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It would be unfair to say it all went wrong for hypes-du-jour
of a couple of years ago Cold War Kids, but it
should probably be asked, how did it all not quite go
right? Arriving with a bang and a stretched larynx on
brilliant, heavily rotated debut single ‘Hang Me Out
To Dry’ they seemed unpredictably arty and earthy is
equal measure and backed this up with an album (‘Robbers
& Cowards’) that limbered brazenly along the same line,
producing other standouts ‘We Used To Vacation’ and
‘Hospital Beds’. But they soon proved capable of splitting
opinion, indeed Nathan Willet had a voice like a Marmite
and baked bean sandwich, some people took issue with
the revelation that they profess to be a Christian band
(possibly mainly down to the fact that when you start
thinking of Christian acts in popular culture you always
seem to draw a line back to Creed, The Jonas Brothers
and Ned Flanders) and they proved as reliable a live
band as an MP talking to the press about expenses claims.
Crud saw them twice in the space of one month at either
end of the spectrum; once flabby, undisciplined and
off-target, once lean and commanding.
In town for a one-off headline date ahead of appearances
at the three-legged Stag & Dagger city festival (in
London, Leeds and Glasgow) they thankfully defy both
the odds and a follow up album (‘Loyalty To Loyalty’)
that walked the walk but failed to pivot off anywhere
too engaging, by delivering a powerful if uncompromisingly
blunt set. Playing in near darkness, save for intense
bursts of bright light from the back of the stage, they
contort their bodies with coiled up aggression, giving
the songs a menace that you wouldn’t necessarily expect
they needed but work to bolster the lasting impression.
The rhythm section of Matts Maust and Aveiro are so
sly and unblinking, the kind of pair who’d buy you a
beer whilst sliding your wallet from your back pocket
and taking your shoelaces as a souvenir. They go from
beaten barroom piano rolling around in a tankard of
reverb (‘Hospital Beds’) to hysterically infectious
blues (‘Something Is Not Right With Me’) with a sullen
and impressive strut and though they never really engage
with the audience tonight you’re at least assured that
they’re hardly virginal choirboys and that they could
yet be dangerous.
Verdict: Giving it the cold shoulder somehow
encourages a warm front of appreciation
Best In Show: The oldest is still the goldest
– ‘Hang Me Out To Dry’
Download: ‘Every Valley Is Not A Lake’
Playlist companions: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah,
White Stripes, Black Crowes
More Wembley Arena shots
more info:
http://www.coldwarkids.com
Photos & Report ~ James Berry for Crud Magazine
2009©
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