WBRU Dunkin’ Donuts Summer Concert Series Artist #6: Cold War Kids

Let’s be real: you’ve probably heard of Cold War Kids. The Long Beach, California band has been a heavy hitter in the indie rock scene for almost a decade, and we are crazy excited to have them coming up for our final WBRU Dunkin Donut’s Summer Concert Series show! Nathan Willett (vocals/guitar/piano) hooked up with bassist Matt Maust, drummer Matt Aveiro, and guitarist Jonnie Russell to start playing as Cold War Kids in 2004. The band started touring around the West Coast and releasing EPs; soon they generated a huge buzz in the music world because of their life-changing, impassioned live show, crazy sound and artwork design (all done by Maust), political message, and, of course, their bluesy-yet-edgy take on indie rock. Cold War Kids did not fail to live up to the hype: amidst touring they signed with Downtown Records and released their stellar debut Robbers and Cowards (you may know hit songs “Hang Me Up to Dry” and “We Used to Vacation”). Since then, the band has put out a steady stream of new music while on the road circumnavigating the globe. Their newest release, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, shines a bright light on the band’s evolving sound: synthesizers and drum machines contribute strongly to one of their more upbeat albums to date. An important part of their new music comes from guitarist Dann Gallucci, of Modest Mouse fame. In addition to plucking some serious guitar strings, Gallucci co-produced the album with Lars Stalfors. The last of our awesome free shows this summer, we hope you are as pumped as we are to be able to put on Cold War Kids for FREE this Friday at 7:30 in Waterplace Park. Catch their rockin’ tunes, pick up some sweet self-designed merch, drink a ‘Gansett or three, and enjoy the summer evening. Check out the video for “Miracle Mile” below!