Fullerton, CA's
Cold War Kids make music with roots that go deep and wide, embracing influences as diverse as
Bob Dylan,
Billie Holiday,
Jeff Buckley, and
the Velvet Underground.
Matt Aveiro,
Matt Maust,
Jonnie Russell, and
Nathan Willett began crafting their soulful, blues-inflected take on indie rock as
Cold War Kids in 2004, recording demos in Los Angeles soon after they formed. After signing to Monarchy Music,
Cold War Kids released their debut EP, Mulberry Street, in spring 2005. The band's unique sound and impassioned live act generated a buzz -- particularly from bloggers -- that grew with each tour and release.
Maust's clean but eye-catching designs for EPs like With Our Wallets Full and Up in Rags and the group's website also added to
Cold War Kids' mystique. They spent much of 2006 on the road with
Tapes 'n Tapes,
Figurines,
Sound Team, and
Editors and appeared at that year's Lollapalooza. That summer, they signed to Downtown Records, also home to
Art Brut and
Gnarls Barkley. The band's full-length debut
Robbers & Cowards arrived that fall.
Loyalty to Loyalty, which moved in a slower, bluesier direction, was released in 2008. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide