Letters To Cleo reunite at The Roxy in Los Angeles

Wow.

Letters To Cleo kicked off their reunion tour at The Roxy here in Los Angeles last night.  Expectations were uncertain as the band had not played together officially since their disbandment in 2000.  However, any sense of ambivalence was quickly diminished the minute the band took the stage with a ferocious take on Demon Rock. 

The show never let up from that point.  Cleo rocked through a string of hits and fan favorites spanning their full body of work.  Mellie's Coming Over and closer Rimshak were definitely highlights of the night.  Rimshak has always been a favorite and the band did right closing out the set with it.  Front gal Kay Hanley dedicated the rarely played Co-Pilot to daughter Zoe who was in attendance.  Hanley and band mate/husband Mike Eisenstein pulled out a stripped down, raw and unrehearsed version of Little Rosa . Fastway, Awake,Veda Very Shining, Big Star and the band's big hit Here And Now were all represented as well.

Without a doubt the band were stronger and tighter then they had been in their original inception.  Clearly the years prior to the band's demise and the work done by all members in the music world resulted in better musicianship.  They've returned stronger then ever.  It felt like they had been playing together secretly for the past eight years preparing for last night's show.  Hanley's vocals were spot on and you could automatically here the progression in Einstenein's guitar genius and Stacy Jones skills at the drums. 

Next stop, hometown shows in Boston on December 8th and 9th followed by a show in New York City on December 11th. 

Pics from the show can be found here. 

Oh, also worth mentioning.  The band is selling a CD they compiled of rarities, demos, soundtrack songs, etc... titled When Did We Do That? We picked one up and will be spinning it all day long today.

Track list -

Come On
Let's Get High
I Want You To Want Me
Happy Ever After
(WTFAMP) The Christmas Song
Breathe
Dangerous Type
I'm A Fool
I See '99
Cruel To Be Kind
Disappear
Pretty Things

New album and more tour dates in 2009?