Cold War Kids Live and Free.

This past weekend I went to a sweet show in Long Beach, California, featuring local bands such as Matt Death and the New Intellectuals and Cold War Kids. The best part is that it was totally free! I'm sure you may have picked up on this a bit before, but I am what you Earth people refer to as "cheap." The prospect of a free show always gets my attention.

Anyway, the event was called Buskerfest. Yes, it was a "fest," but it was a cool enough event to overcome it's name. Throughout the evening, bands were playing at a set of diverse stages, including a truck bed and a back alley. Each person who attended was given an allotment of wooden "nickels" with which they could tip the bands they liked the most. The band with the most "nickels" at the end of the night got to play another set, opening for Cold War Kids.

Honestly, Matt Death was the only band I saw perform besides Cold War Kids. As always, his set was a treat, and the new intellectuals featured some familiar faces from the Havalina days. They played on the back of a flatbed truck, and used megaphones instead of mics for the vocals. It was a unique performance and it was worth the trip to see this set alone. Unfortunately, they didn't win the second time slot, but judging by the number of tips they got, I'd say they must have been in a close second.

Later on in the evening, I returned to watch the headliners for the event, Cold War Kids. They sure have come a long way from the days when I saw them play during their residency at the Detroit Bar. There were over 1,000 fans crowding the street in front of the open air stage, with a giant black and white skeleton backdrop (art from their latest album) behind the four guys in Cold War Kids. People were crowding the rooftops of the surrounding buildings, hoping to get a better view. There's a reason they've come as far as they have. In addition to a constant touring schedule and the hardest work ethic in the business, these guys rock. Their unique sound, staccato rhythms, indie style, rock star stage presence, and random piano pounding all combine to make a very exciting show.

What a great night! It's shows like this that make me glad I'm here on Earth.

Brax.