Cold War Kids
are an American indie rock band from Fullerton, California. Band members are Nathan Willett (lead vocals, piano, guitar), Jonnie Russell (guitar, vocals, percussion), Matt Maust (bass guitar), and Matt Aveiro (drums).
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COLD WAR KIDS TICKETS
EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
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BottleRock Festival: Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Nicks & Mana - 3 Day Pass Tickets 5/24 | May 24, 2024 Friday | | Cold War Kids Tickets 5/24 | May 24, 2024 Fri, 10:00 PM | | BottleRock Festival: Pearl Jam, Mana, Kali Uchis, The Kid Laroi & My Morning Jacket - Saturday Tickets 5/25 | May 25, 2024 Sat, 11:30 AM | |
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History
The band started in 2004 in historic downtown
Fullerton in guitarist/vocalist Jonnie Russell's apartment above the restaurant (their
first EP title).
[1] The band relocated to Los Angeles and began recording their first demos, and after signing to
Monarchy Music, the band released their debut
EP Mulberry Street
in the spring of 2005. The band toured extensively in 2005-2006, which ultimately created internet buzz amongst the
blogging community. While touring, the band released two more EPs,
With Our Wallets Full
and
Up in Rags
in 2006. In the summer of 2006, Cold War Kids signed to
Downtown Records (home to
Gnarls Barkley,
Art Brut) and released their debut
LP Robbers & Cowards
that fall.
In 2007, they contributed to
OKX
, a tribute to the 10-year-old
Radiohead album
OK Computer
, recording their version of the track "
Electioneering." Willett identified Radiohead and the album as a strong influence, saying, "It's the only album that I feel compelled to say way too grandiose things about, that rock journalists have already said plenty: Like that
OK Computer
is the single most important album to be released during my youth and that it was a rite of passage. But that really is the truth and I have never had an emotional connection with an album quite like I have with this one." He also explained why the band chose to cover "Electioneering" from the album: "I'm not saying 'Electioneering' is the best song on the album, but (still, a big claim!) it's certainly the most badass. It's lyrically everything we want to do - bursts of concrete imagery."
[2]
"We Used to Vacation" was the second track on music magazine Q's Best of 2007 promotional album. That same year they did a
Take-Away Show video session shot by
Vincent Moon.
Cold War Kids were long said to be keen backers of
organic farming, but this was recently confirmed as nothing more than a bizarre rumour by keyboardist
Nathan Willett. They have toured in support of
Two Gallants,
Tapes 'n Tapes,
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah,
Sound Team,
Muse, and
The White Stripes. Their music is heavily inspired by artists such as
Jeff Buckley,
Bob Dylan and the
Velvet Underground. Recently they starred in an
MTV2 special titled "Cold War Kids Takeover!" They appeared on
Soccer AM
and were announced as
Norwich City F.C. Fans. They were going to tour with
The White Stripes for their
Icky Thump
tour, but The White Stripes had to cancel. They recently played to a sold out gig at London's Bloomsbury Ballroom on August 11, 2008 and will be returning to UK shores to play the legendary Astoria venue in London on the November 7, 2008.
In December 2007, Cold War Kids returned to the studio to work on their second album. In June 2008, the band posted a video on their website containing an in-studio video featuring new song material. Later they put up a free MP3 of a track from their sophomore album, entitled "Something Is Not Right With Me." They also revealed that their new album would be called
Loyalty to Loyalty
. It was released on September 23, 2008.
In a 2008 rockumentary,
Call+Response
, headed by Justin Dillon, Cold War Kids performed "Hang Me Up to Dry" and "We Used to Vacation" in support of the film's cause: a movement against current slavery and
human trafficking.
[3]
Members
Discography
Albums
- Robbers & Cowards
(2006) #173 US, #35 UK
- Loyalty to Loyalty
(2008) #21 US, #68 UK, #20 AUS, #3 US Independent Albums
EPs
- Mulberry Street
(2005)
- With Our Wallets Full
(2006)
- Up in Rags
(2006)
- We Used to Vacation
(2006)
- Live from SoHo
(2007) (iTunes exclusive)
- Benefit at the District
(2007)
- Live from the Paradiso
(2008)
- The MySpace Transmissions
(2008) (digital EP)
- Live at Fingerprints
(2008)
Singles
- "Hair Down" (2006)
- "We Used To Vacation" (2006)
- "Hang Me Up to Dry" (2007) UK #57
- "Hospital Beds" (2007)
- "Hang Me Up to Dry (Re-Release)" (2007) UK #65, #26 US Modern Rock [4]
- "Something is Not Right With Me" (2008) #39 US Modern Rock [4]
- "I've Seen Enough" (2009)
Appearances in media
- "Passing the Hat," from Robbers & Cowards
was featured in the episode entitled "The Dream Team" of the HBO TV show Entourage
.
- "Hang Me Up To Dry," from Robbers & Cowards
was featured in the series premiere episode entitled "Pilot" of the CW TV show Gossip Girl
.
- "Saint John," from Robbers & Cowards
was featured in the episode entitled "Joan of Arf" of the Comedy Central TV show The Sarah Silverman Program
.
- "Something Is Not Right With Me," from Loyalty to Loyalty
was featured in the episode entitled "Fire Sale" of the HBO TV show Entourage
.
- "Mexican Dogs," from Loyalty to Loyalty
was featured in the episode entitled "You've Got Yale" of the CW TV show Gossip Girl
.
- "I've Seen Enough" from Loyalty to Loyalty
was featured in the second episode of season five of the reality TV show The Hills
.
- "Hang Me Up To Dry," from Robbers & Cowards
was featured on an advertisement for the USA TV show Burn Notice
, as well as briefly appearing in the second season's finale
References
- Band profile: Bonnaroo 2007, bonnaroo.com, retrieved November 27, 2007
- stereogum presents...OK X: A Tribute to OK Computer
- http://www.callandresponse.com
- http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=767713&model.vnuAlbumId=1
- http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=767713&model.vnuAlbumId=1