YOUNG THE GIANT AND COLD WAR KIDS DELIVER A HOMECOMING TO REMEMBER AT THE KIA FORUM
Longtime friends and indie darlings Young the Giant and Cold War Kids returned to the Los Angeles area for another tour with both bands on the bill — only this time, they played the Kia Forum, their largest venue in LA to date. In promotion of Young The Giant’s sixth studio album Victory Garden and in celebration of Cold War Kids’ twentieth anniversary of their debut record Robbers & Cowards, both bands reminded audiences why they’ve loved these artists for two decades.
Taking the stage first, Cold War Kids immediately brought their soulful and lively energy to the stripped-back stage, opening with “So Tied Up” and “Who’s Gonna Love Me Now.” Singer Nathan Willett, bassist Matt Maust, and guitarist David Quon wasted no time moving about the stage, using every inch of the space they were given. Cold War Kids are well-known for their intimate and friendly live shows; Willett will frequently reach out into the crowd and touch fans' hands while singing, or even pass around a tambourine or maraca so the crowd becomes part of the performance. Thankfully, that warm intimacy was not lost on the big stage of the Forum. Maust regularly lifted his bass above his head, making eye contact with fans in the crowd as Willett sang.
Highlights of Cold War Kids’ set include the heart-wrenching singalong “Can We Hang On?”, the soul-stirring classic “Hospital Beds,” the triumphant “All This Could Be Yours,” and the song that brought them endless radio play and their first ever Billboard #1 hit five albums into their career: “First.” Originally from Long Beach and Whittier, Willett also reflected on the band’s deep connection and ties to Los Angeles. Songs like “Miracle Mile” and “Love Is Mystical” — which comes from LA Divine, a love letter of a record about the city — carried an even greater weight when performed at the Forum. As a native Angeleno and long-time fan of Cold War Kids, it brought me so much joy to see them perform at such an iconic venue and to say that, after two decades of performing together, the band somehow still sounded better than ever.
While Cold War Kids’ performance was stripped back and raw, Young The Giant’s was flowery and glossy; and both totally worked. With a heightened stage design that consisted of large, colorful flowers, several elevated platforms, fog, and even wafting scents that made the arena smell like a garden, Young The Giant played to every corner of the venue. Singer Sameer Gadhia led the five piece through high-energy tracks like “Evergreen” and “Bitter Fruit” as colorful stagelights swirled over the band and the crowd. Every song sounded big with the audience singing along, and there was no doubt that Gadhia and co. knew how to put on a show.
The most impressive feat of Young The Giant, however, was how they managed to make the performance feel both arena-worthy and still intimate. For example, throwback track “Superposition” took on new life when Gadhia added a few verses from “Blackbird” by The Beatles. All at once, the venue felt like a small club as everyone sang along. Like Cold War Kids, Gadhia also reflected on his band’s connection to Los Angeles. Originally from Irvine, YTG are no strangers to LA-area venues and Gadhia spoke at length about how wonderful it was for them to take the stage at the Forum.
Young The Giant and Cold War Kids made their performance at the Kia Forum feel like a homecoming for the bands and audience alike. After two decades of performing and releasing music, the long-time friends proved not only are their debut albums worth celebrating, but both bands are still creating lively and worth-while music. You will not be disappointed if and when these artists come to town; they know how to put on a show.
