Cold War Kids is an American indie rock band formed in Fullerton, California in 2004 around Nathan Willett and Matt Maust. Robbers & Cowards (2006) is the raw, gospel-tinged debut that made their name, and Hold My Home (2014) delivered the radio breakthrough First. Browse Cold War Kids vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Cold War Kids formed in Fullerton, California in 2004. The early lineup of Nathan Willett, Matt Maust, Jonnie Russell, and Matt Aveiro signed with Downtown Records and released the debut Robbers & Cowards in 2006. The band has had lineup changes across their career, with Willett and Maust as the consistent core members. Their 2014 single First (from Hold My Home) became a major commercial breakthrough on alternative radio.
Cold War Kids' sound combines indie rock, alternative rock, blues rock, and gospel-tinged piano rock with Willett's distinctive vocal delivery. Their work has moved from the rawer indie rock of their early catalog through more polished alternative rock production on later albums.
Downtown and Capitol pressings of the Cold War Kids catalog have been issued in standard and color variant editions.
Listeners new to Cold War Kids typically start with Robbers & Cowards (2006) or Hold My Home (2014).
