Cold War Kids, Prospect Park - you get what you pay for

I'd planned on seeing a friend's band, The Baby Train, but my friends and I lacked IDs and extra dough. So, yes, as usual, my plans flopped, and I ended up at Cold War Kids. I had a feeling their lo-fi bluesiness wouldn't translate onto a big stage in the middle of some park.

Lo & behold I was right! I was pretty confused after the show, and if I wasn't already familiar with the songs on their set list, I wouldn't have enjoyed the vast majority of the concert. Also, not that this has anything to do with my disappointment, for some reason the band seemed to have a greater likeness to the French Kicks than they ever had before. I didn't notice that on my own, but apparently multiple people felt the same way.

So were they drunk? Were they sick? Were they tired? Maybe a little of all three?

I don't know, but overall, the band's sound was pretty muddy. Their sloppy, inconsistent tempo changes (especially the drummer's playing...aren't drummers supposed to keep time or something?), pitchy, scratchy vocals, and nearly energetic delivery was pretty disappointing considering how much I loved the recorded tracks.

I don't know why bands insist on using cheap-sounding piano sounds on keyboards. I only wish Cold War Kids could have been the exception, especially because they use a lot of keyboard in their songs and because the sound they use for the recorded material is so distinctive- you know, the almost-kitschy-five-cents-out-of-tune-upright-piano-sound that the Walkmen also use. For one song, Cold War had the audacity to use a synth. Really, guys?

The fellows from Elvis Perkins in Dearland lent their woodwinds and brass to a couple of the songs. It could have really added to the performance, if only it were mic-ed properly.  I'm not much of a fan of Elvis Perkins in Dearland either, but to be fair, I haven't spent much time listening to them.

To Cold War's credit, they showed their versatility by exchanging instruments between band members every few songs. The flow of songs, and integration of the older album and the new one was pretty well crafted as well. The set list included "Welcome to the occupation", "Devil's in the details", "Something is Not Right With Me", "Hospital Beds", and "St. John" (my personal favorite).  Seeing this jerky clappy dance-thing that all these guys in bands seem to do was reason enough to go, if anything.  Almost.