Cold War Kids

A free matinee show broke loose as the waves and beachgoers crashed in on the US Surf Open at Huntington Beach. In other words, Southern California natives, The Soft Pack and Cold War Kids, were shredding the local tides apart with their show tunes on Tuesday, Aug. 3.

The sand between my toes was nothing in comparison to the sweaty and naked beachcomber backs brushing up against my comfort zone. The crowd was a mix of curious shoobies, groupies, and freemongers in the least disastrous sense.

It seems as if The Soft Pack are always a part of every show I attend, but hearing “Answer to Yourself” and “Extinction” brought a cool breeze of familiarity.

The concertgoers didn’t really get down to the music, until Cold War Kids started playing the good stuff. When introducing the song, lead vocals Nathan Willett thanked the “Santa Ana Winds” for the beautiful weather. They played favorites like “Hang Me Up To Dry” towards the middle and ended with “We Used to Vacation” and “Hospital Beds.” Towards the finish, a helicopter flew above the stage, giving the perfect visual to the lyrics, “Put out the fire boys.”

Overall, I wasn’t beach bummed because the show was a drop of golden sun and a note to follow so. It was as if an occult hand had sprinkled the turf with sunny delight.

—Katrina Guevara