Concorde2, 11th August

A certain glint filled the audience’s eyes. Ladies and gentlemen, the Brighton cherry-pop by subdued Americans Cold War Kids. These Cali-fawn-i-yay boys were welcomed by rapturous applause from the Concorde2 and (after an alien modesty) in return presented a mesmerising display of heart-covered sleeves and testimonial selflessness.
Smoke took siege of the stage and alongside a gold backlight these shaggy-bottom boys twisted and turned themselves to the point of concern. I haven’t personally witnessed many shows when the guitarist dismisses his mic stand to the crowd within thirty seconds of the first song, playing his instrument as one would scratch a rash having held back to the point of near insanity.

Tracks from ‘Robbers and Cowards’, last summer’s hit album, were dutifully chaperoned by the crowd climaxing with the anthem ‘Hang Me Up To Dry’. While I’m sure everyone inside this whisky advert of a gig would have quite happily paid their money to see the known songs, it was their new material that really caught the eye. Nathan’s voice had a real soul and effortlessness that, with veins surging from his neck, attained new grit respectful of the greats. Jumping from instrument to instrument as if even one of them was immobile they would drop dead like sharks, the group worked uniformed and seamlessly, literally bouncing off of one another.

Come the finale, lights down onstage, they shone torches into the crowd synonymous of a certain Titanic scene, while echoing a hollow unstable reverberated moan. Saviours? They may well be. This band are seriously important for live music today: zero-pretence, pure offering. Smokey river music lives on. Lead the way.

Words by Tom Sargeant
Photograph by David Tatnell