The Current presents

Young the Giant

with special guests Cold War Kids and KennyHoopla

INFORMATION | TICKETS

RAIN OR SHINE

Doors 5:00 p.m. | Show 6:00 p.m. | 18+

Young the Giant

Young the Giant’s Victory Garden is an ode to radical empathy. Over the past fifteen years, the multi-platinum Southern California band has flourished through distinct sonic eras, progressively solidifying itself as one of the most consistent and influential rock bands of the 21st century. On their sixth full-length album and Fearless Records debut, Victory Garden, Young the Giant reconnects with the core experience of 100% band collaboration, writing and recording together as a unit in one room. Written largely during writing retreats in Idyllwild and Joshua Tree and produced by Brendan O’Brien (Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden) at Henson Studios in Hollywood, Victory Garden is a cohesive album experience that both inspires and enthralls. Lyrically, the album is rooted in radical empathy, showcasing the band’s songwriting instincts at its most immediate and heartfelt. Musically, Victory Garden showcases the seasoned artists’ collective performances at their intuitive height. The result is a prolific record that beckons a new season of creative fertility for the band and presents Young the Giant as confident, refined, and fully inhabiting its voice.

Cold War Kids

The epic tale of Cold War Kids has long been defined by deeply personal songcraft, enthusiastic experimentation, and an avowed commitment to forward motion. Over nearly two decades, the California indie-rock outfit has grown from gritty Long Beach beginnings into one of modern rock’s most enduring bands — amassing over 1 billion streams across their catalog and earning a devoted global fanbase through alternative radio hits, critically praised albums, and electrifying live performances.

Across ten studio albums and numerous EPs, Cold War Kids have left an undeniable mark on the contemporary music landscape. Their 2015 Platinum single “First” remains one of the most played tracks at alternative radio over the past decade, and they continue to blend sincere storytelling with captivating instrumentation.

In 2023, the band released their self-titled 10th LP, Cold War Kids — a work that reflects both their roots and ongoing evolution. The album features standout singles like “Double Life,” “Run Away With Me,” and “Heaven in Your Hands.” 2025 saw the release of an emotionally charged tribute to the band’s longtime friend, Richard Swift, titled “Any Day Now.” In 2026 the band will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Robbers & Cowards, which will come with touring across North America and the rest of the world.

The current lineup — Nathan Willett (vocals, piano, guitar), Matt Maust (bass), David Quon (guitar, backing vocals), Matthew Schwartz (keys, backing vocals, guitar, percussion), and Joe Plummer (drums, percussion) — coalesced in 2016 and continues to maintain a vibrant presence both in the studio and on stages around the world.

KennyHoopla

Much like color, sound consists of different shades, hues, and textures. Individuality results from the confluence of those elements. In broad and delicate strokes alike, KennyHoopla splashes sound onto tape akin to paint on a canvas. With no style off-limits, the Ohio-born and Wisconsin-based singer, songwriter, producer, and musician merges alternative, hip-hop, rock, indie, and pop in a melodic undertow. Amassing over 100 million streams and inciting the applause of Rolling Stone, The FADER, Forbes, HYPEBEAST, and more, he shapes an often vibrant, sometimes visceral, and always vital sound with each creative move he makes in 2023 and beyond.

“I’d call the sound, ‘Technicolor’,” he observes. “When you love something, you have a feeling of color in your heart. There’s texture as opposed to when you feel empty and it’s gray. We’re making this color. The music is a canvas for my life to be painted.”

Born in Cleveland, OH, Kenny lived with his mom, two siblings, and older cousin. His mother tirelessly worked in a factory, a hotel, and even at now-Progressive Field—home of the Cleveland Guardians. While in kindergarten, his teacher turned on the radio during naptime, and Enya’s “Only Time” piped through the speaker. At this young age, he immediately fell under music’s spell. “I thought it was so beautiful,” he affirms. “I was obsessed with music, because it was super cathartic, heavenly, dark, and ethereal.”

When mom left for work, he listened to burned CDs constantly alone in his room, embracing everything from pop, hip-hop, and rock to jungle and deep house. He studied formative influences such as Phoenix, Fall Out Boy, Aphex Twin, Two Door Cinema Club, and more. He also casually wrote songs of his own to tunes on the radio. Upon graduating high school, he left home and moved to Madison, WI. During this time, he uploaded his first proper cut “I Don’t Want No Problems” and found an early champion in Lyrical Lemonade.

Quitting his day job and opting to “be poor and happy making art,” he caught fire with “lost cause//” [feat. Jesse] in 2019, landing a deal with Mogul Vision Music/Arista Records. A year later, he served up the how will i rest in peace if i’m buried by a highway?// EP. Driven by KennyHoopla’s guitar, the title track “how will i rest in peace if i’m buried by a highway?//” gathered over 30.8 million Spotify streams. 2021 saw him join forces with the legendary Travis Barker for SURVIVORS GUILT: THE MIXTAPE// powered by the likes of “hollywood sucks//” and “estella//,” which reeled in north of 34.5 million Spotify streams. NME scored it “4-out-of-5” stars and asserted KennyHoopla’s “growing arsenal of anthems-in-waiting more than justifies his ascendance to the big leagues.” Between headlining tours in the UK, EU & USA, Rolling Stone championed him as an “Artist You Need To Know” and Forbes went as far as to crown him, “One of the most exciting new rock artists in years.” Reteaming with Barker as producer, he kicked off 2022 with “DIRTY WHITE VANS//” and its accompanying remix featuring Wiz Khalifa. Monster also tapped him to headline the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour.

In the midst of this rapid rise, he continued to peel back the layers of his sonic identity. “I’m always trying to become a better songwriter,” he notes. “Living life and watching people inspires me. I’m trying to make sense of things. I’m constantly trying to break the layers of myself. That’s what my next body of work will be about. I’m truly saying what I stand for.”

He ignites the next chapter with the single “YOU NEEDED A HIT//.” On the track, a head-nodding bass line bobs and weaves through a hummable lead guitar. Meanwhile, his vocals ebb and flow with manic exuberance.

“I want to be a voice of my generation,” he leaves off. “I want to put a stamp in time. I want to be someone you can look to. I want to keep chipping away to find the diamond inside all of us. I’ve always wanted to die a legend. I just want to make really beautiful and awesome songs and push the boundaries. I’m trying to constantly grow and make music for everyone.”