Cold War Kids
Since have no idea how this band should be discribed I'm posting this review from the Rolling Stone
Like Creedence Clearwater Revival before them, blog-buzz kings Cold War Kids channel the gothic spirit of the Deep South -- at least as imagined by dudes from California. But this suburban Los Angeles foursome has some actual holy-roller bona fides. Three of the four (frontman Nathan Willett, bassist Matt Maust and guitarist Jonathan Bo Russell) met at an evangelical Christian college, and the spirit of an old-fashioned tent revival infuses the band's remarkable story songs. Over cave-stomp drums, barroom piano and chiming post-punk guitars, Willett -- whose high tenor sounds a little like Jack White's -- spins tales that wouldn't seem out of place in a Flannery O'Connor collection. There's a drunk who continually disappoints his family ("We Used to Vacation"); a death-row inmate imprisoned for killing his sister's would-be rapist ("Saint John"); a criminal on a midnight run with "bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight" ("Rubidoux"). And much as Bruce Springsteen feels deep sympathy for the murderers and fuckups who populate Nebraska, Robbers & Cowards has a deeply Christian take on its titular anti-heroes: that even the worst among us is capable of redemption.
They are currently on tour with The White Stripes (my other fav. band) Go check them out Listen to Saint John from their album Robbers and Cowards
Like Creedence Clearwater Revival before them, blog-buzz kings Cold War Kids channel the gothic spirit of the Deep South -- at least as imagined by dudes from California. But this suburban Los Angeles foursome has some actual holy-roller bona fides. Three of the four (frontman Nathan Willett, bassist Matt Maust and guitarist Jonathan Bo Russell) met at an evangelical Christian college, and the spirit of an old-fashioned tent revival infuses the band's remarkable story songs. Over cave-stomp drums, barroom piano and chiming post-punk guitars, Willett -- whose high tenor sounds a little like Jack White's -- spins tales that wouldn't seem out of place in a Flannery O'Connor collection. There's a drunk who continually disappoints his family ("We Used to Vacation"); a death-row inmate imprisoned for killing his sister's would-be rapist ("Saint John"); a criminal on a midnight run with "bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight" ("Rubidoux"). And much as Bruce Springsteen feels deep sympathy for the murderers and fuckups who populate Nebraska, Robbers & Cowards has a deeply Christian take on its titular anti-heroes: that even the worst among us is capable of redemption.
They are currently on tour with The White Stripes (my other fav. band) Go check them out Listen to Saint John from their album Robbers and Cowards
Comments
is Robbers & Cowards their only album?
Seriously, they're one of my favorite bands at the moment. SOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD LIVE. I can't stress that enough. If you have a chance to see them live, DO IT. You really won't regret it and it will be one of the best shows you have ever seen live. No lie.
That is their first full length; they have 3 EPs out The Mulberry Street EP, Up In Rags EP, and With Our Wallets Full EP(which I recommend picking up because they're all very good. Especially their songs "The Wedding" and "Don't Let Your Love Grow Away (From Me)")
They have a live album thing you can download for free off of their website. It's a bunch of covers, but it's still good . . .
Sorry for being all spazzed out, but seriously, they're that good. I'm excited to see them again at Lollapalooza AND when they tour with the White Stripes in October.
Edit: This is their video for "Hang Me Up to Dry". I love the bass line in this song so much.
Cold War Kids -- Hang Me Up to Dry
Also, this will give you an idea of their live performance. Saint John is such a good song. Especially when you see it live. This one is performed with the band Tokyo Police Club and Delta Spirit, another very good band from LA that I think everyone should check out.
Cold War Kids w/ Delta Spirit and Tokyo Police Club -- Saint John
It's not the whole video, but you get the idea.
Also . . . . because I love this band, as well . . .
Delta Spirit
The album is really really good, go buy