Rilo Kiley at Roundhouse

It’s been a rainy few days in London, but tonight is a glorious, blue-eyed evening; inside the Roundhouse, a similar bright, hopeful energy fills the space, ready to welcome Rilo Kiley to their first UK show in 19 years. This feels like a momentous occasion; fans have travelled far and wide to be here, friend groups have been reunited, and old merch has been dusted off and worn proudly.

The band split up in 2010 and only returned to the stage last year, but their time apart has clearly only made their bond stronger. Now reunited and sounding as good as ever, they take the stage to deafening cheers, opening the show with The Execution of All Things. Spectacular Views follows, and after the initial flurry of quick videos and snapshots, all phones seem to have been put away, transporting us back to a more carefree, smartphone-free era.

The setlist has been carefully curated, combining the band’s most beloved tracks with some deep cuts like the fun Frug. There is a certain timelessness to the music, and the years have not faded its youthful energy – nor the familiarity in Jenny Lewis’s clever lyrics and whip-smart delivery. This seems to be a sentimental show for the band as well, who are beaming at the crowd and each other, almost in disbelief at the joy radiating across the room.

The Moneymaker, It’s a Hit, and The Good That Won’t Come Out make an appearance, before the band delights us with their more raw, personal tracks – starting with the anthemic A Better Son/Daughter. After a stunning rendition that reduces many audience members to tears, Lewis reflects on how much the song means to her, saying that one of the items she had an impulse to save during the LA fires were the handwritten lyrics to the song.

The set ends with the indie staple Portions for Foxes, but it’s not over yet, as the crowd’s cheers coax Lewis and co back onstage for a rousing encore. With Arms Outstretched gets one of the evening’s biggest cheers and an almost word-for-word singalong, and the confessional Pictures of Success is the perfect closer for such a nostalgic gig.

Few acts have come to define and embody the golden age of indie as fully as Rilo Kiley, rightfully earning a spot in millennial legend while also achieving major-label success – and tonight’s show is a testament to their brilliance. For many fans, this was a reunion not only with the band and each other, but with their younger selves, and the music, as evergreen as ever, was the perfect vehicle.