Cold War Kids Crushed The Ogden Last Week In Denver - Gallery + Recap

“Don’t sit around and complain about it”….The saucy anthem to 2019, and the biggest toe-tapping, sing-along song from Wednesday night, January 22nd at the Ogden Theatre. Colfax was busy and bustling as the crowd formed into line for a sold-out Cold War Kids (CWK) show. The opener, Overcoats, had just finished their set and the venue was full of couples and young and booms with a heavy dash of bro crew sprinkled in. All were gathered around waiting for the much anticipated Cold War Kids lead by Nathan Willett’s boisterous vocals in tow with a mix-match of heavy keys, guitar, bass, and rhythmic drums. As an added bonus, a few “interesting” instruments made a special appearance too.

It was the perfect combo of old favorites and brand-new hot off the press songs from the recent album New Age Norms. Sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect formula for the best-crafted setlist, but Cold War Kids did not disappoint. They started with a very slow-tempo, “Bottled Affection”, with just piano and Nathan on vocals. It felt like a big presence for only having two men on stage. “You got my attention”- did just that…..this song drew the crowd in and everyone started to chime in at different times, belting out the words to match Nathan’s. He showcased his range of vocals right from the get-go. We were all attentive and ready to start the show after the attention-grabbing opening song.

The show quickly turned up when the rest of the band gathered on stage to a fast-paced “Love is Mystical”. You could feel the crowd gain momentum, hands in the air to the beat while hitting the record button to prove they had witnessed a classic Cold War Kids song. People began to really groove to the music as their first or second cocktail began kicking in. “Miracle Mile” was next up, and the uplifting soulful vibes continued, the crowd felt great!

“Complainer” seemed to be the song everyone was waiting for. People started getting up, breaking it down, and belting out the words to the ever-popular song. Surprisingly, I noticed the people in the matinee seats even stood up and were also “down to get spiritual”. There was a bit of a brassy undertone and the keyboard was getting pretty sharp throughout the chorus... way different than what I’ve heard on studio cuts of the song.

The band continued playing in and out of the new album, a great blend of classics and current jams, just the way it should be! Next up was “Fine, Fine, Fine”, then “Hang Me Out to Dry”, and a new song “Dirt in My Eyes”. At one point Nathan broke out a maraca to shake to the beat of the song “Can we hang up?”. Pure magic with a maraca; when’s the last time you’ve seen a maraca on stage? Overall, the crowd was full of wide-eyed fans, grinning from ear to ear. They were listening to some exhilarating melodies and outstanding vocals that provided enchanting vibes which carried throughout the night and into the weekend. Thank you Cold War Kids for a great mid-week treat, for something that will keep us tapping our feet, while we continue to ponder what truly matters in the world... for making us think.

Next up, CWK continues on the road for their New Age Norms tour stopping along a MidWest route, trickling up to Canada then back down the East Coast. Look out for upcoming shows all over the US in 2020.