Cold War Kids - live

Venue: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Date: 6 January 2011
Album: Mine is Yours (releasing Jan 11)

Set against the backdrop of Cold War Kids’ latest album Mine is Yours (2011), the stage was decorated with guitars, piano, percussion and an interesting wind/casiotone type instrument that I’ve never seen before.

The band sauntered onto stage to a booming crowd and opened with the bold new song leading into carefully constructed setlist including “Mexican Dogs” and “Hospital Beds” pumping the crowd to join in with loud singing voices.

The Cold War Kids exemplify a unique brand, providing their audience with raw, unvarnished and often gritty sound. Classics “Hang me out to dry” and “Something is not right with me” spurred the fans to sing away in syncopated beat with the band.

Frontman Nathan Willet swaggers round the stage, in the midst of off-kilter piano and guitars, whaling with eloquent story-telling skills... crooning about terminal illness, remorseful alcoholics and other thorny topics that people keep hidden in their hearts. Willet’s distinctive voice is central to CWK’s allure, he has a desperation in his voice that haunts his fans and has created a cult following. Throughout the Kids’ performance I panned the crowd and noticed all eyes were fixed on the musicians, mesmerized by their stage presence.

Cold War Kids deliberately unperfected style was typically on show, however their new songs seemed to be lacking some grit like their previous albums... however I’m sure these newer songs will develop the kind of cult following that CWK are used to.

Following a killer dynamic set, the Cold War Kids exited the stage causing the fan flock to unleash a manic applause and shouts for encore. The Kids returned and rocked their fans with a charged rendition of one of their greatest songs “We used to Vacation” off their first album Robbers and Cowards, ending the set with the crowd geared up and hands pumping.

CWK are clearly a talented and impressive quartet with a bright future. Their third album Mine is Yours (dropping in January 2011) is undoubtedly going to a huge success just like their previous Robbers and Cowards (2006) and Loyalty to Loyalty (2008).

Passionate and dynamic performers, they produced an awesome gig.

Bridget Barnett