Thursday 09/11/06 Two Gallants, Cold War Kids @ Scala, London

Edith Bowman had to wait in line with all the other punters, and was heard to be complaining by an affiliate of Gigwise. This. Is. Exclusive. And onto more important matters. So happy the Two Gallants must be to have this quartet from Long Beach to listen to before their sweat and toil commences. The Cold War Kids begin with ‘We Used To Vacation’ (and now we tour? They return end of November to Birmingham and London.) to a packed out, but pleasantly so, venue with lots of levels and places for people to see. Even short reviewers can cosy on the steps for a fine side view and avoid most of the beer rain passing by. These cool kids bound around the stage near enough falling into each other in sheer excitment and bumbling joy. Predominantly playing from their new album 'Robbers And Cowards'.

'Saint John' proves this work's a far cry from 'Hospital Beds' activity: "There's nothing to do here, but whine and complain". We smile and jiggle. The constant drumming is as addictive to clip your ears onto as eyes on the sweet sticked drummer himself. Then one is also captivated by Dennis Pennis (or f**king MTV presenter or whatever) playing an instrument. He's not Dennis the Pennis, he's a very lovely man, and his favorite song played was 'Every Valley Is Not A Lake', and he doesn't know who DP is, yet. And we hope he never will, for it is irrelevant. 'Quiet Please' (Raymond Carver influenced?) from the 'Mulberry Street' ep is followed by  the excellent and probable favorite, 'Hang Me Up To Dry'. A voice like that was born to belt such a tune as the deep bass line reverberates round the room. Cold War Kids bodies are apparently designed to reflect the songs they sing, "carless in our summer clothing, splashing around..."  A cool tune to end a great set, and leave us hanging for the headliner...

The crowd awaits with beer bated breath for the Two Gallants. This is their final British date that was the start of their European tour. In the beginning... 'Seems Like Home To Me' is seamlessly married to 'Steady Rollin'. They play a good split between albums 'The Throes' and 'What The Toll Tells' and some off album greats like 'Requiem For Japantown Bowl'. Do they ever not play 'Long Summer Day'? Well, they shouldn't stop, obvious 'enjoyment' resounds from guitarist and lead vocals Adam Stephens. It's harder to tell how drummer and backing vocals/ornate moaner Tyson Vogel is feeling for he is a machine making tidal waves of hair into a battlement of drum beats. 'My Madonna' breaks our hearts in and out of pensive pauses.