Cold War Kids Biography

The band started in 2004 in historic downtown Fullerton in guitarist/vocalist Jonnie Russell's apartment above the restaurant Mulberry St. Ristorante (their first EP title). The band relocated to Los Angeles and began recording their first demos, and after signing to Monarchy Music, the band released their debut EP Mulberry Street in the spring of 2005. The band toured extensively in 2005-2006, which ultimately created internet buzz amongst the blogging community. While touring, the band released two more EPs, With Our Wallets Full and Up in Rags in 2006. In the summer of 2006, Cold War Kids signed to Downtown Records (home to Gnarls Barkley, Art Brut) and released their debut LP Robbers & Cowards that fall.

In 2007, they contributed to OKX, a tribute to the 10-year-old Radiohead album OK Computer, recording their version of the track "Electioneering." Willett identified Radiohead and the album as a strong influence, saying, "It's the only album that I feel compelled to say way too grandiose things about, that rock journalists have already said plenty: Like that OK Computer is the single most important album to be released during my youth and that it was a rite of passage. But that really is the truth and I have never had an emotional connection with an album quite like I have with this one." He also explained why the band chose to cover "Electioneering" from the album: "I'm not saying 'Electioneering' is the best song on the album, but (still, a big claim!) it's certainly the most badass. It's lyrically everything we want to do - bursts of concrete imagery."

"We Used to Vacation" was the second track on music magazine Q's Best of 2007 promotional album. That same year they did a Take-Away Show video session shot by Vincent Moon.

Cold War Kids were long said to be keen backers of organic farming, but this was recently confirmed as nothing more than a bizarre rumour by keyboardist Nathan Willett. They have toured in support of Two Gallants, Tapes 'n Tapes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Sound Team, Muse, and The White Stripes. Their music is heavily inspired by artists such as Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan and the Velvet Underground. Recently they starred in an MTV2 special titled "Cold War Kids Takeover!" They appeared on Soccer AM and were announced as Norwich City F.C. Fans. They were going to tour with The White Stripes for their Icky Thump tour, but The White Stripes had to cancel. They recently played to a sold out gig at London's Bloomsbury Ballroom on August 11, 2008 and will be returning to UK shores to play the legendary Astoria venue in London on the November 7, 2008.

In December 2007, Cold War Kids returned to the studio to work on their second album. In June 2008, the band posted a video on their website containing an in-studio video featuring new song material. Later they put up a free MP3 of a track from their sophomore album, entitled "Something Is Not Right With Me." They also revealed that their new album would be called Loyalty to Loyalty. It was released on September 23, 2008.

In a 2008 rockumentary, Call+Response, headed by Justin Dillon, Cold War Kids performed "Hang Me Up to Dry" and "We Used to Vacation" in support of the film's cause: a movement against current slavery and human trafficking.