"Hey man, you ought to get over to England, they really want you out there". reallyrather fancifully imagines this exchange when indie-pop heroes Rilo Kiley run into their friends from (distinctly less interesting) fellow LA band Rooney when they get home. Several times during last Tuesday's RK/BrightEyes/Modest Mouse show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire the musicians stood there non-plussed as the cry went up: "Roo-ney, Roo-ney..."

Modest Mouse fairly rocked the house with their stroppy anthems. Their's is the sort of sound which fairs best in this kind of booming, cavernous auditorium. In contrast, the quiet/loud of Rilo Kiley with it's quirky instrumentation and vocals is a tricky enough sound to balance live in the best of circumstances. Being bottom of the bill and roadie-less are not those circumstances but they seemed to make quite a few new friends nevertheless. Bright Eyes were reconfigured as a chamber pop ensemble this time round and The Guardian's man saw it much as this blog...

The Arts Cafe in east London, reallyrather's favourite London venue, would've been the ideal place to enjoy Rilo Kiley. Sadly, this ain't gonna happen any time soon as the place is closed for renovation 'til some time in 2005. The technical term, I believe, is 'bummer'...

Then there are those gigs you just aren't able to get to, or decide against and which you secretly hope turn out to have been rubbish. Sufjan Stevens/Aberfeldy at the Bush Hall was one such show - bugger...

'It's hard to create a more promising blip on the musical radar..haunting melodies that reference a startling array of folk, classical, country, and even Celtic tunes..Joanna Newsom is a revelation'. reallyrather has been telling you this all year; this week Popmatters gets into line...

And check this - a short West Coast tour in July features a triple bill which could've been handpicked by this blog: Sufjan, Denison and Joanna! Amazing, extraordinary, etc...

..words Babysue stops just short of using in the course of gushing over Denison Witmer's side project release as The River Bends: 'Denison Witmer is a true modern classic. His has universal appeal yet his music is artistically sound and credible. ...and Flows Into the Sea is an outstanding album chock full of thoughtful lyrics and smart melodies.' reallyrather can't really comment since this record's so far been unable to bust it's way past the new Matt Pond PA...