Alternative rock band Letters To Cleo, who emerged from the Boston college rock scene in the early 1990s, are reuniting for the first time since disbanding in 2000 for a handful of 20th anniversary shows in November and December. Known for hits “Awake” and “Here & Now,” the band will play just four shows in three cities — Los Angeles, New York and their hometown of Boston.
Confirmed shows are November 8 at The Roxy in L.A. and December 8-9 at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. A New York show will be added shortly.
Original band members Kay Hanley (vocals), Greg McKenna and Michael Eisenstein (guitarists) and Stacy Jones (drums) will be joined for the reunion by bassist Joe Klompus (who plays in Hanley’s solo band and has accompanied Tracy Bonham and Nina Gordon), replacing original bassist Scott Riebling.
Following their breakup, Hanley released two solo albums. She provided the singing voice for Josie in the “Josie & the Pussycats” movie and has also made forays into children’s entertainment, singing songs for the Disney Channel TV program “My Friends Tigger & Pooh” and the animated film “Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!”
Eisenstein, who is married to Hanley, has recorded and performed on her solo albums, as well as backing Our Lady Peace and Lisa Loeb. Jones went on to play drums for Veruca Salt and front the alternative rock band American Hi-Fi. Hanley and Jones recently took the stage together again as members of teen pop star Miley Cyrus‘s touring band — Hanley as backing vocalist, Jones as drummer and musical director.
The idea to reunite came after an impromptu reunion last winter at a benefit concert for an ill bartender at Boston night club T.T. the Bear’s. Hanley, Eisenstein, McKenna and Jones were all in attendance, as was Klompus, who knew several Letters To Cleo songs from his performances with Hanley’s solo band.
“As we took the stage, we could see people on their cell phones texting about what was about to happen. It was a thrill,” Einstein said in a statement. “We busted through unrehearsed versions of ‘Here & Now’ and ‘Awake.’ We were excited, the crowd was excited, and from that point on, it just seemed like we should try to find a time to do it for real.”
