Cold War Kids perform in The Current studio (full session + interview)

Cold War Kids - Complainer (Live at The Current)

Cold War Kids - Dirt In My Eyes (Live at The Current)

Cold War Kids - Beyond The Pale (Live at The Current)

The Current went on the air 15 years ago today (Jan. 24, 2020), and the station has enjoyed a relationship with Cold War Kids for the duration; in fact, Cold War Kids played The Current's 10th anniversary party in 2015. Whether it was a cosmic accident or not, there's something that feels really nice to have a band with whom The Current has had a long relationship in the studio on this day.

And the two entities' histories are intertwined; Cold War Kids were founded in 2004, and Nathan Willett estimates he and his bandmates have played in The Current studio approximately six times. Willett, along with bandmate Matt Schwartz, made their latest visit to play a stripped-down set and to chat with Mac Wilson ahead of their sold-out show at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

The year 2020 finds Cold War Kids in a bright spot; they've released the first in a planned trilogy of albums, 

, and the second one is already recorded. Meanwhile, they've just released an EP entitled 

 which comprises acoustic renditions of songs found on 

 plus a cover of George Michael's "Freedom 90." Willett says it's part of a new creative period for the band. "[It gives] us a goal that was lofty and also very Cold War Kids chapter two," he says, "very new-centric, starting over and hitting the reset button."

Use the audio player above to listen to the complete session.

Cold War Kids - Beyond the Pale (Live at The Current)

, both released on the CWKTWO Corp. label.

Gallery

Cold War Kids perform live in The Current studios (2013)

Cold War Kids perform live in The Current studio (2011)

Cold War Kids perform live in The Current studios (2009)

Host

Sara Fish for MPR

Mac Wilson

The year 2020 finds Cold War Kids in a new creative chapter: they've released the first in a planned trilogy of albums titled 'New Age Norms,' and they've dropped an acoustic EP, 'Strings & Keys.' Ahead of their sold-out show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Cold War Kids' Nathan Willett and Matt Schwartz visited The Current studio to play songs and to talk with host Mac Wilson.


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