Cold War Kids at 6Smith, Wayzata, MN (07 July 2016)

Cold War Kids Setlist

Tour Dates

Nathan Willett of Long Beach, CA alt-rock band Cold War Kids vexed briefly as three-fifths of the band played a short promotional acoustic set on a makeshift lakeside dock at restaurant 6Smith in suburban Wayzata.

Cold War Kids’ performance was a precursor to their full stage show as part of this weekend’s Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, and played under gradually more overcast skies, though nothing more than a brief sprinkle of rain ever transpired.

Still in support of 2014’s Hold My Home (on Downtown Records), a slow burning record that has gradually continued momentum, mainly on the back of single ‘First’ which topped Billboard’s Alternative Song chart, and has stayed there long enough to be the second-longest running single in the chart’s history.

Continued success has not been without its cost as three members have been replaced in the last three years, but mainstays Willett and bassist Matt Maust anchor the band admirably, and were joined by keyboardist/guitarist Matthew Schwartz for the 25min. happy hour performance.

‘All This Could Be Yours’, the newest album’s opening track aptly began the set, the band under a small tent surrounded by large boats, designer sunglasses and handbags, and flowing fancy craft beers.

After ‘Hot Coals’ (also from Hold My Home), a brief interview revealed the origin of the band’s name, that music comes first to them before lyrics when songwriting, and that large beach balls from Matt and Kim often come over to their end, when both bands are playing concurrently at festival shows.

Skies grayed and sprinkles covered the crowd as the band launched into ‘Miracle Mile’ and its opening lyric “I was supposed to do great things”, Willett howling “I’ll be alright, if I could just see you”.

After a mid-tempo ‘Hospital Beds’, the band asked for crowd participation for the set-ending ‘First’ by clapping in time for the duration of the song. “If somebody next to you is not doing it… they’re not your friend…!” Willett said, trying to get full participation amongst all the “meals going on and people checking phones”.

Presumably saving hits ‘Hang Me Up to Dry’, ‘Louder than Ever’, and others for their Friday full electric festival set, the acoustic Cold War Kids performance proved to be a worthy appetizer, for the next night’s main course of a full performance.