Cold War Kids take Live On the Green by storm
Buoyed by unseasonably moderate late-August weather, Live On the Green drew thousands of music fans to downtown’s Public Square Park Thursday night for performances by Houndmouth, J. Roddy Walston and the Business and indie rock headliners Cold War Kids.
The second week of the free concert series began with Indiana-based Houndmouth, a four-piece folk rock group that gained momentum following their buzzed-about Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival performance earlier this summer.
Although forming in 2011, the band’s sophomore effort, “Little Neon Limelight,” gained notice for its feel good, radio-ready songs such as “For No One” and crowd favorite “Sedona.”
Later, Southern rockers J.Roddy Walston and the Business began their set with a string of fan favorites, including “Take It As It Comes” and “Don’t Break the Needle.”
The front-loaded strategy got the crowd on their side from the get-go. The band rode a wave of energy throughout their hour-plus set through their final song, the 2013 single “Heavy Bells,” which frontman/pianist Walston led into a lengthy jam session at the end.
Night-closing Cold War Kids, who at times resemble indie rock veterans Modest Mouse, took the crowd by storm. They finished strong with a spirited version of John Lennon’s “Well Well Well.”
Live On the Green continues next Thursday with scheduled performances by British singer-songwriter Greg Holden, Nashville blues-rock group the Delta Saints and local rock favorites Moon Taxi.