Cold War Kids Deliver Their Own Economic Relief Package

I’ve been on this ticket buying kick lately. I’ll hear about a band I want to see that is coming to town and I’ll buy two tickets with the faith that I’ll find someone who will want to come along. Luckily, I haven’t been turned down yet. I’ll send out a few text messages the night before the show and by the morning I’ll have a few takers. Last night I had tickets to see the Cold War Kids perform at the Newport Music Hall on campus (High & 12th). My sidekick was my friend Niki who has never really seen a lesser known band so to speak, has never been to a small music venue, and has never heard of the Cold War Kids, but she was fixin’ for a new experience so she jumped at the ticket in a heartbeat. Tickets were going for only $15 when I swooped them up, but after the show sold out, StubHub was listing them at $60 each. And those sold out too.

On our way downtown, I gave her a really quick crash course on some songs I was certain they would play. This was going to be my third time seeing them, but the first since the release of their new album, Loyalty to Loyalty. I first encountered them at Bonnaroo 2007 when I had no idea who they were, but immediately got into their heavy yet twangy guitar and piano pounding, whiny vocals, and catchy choruses. Not long after that, I was fortunate to catch them at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC and was prepared to sing along this time.

This was my first show at the Newport, but will certainly not be my last. The Newport is the oldest remaining bar on campus since the renovation of High Street over the past ten years. The old theater architecture looks like it might fall in on you in some places, but the atmosphere is top notch. If these walls could talk they would say, “Holy shit, I’ve seen some wild stuff go on in this place.” People filled up the open floor in front of the small stage and stood on chairs along the perimeter. I inched my way closer to the front as Niki stood on a bench on the side of the stage, managing to get some great photos and video.

The Cold War Kids covered many of their new songs (including Something Is Not Right With Me), but still played all of their older songs that have become every one’s favorites: Hang Me Up To Dry, We Used To Vacation, Quiet, Please! and ending the set with my personal favorite, Hospital Beds. They walked off stage to a rowdy crowd that absolutely demanded more. I looked at Niki and said, “They aren’t leaving without playing Saint John.” Two minutes later they walk back out on stage and said, “This one is called Saint John.” The crowd roared.

We left the show sweaty and hoarse from screaming and jumping around. “So what did you think?”, I asked. ” You know, I love when you see a band live and they sound exactly like their albums. It shows their level of talent.”

So take it from Niki, even if you aren’t totally feeling the sound of the Cold War Kids at first still give them a shot if they are in town. They’re quite the performers and you can’t help but get sucked in. I’ve seen them three times now and will probably see them three more. Especially when tickets are that cheap!