Cold War Kids Put on Great Show with Fantastic Support Acts
Cold War Kids at the 9:30 Club, March 28
While lately this country seems politically f*cked, at least our music seems to be moving in a positive direction. The three bands at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday are part of the growing punk-indie trend in this country. I’ve long believed it’s been there, bubbling just under the surface, but it’s becoming more mainstream and fashionable recently, and that's a good thing.
Quite honestly, I was unfamiliar with these particular bands before this show, but I felt compelled to check them out due to a tug from a good friend, and the fact that they’d sold out three consecutive dates at the Bowery in NYC next month, which peaked my curiosity. It turned out, last night’s show was also sold out.
The bands—Delta Spirit, Tokyo Police Club, and Cold War Kids—had incredible energy and stage presence, not to mention impressive musicianship. They really had great camaraderie and worked off of each other well. Nothing illustrated this better than when the two opening bands joined Cold War Kids on stage halfway through their set to jam on “Saint John,” a rowdy, bluesy CWK song full of percussion and made even more powerful by all of them singing together, with rich harmonies.
Delta Spirit, from California, opened the show with their blend of rock, roots, and soul. Their singer sounded as though he came out of the Radiohead school and also reminded me of the vocalist from Starsailor, another great Brit rock band. Delta Spirit played songs from their 2006 indie album, I Think I’ve Found It. Their folk-rock ballad, “People Turn Around,” enhanced by the sweet sounds of a harmonica, gave me chills when the band all sang their hearts out on the chorus. In a bold political statement, their song “Streetwalker” delves into their disgust with human trafficking, particularly among children.
Next up, Tokyo Police Club, who hails from Ontario, Canada, was the punkiest of the three bands. They performed a sort of garage rock somewhat reminiscent of the Strokes. They were manic, raucous fun.
Cold War Kids from California headlined the show and just blew the lid off the place. The excellent sound mix allowed vocalist Nathan Willett’s voice to soar above the band, and what a voice it was. It truly was an instrument in itself. His power vocals (and this guy can wail), the talented band, including Willett at times playing a rollicking piano, and the skillfully placed tempo changes, contributed to this full and fantastic sound. Willett’s voice on the song, “Robbers,” hauntingly emulated Thom Yorke.
Cold War Kids were touring to promote their first full-length album, Robbers and Cowards, and they profess to make songs about the human experience. They subsequently admit on their website that they use “songs of Dylan, Billie Holiday, and the Velvet Underground as a road map.” Most amusing, and accurate, was Washington Post reviewer J. Freedom du Lac’s depiction of their sound, which he said was as if “Jeff Buckley was sitting in with the White Stripes to cover Tom Waits.” Rockin’.
Recommended beverage
to go with this show:
With so much good music, who had time to get a drink?!
While lately this country seems politically f*cked, at least our music seems to be moving in a positive direction. The three bands at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday are part of the growing punk-indie trend in this country. I’ve long believed it’s been there, bubbling just under the surface, but it’s becoming more mainstream and fashionable recently, and that's a good thing.
Quite honestly, I was unfamiliar with these particular bands before this show, but I felt compelled to check them out due to a tug from a good friend, and the fact that they’d sold out three consecutive dates at the Bowery in NYC next month, which peaked my curiosity. It turned out, last night’s show was also sold out.
The bands—Delta Spirit, Tokyo Police Club, and Cold War Kids—had incredible energy and stage presence, not to mention impressive musicianship. They really had great camaraderie and worked off of each other well. Nothing illustrated this better than when the two opening bands joined Cold War Kids on stage halfway through their set to jam on “Saint John,” a rowdy, bluesy CWK song full of percussion and made even more powerful by all of them singing together, with rich harmonies.
Delta Spirit, from California, opened the show with their blend of rock, roots, and soul. Their singer sounded as though he came out of the Radiohead school and also reminded me of the vocalist from Starsailor, another great Brit rock band. Delta Spirit played songs from their 2006 indie album, I Think I’ve Found It. Their folk-rock ballad, “People Turn Around,” enhanced by the sweet sounds of a harmonica, gave me chills when the band all sang their hearts out on the chorus. In a bold political statement, their song “Streetwalker” delves into their disgust with human trafficking, particularly among children.
Next up, Tokyo Police Club, who hails from Ontario, Canada, was the punkiest of the three bands. They performed a sort of garage rock somewhat reminiscent of the Strokes. They were manic, raucous fun.
Cold War Kids from California headlined the show and just blew the lid off the place. The excellent sound mix allowed vocalist Nathan Willett’s voice to soar above the band, and what a voice it was. It truly was an instrument in itself. His power vocals (and this guy can wail), the talented band, including Willett at times playing a rollicking piano, and the skillfully placed tempo changes, contributed to this full and fantastic sound. Willett’s voice on the song, “Robbers,” hauntingly emulated Thom Yorke.
Cold War Kids were touring to promote their first full-length album, Robbers and Cowards, and they profess to make songs about the human experience. They subsequently admit on their website that they use “songs of Dylan, Billie Holiday, and the Velvet Underground as a road map.” Most amusing, and accurate, was Washington Post reviewer J. Freedom du Lac’s depiction of their sound, which he said was as if “Jeff Buckley was sitting in with the White Stripes to cover Tom Waits.” Rockin’.
posted by Dana @ 3:28 PM
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