Cold War Kids is one of those familiar, solid bands that consistently deliver in sound and performance. In their 15-year career, they’ve created music that spans generations of fans as the December 19, 2019, 105.7 The Point sponsored HoHo Show at the sold-out Delmar Hall in St. Louis attested to.
More photos from the night: http://bit.ly/ColdWarKids19cz
Starting the set promptly at 9:15 p.m., the 5-member band matter-of-factly got down to the business of putting on a good old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll concert for the next 90-minutes. They opened with the familiar “Love is Mystical” and “Hang Me Up to Dry” before launching into a spate of newer material that included “Complainer,” “Fine Fine Fine,” and “Dirt in My Eyes,” which just released on their New Age Norms 1 album on November 1. Much of the newer sound is a tad more lighthearted than what fans may be used to hearing from this band known for their driving beats and vibrant hooks that that ebb and flow and spike; however, the sequence of songs this night flowed well into one another. Just as the newer material began sinking in, they turned it around with “Can We Hang On?” and “Mexican Dogs.” Frontman Nathan Willett then slowed things down with just him and his tiny keyboard to play another new release, “Beyond the Pale” a soulful, thoughtful ballad about touring and temptation. The song is so new that Willett said he was still learning it as it was just the fifth time the song has been played out in concert.
They then turned the power back up with “Drive Desperate.” Other favorites included “Hospital Beds” and “First” — which was just named the most played song of the decade on alternative radio. They closed out the night with “All This Could Be Yours” and “Something Is Not Right With Me.”
Opening the night was St. Louis’ own Tidal Volume a band that self-describes as empower rock. Their 45-minute set included new releases such as the catchy “I Wanna Believe” and “He Gets Me High” which front person Zach Sullentrup dedicated to those who may someday be (or currently are) turned on by people of the same gender. Sullentrup joked throughout their set, clearly enjoying the opportunity to open for Cold War Kids and play in front of so many new faces. A surprising cover of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” got the crowd singing along.
More photos from the night: http://bit.ly/ColdWarKids19cz
Find out what’s coming up next at Delmar Hall: https://www.delmarhall.com/calendars/
In my work life, I help nonprofits and small businesses with media and public relations. In my what I love to do life, you can typically find me photographing either wild horses or concerts.
