Jenny And Johnny at the sadly closing Luminaire (one of London's best venues, due to close at the beginning of January). They were lovely to talk to and a hugely fun interview. You can read the results below.

Arriving in the UK just as the snow brought the country to a standstill, Jenny And Johnny (that’s Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame and her boyfriend singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice) brought a little California sunshine with them to the wintery skies with their fun, clever power-pop, as heard on their debut album together We’re Having Fun Now. We caught up with them at their last UK show at London’s Luminaire where they were in high spirits about their new project together.

Jenny, you’re from California, how have you been coping with the cold and all the snow?

Jenny: It’s been cold but it’s been nice. I was raised in the valley outside of Los Angeles which is quite warm, so yeah, I’m not accustomed to the snow but I bought a pair of ugly wellies and they’ve been my best friend. I think if you have proper footwear you can get through anything. It’s a lesson that’s taken me 20 years to learn.

Jenny & Johnny at Bush Hall

Jenny & Johnny
La Sera

Bush Hall, 8 December 2010

I'm not going to lie to you, my main reason for going to this show was Jenny rather than Johnny. Jenny being Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame, who between playing witty, infectious pop with her old band also released two country rock-influenced solo albums and stole my heart along the way. I'm probably too old to adore her the way girls in their teens do, since I'm around the same age as Ms Lewis, but I do admit feeling a little awed when she walks on stage in a wow-inducing tight white polka dot dress, looking every inch the glamorous, sexy pop star (albeit it in the alternative world).

My Favourite Albums Of 2008

I thought I may as well start off with a list of my favourite albums from 2008, because it probably best sets the scene for what will be on this blog. In order to compile my astonishingly brilliant list I am using this foolproof equation to calculate the perfect top 10: my most played albums on last.fm + the albums I think I like best + whatever ones are the coolest. It's an incredibly mathematical, painstaking process that obviously has taken me weeks to perfect, which is why I'm only posting it now. So at long last, here it is: